Musings of a Toe-Walker - PFLAG of Bergen County, New Jersey

Musings of a Toe-Walker 


Random and generally tangential musing and mutterings from a happily partnered, toe-walking, gay Episcopalian with attention deficit disorder, and a rather quirky, disjointed view of life, spirituality and whatever catches my attention. Sometimes insightful, occasionally humourous, usually scattered. 

Wednesday, August 16, 2006 

BlogThis! 

What say you, Akinola? Explain yourself, sir. 

Apostolic Constitutions adaptation of Didascalia Apostolorum 

written in Syria aboutAD 250 

36. A bishop must not venture to ordain out of his own bounds for cities or countries that are not subject to him. But if he be convicted of having done so without the consent of such as governed those cities or countries, let him be deprived, both the bishop himself and those whom he has ordained. 

37. If any bishop that is ordained does not undertake his office, nor take care of the people committed to him, let him be suspended until he do undertake it; and in the like manner a presbyter and a deacon. But if he goes, and is not received, not because of the want of his own consent, but because of the 

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http://toewalker.blogspot.com/ (1 of 12) [8/17/2006 10:30:53 PM] 

ill temper of the people, let him continue bishop; but let the clergy of that city be suspended, because they have not taught that disobedient people better. 

...Read the rest of this post. 

Pirates of the Anglican Communion, Part Quatre 

Unsaintly Pat 

has posted the latest installment of her tome detailing the adventures of our heroine +Katherine Jefferts-Schori and her ragtag band of not-quite-saints who have formed the resistance against the 

Pirates of the Anglican Communion 

Don't miss this latest episode: 

Dead Man's Province, Part Quatre 


Tuesday, August 15, 2006 

Breaking News from El Camino Real 

There's been an interesting development in the 

story I posted earlier 

regarding the Diocese of El Camino Real's search for a new bishop. 

Hat tip to Lisa, the update below was copied from her blog, 

My Manner of Life 

: 

According to Susan Russell’s “An Inch at a Time” blog, the Standing Committee of El Camino Real has issued a revision. She says: 

. . . it is being reported that the Diocese of El Camino Real has changed the charge to its Nominating Committee from: 

"At this time in our history and in view of General Convention Resolution B033, the Search Committee shall not nominate any homosexual person as a candidate for bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real." 

to 

"The Search Committee shall be mindful of General Convention Resolution B033." 

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Wouldn’t I have liked to be a fly on the wall in those conversations? 

But, without further ado: Thank you, ECR! This must have required real courage! 


Perhaps they'd fancy walking instead... 

Recently the American Family Association has been slamming the Ford Motor Company for 

"Supporting the Homosexual Agenda" 

and calling for a boycott of Ford products, including the brands: Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Mazda. 

But I think they're being a bit short-sighted. After all, if they really want to push their anti-gay agenda, they shouldn't only concentrate on Ford. After all, there are a couple of other automobile companies who support gay rights, gay organizations, gay publications or just support diversity and equality in 


general. These anti-family companies must be stopped. This is America, dammit. We don't tolerate diversity or equality here! 

Below is a partial list of automobile manufacturers and brands who have been gay/diversity supportive in their advertising campaigns. 

Get to work, AFA. You're falling behind. 

Company Brand Advertisement 

BMW Mini Cooper Space 

BMW Rover 200 Pearly Queens 

Classic BMW BMW Being Out Has Never Been So In 

Classic BMW BMW 

Classic BMW BMW It's About Respect. 

DaimlerChrysler Mercedes-Benz Similarly Individual 

Ford Ford Escort Jeans (Lily Savage) 

Freedom to Go Where You Want and Be Who You 

Are 

Ford Ford Als hätten wir nur Autos im Kopf - men 

Ford Ford Als hätten wir nur Autos im Kopf - women 

Ford Ford As If We Only Think About Cars 

Ford Ford Christopher Streetka 

Ford Ford Let Every Day Be a Street Day 

Ford Ford Rob Has Changed our Policies 

Life is Full of Twists and Turns. Care for a 

Ford Jaguar 

Partner? 

Ford Jaguar Pride/GLAAD 

Ford Volvo Get Noticed by the Boys in Blue 

Ford Volvo Happy Mardis Gras 

Ford Volvo Starting A Family 

Ford Volvo Suspected 

Ford Volvo We're Just As Excited As You 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru A Window Where One Ought To Be 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru At Least We've Got Our Priorities Straight 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Baja Play Mobile 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Different Drivers. Different Roads. 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Different Roads 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Diversity is One of Our Strengths Too 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Entirely Comfortable With Its Orientation 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Get Out. And Stay Out. 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Great Looking, Stylish 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru I'm Ready for my Closeup 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru It's Not a Choice 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Likes to be Driven Hard 

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Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Makes Your Heart Throb 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Opposites Attract 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Radar Love/WRX Turbo Music 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Shadows 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Speed Racer - WRX 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Support Comes Standard - Eco-Challenge 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru What Do We Know? 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Who Says There Is Only One Queen of England? 

General Motors Cadillac Break Through 

General Motors Cadillac Major Pride 

General Motors General Motors GMequality 

General Motors General Motors Kisses 

General Motors Saturn Engineer Michele Smith 

Honda Honda Facepaint 

Hyundai Hyundai Toy Boy 

Hyundai Kia Spectra Cruising 

Land Rover Land Rover Get in here. 

Land Rover Land Rover Get In Here. Get Out There. (orange) 

Land Rover Land Rover Get In Here. Get Out There. (silver) 

Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Not Really His Girlfriend 

MG Australia MG Half 

Nissan Micra I Sitges 

Nissan Nissan Eno/Kiss 

Nissan Nissan Ryan/Keith Haring 

Porsche Porsche Go Girl 

Porsche Porsche Muscled Body And A Dash Of Leather 

Peugeot Peugeot Le Duel 

Renault S.A. Renault Clio Gay Motorcycle Cop 

Seat S.A. Altea Mini Skirt, Basketball 

Seat S.A. Seat Leon Lost Drag 

Suzuki Suzuki Shogun Man On A Motorcycle To The Rescue 

Toyota Toyota Everyday People 

Toyota Toyota Corolla Girlfriend 

Toyota Toyota Family Car 

Volkswagen Audi Changing Religion 

Volkswagen Audi Party 

Volkswagen Audi Successful People 

Volkswagen Audi Wink 

Volkswagen Citi Golf Changes 

Volkswagen Volkswagen Have a Safe Mardis Gras 


Windsor Compliant? Hardly 

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Can you smell the hypocrisy? Its all around us, and the stink appears to be particularly strong in Canturbury, Texas and Nigeria. Not unlike their convenient proof-texting of Scripture to reinforce their radical agenda, the so-called "Windsor Compliant" 

bishops are nothing of the sort. Have they so soon forgotten the recommendation of the Primates at Dromantine in 2005 and the specific calls for expression of regret, expressions of desire to remain in Communion and moritoria on interventions into 

"provinces, dioceses and parishes other than their own"? 

Apparently they have. Let's remind them, shall we? 

The Primates at Dromantine said in February 2005: 

15. In order to protect the integrity and legitimate needs of groups in serious theological dispute with their diocesan bishop, or dioceses in dispute with their Provinces, we recommend that the Archbishop of Canterbury appoint, as a matter of 

urgency, a panel of reference to supervise the adequacy of pastoral provisions made by any churches for such members in line with the recommendation in the Primates’ Statement of October 2003. Equally, during this period we commit ourselves 

neither to encourage nor to initiate cross-boundary interventions. 

The Windsor Report had recommended: 

155. We call upon those bishops who believe it is their conscientious duty to intervene in provinces, dioceses and parishes other than their own: 

● to express regret for the consequences of their actions 

● to affirm their desire to remain in the Communion, and 

● to effect a moratorium on any further interventions. 

We also call upon these archbishops and bishops to seek an accommodation with the bishops of the dioceses whose parishes they have taken into their own care. 


Voter suppression efforts seen in six states 

from Raw Story: 

After votes were suppressed in Florida and Ohio during the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, Salon warns that four additional states could see voters prevented from casting ballots, with the greatest impact felt by Democratic candidates. 

The report shows business as usual in Ohio where gubernatorial candidate and current Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has pushed regulations working to hinder voter registration efforts in the state. Similar efforts are afoot in Florida, as well as new authority for partisan pollwatchers to challenge 


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the registration of individual voters. 

But it is in four new states where Salon emphasizes new troubles might break out: 

In Arizona, legislation that requires proof of citizenship to vote is taking a toll beyond the illegal immigrants it seeks to keep out of polling places. 

In Indiana, difficulties in securing state identification have complicated the ability of many to register to vote. 

In California, problems have been identified with electronic voting machines, and the consolidation of statewide voter registration lists is being used to bar voters from the rolls. 

In Missouri, rigid ID laws for voters are seen to be targeting minority voters likely to vote against Republicans. 


El Camino shows its true colors... 

...and they ain't pretty. All flowery attempts at cloakery aside, we now know the real, indisputable truth about Resolution B033 which was adopted by both the House of Bishops and the House of Deptuties at General Convention 2006: 


No Queers Allowed 

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From Meditatio: 

Yesterday it was reported on various Episcopal listservs that the Standing Committee of the Diocese of El Camino Real (ECR) included the following in its instructions to the Search Committee established to secure nominations for their next diocesan bishop: 


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"At this time in our history and in view of General Convention Resolution B033, the Search Committee shall not nominate any homosexual person as a candidate for bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real." 

Monday, August 14, 2006 


Presumptious Primates and Dsysfunctional Dissidents 

In reading the responses to 

Mark Harris's post on his blog, Preludium, 

concerning the invitational meeting called by Bishop Wimberly of Texas to which the bishops of Durham and Winchester are going as envoys of the Archbishop of Canterbury, I ran across a comment that really struck me. In it, Bill Carroll describes very plainly what a goodly number of us are seeing regarding 

the current efforts by a group of foreign Primates and domestic dissidents to undermine the Episcopal Church. 

Bill Carroll said... 

The most offensive thing about this is the presumption that the Episcopal Church needs to be reinvigorated. We have never been stronger. This conflict is like the confict in an alchoholic family, when one member gets sober or starts asserting personal boundaries. It is also, as several have pointed out, 

like the conflict in a family when one member comes out of the closet. When the Church of England becomes capable of honest speech about the lives and ministries of its gay and lesbian members, and of listening to these members instead of trying to silence them and collaborating in their oppression, 

then they can give us advise about how to be reinvigorated. For our part, reinvigoration would mean an even more radical break with the powers that corrupt and destroy God's creatures, including sexism and homophobia, as well as classism and economic privilege. We are far from full inclusion 

ourselves. This intervention is a sign that senior leadership in the C of E, as well as some bishops in the U.S., cannot free themselves of a colonial paradigm. These bishops are free to meet with whomever they choose, but this is a profound insult to the collegiality of the House of Bishops. These matters 

were dealt with, for good or ill, by the General Convention. The way to dissent with integrity was modelled by the statement of conscience issued by Bishop Chane and others, which points out the flawed and manipulative process that led to B033, but pledges loyalty to "this great Church." Having a 

separate meeting of "Windsor Bishops" starts to look too much like an effort to associate with the Anglican Communion on some other basis than one's role as a bishop of the Episcopal Church. It is kind of like being "Network-Lite." The Episcopal Church has already made a response to Windsor. We are 

willing to work on our relationships, but unwilling to simply submit to ultimatums. These bishops should respect that this is our response and stop trying to subvert the legitimate process. 

Critics point to declining numbers as a sign of weakness. I believe this is a sign that we are moving past Christendom and that this offers us the opportunity for greater faithfulness. Churches can always be more faithful, and we are far from perfect. We could also show more zeal in sharing the Good 

News. Adopting an "evangelical" paradigm is not the way to do this. Continuing to proclaim God's universal kingdom, in which there are no outcasts, by word and deed, is. The problem with "evangelicals" today is that they are not evangelical enough. 


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When the Rapture comes, can I have your car? 

File this one under "I sh*t you not". Its a 

Rapture Index 

, billing itself as (seriously, I'm not kidding) "The prophetic speedometer of end-time activity." 


Those Goat-Diapers 

from Andrew Sullivan 

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"It's hard to get them out of my head. Here's the story if you missed it: Iraqi Islamists are threatening shepherds with violence if they don't clothe their goats with diapers to avoid tempting lonely shepherds. Another facet of the "new Middle East." Yes, it's funny. But it's also revealing about the 

way fundamentalism and sex interact. What most male-run religious fundamentalisms include is a major exception for the hetero-male sex drive. Sex outside of missionary-position reproduction with legal wife/wives is officially verboten; but when frail male flesh gives in, the blame is almost always 


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the object of desire - not the guy actually responsible. Hence: it's the goat's fault. The way they were dressed, they were asking for it." 

(continued below) 


Sunday, August 13, 2006 

Holy Hunk of the Month 

Calendario Romano 2007 

Welcome to the new 2007 edition of the Italian priests calendar. 

No, I'm not kidding. There really is a Hunky Priest of the Month calendar and, apparently, has been for the past few years. The creator assures us that its all in good taste and that the proceeds go to charitable organizations. 


Saturday, August 12, 2006 

West Point Thesis Challenges Gay Policy 

from Yahoo News 

WASHINGTON - Alexander Raggio says he was 16 when he learned one of his relatives was gay — and watching that person's struggle gave him a grim introduction to discrimination against gays. 

He carried those feelings into West Point, and in his senior thesis argued that the military's policy banning gays is not only wrong, but harmful to the Army. 

The Pentagon may not agree, but the U.S. Military Academy gave him an award for the paper. 

Below is the introduction from the title page of Alexander Raggio's paper, which can be 

downloaded in .PDF form here. 

Following, on the next page, is the Prologue of the paper in which Mr. Raggio describes his reasons for reading the paper. 

DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL, DON”T BE: 

A PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GAY BAN IN THE US MILITARY 

ALEXANDER H. RAGGIO 

The issue of gays in the military has been hotly debated since the end of the Cold War, but it has usually been debated (at least superficially) in the context of pragmatic policy analysis. What has almost always been left out of the public discussion is what is truly at the core of the matter: philosophy. Taking 

the Constitution and other documents as the stated philosophy of the nation, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Be: A Philosophical analysis of the Gay Ban in the US Military” presents philosophical arguments for open homosexual service while debunking common philosophical arguments against such service. It 

further explores parallels of integration and other forms of discrimination and explains why “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is not significantly different than the policy it replaced. 

Alexander Raggio is a graduate of the United States Military Academy currently en route to the Officer Basic Course. This essay was composed as a Cadet and was awarded the BG Adams Award for Outstanding Senior Thesis. Lieutenant Raggio’s research interests include political philosophy, metaphysics, 


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history and civil-military relations. 


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A Brief Musical Interlude 

I was thinking about putting together another installment of "By Way of Introduction", but I'm feeling rather lazy today after a very long work week. So instead, I think I'll just share with you one of my favorite songs. I listen to this a lot. When I'm feeling up, it bolsters the feeling and is a heartfelt reminder of 


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why I do indeed feel good. When I'm feeling down, the words help me to remember where my real source of strength is, and to call upon it. God never fails to listen and help. 

Anyway, some time ago, I was came across a duo called SpiritPop. The members, Jason Warner and deMarco DeCiccio, initially began singing inspirational music, and have in recent years branched out to incorporate other styles like pop/rock and dance. I think their a capella 


rendition of It Is Well is perhaps my favorite, although its really hard to pick just one. 

Click here to listen to an MP3 of It Is Well 

from their album Songs For The Spirit. 

Continue reading to see where to go to see a video of their new song This is Love 


Women we Love 


In the interest of equal time... 

The critters were a tad miffed that I was posting stock images of (gasp!) other animals (we have 2 cats and 2 dogs), and they're clamoring for equal time. 

Mr. Bean when he was a kitten: 

Mr.Bean and Miss Yyvonne (pronounced "WHY-vohn") napping together: 

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Friday, August 11, 2006 

Its been a long week 

...its time for something light, friendly and cute. 

Kittens! 

Mad? Perhaps. Wise? Absolutely. 


I'm thinking of nominating the MadPriest for sainthood. Anyone who thinks like he does surely qualifies. The 

latest post from his blog 

, quoted in its entirety below is profound in its simplicity and the manner in which MadPriest suggests that we treat people as individuals is utterly Christ-like. 

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Here's an idea... 

Lisa's post from Tuesday on MY MANNER OF LIFE, has shot round Christian Blogging Land with a bigger WHOOSH-AND-CRACK than it seems she thought would happen. Those who felt her pain before the posting, feel even more of her pain now. Those who hate queers still hate queers. It is as it always is, 

but at least she's given us who support her more resolve to go on fighting, and I'm sorry my nice friends, it is a fight. 

I am often asked if I am in favour of women priests and women bishops. I never answer this question. You see, I don't think I have any right, whatsoever, to have an opinion on such matters - I mean, I'm not a woman. It really is the businesss of women as to whether or not they want to be ordained to 

the various orders of the Church. I think the same goes for gays and lesbians and any other group who do not cause harm to people. So, what the Church should do is let our gay friends decide for themselves and then the Church should go with their decision. Of course, many people in the Church will 

disagree with the decision, whichever way it goes. But then their position becomes the same as the gay position insomuch as it's nobody else's business but their's as to how they react. Both gay Christians and those who don't accept them should be given as much information as possible about the 

inevitable consequences of their decisions and then they must decide FOR THEMSELVES. 

This is idealistic and would probably result in anarchy, but, at the least, any decision that the Church makes should be "biased towards the poor" so to speak. It should not be up to women and gays to prove their worth in the eyes of God, it should be up to their detractors to prove that God sees them as 

second class Christians, if Christians at all. 

If we had a rule of conduct such as this for our deliberations, then the consequences of any decisions that are made would not be the responsibilty of anybody in particular, least of all the Church leaders, so those in authority could concentrate on thinking about the kingdom and about love, rather than 


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worrying about political fall-out and their own reputations. 


A Child Is Listening . . . 

In the comments replying to Lisa's essay, 

Whoosh and Crack 

, 

over on Father Jake's page 

, I came across the following. Its a powerful reminder of how we can easily and unknowingly do violence to others with our selfish and prejudiced words, actions, or -- especially -- our inactions. 


"Because of my own lack of knowledge, I became dependent upon people in the Clergy. When the Clergy condemns a homosexual person to Hell and eternal damnation, we, the congregation, echo 'Amen'. I deeply regret my lack of knowledge concerning gay and lesbian people. Had I allowed myself to 

investigate what I now see as Bible bigotry and diabolical dehumanizing slander against our fellow human beings, I would not be looking back with regret for having relinquished my ability to think and reason with other people...people I trust for truth and guidance in my life and in the life of our gay 

son. 

"God did not heal or cure Bobby as he, our family and Clergy believed He should. It is obvious to us now why He did not. God has never been encumbered by His child's genetically-determined sexual orientation. God is pleased that Bobby has a kind and loving heart. In God's eyes, kindness and love are 

what life is about. I did not know that each time I echoed 'Amen' to the eternal damnation, referring to Bobby as sick, perverted and a danger to our children that his spirit was broken until he could no longer rise above the injustice of it all. Bobby ended his life at age twenty. 

"It was not God's will that Bobby jump over the side of a freeway overpass into the path of an eighteen-wheel truck, killing him instantly. Bobby's death was the direct result of his parent's ignorance and fear of the word gay. 

"An injustice has been done not only to Bobby but to his family as well. God knows it isn't right that Bobby is not here with loved ones. Correct education about homosexuality would have prevented this tragedy. There are no words to express the pain and emptiness remaining in the hearts of Bobby's 

family members, relatives, and friends. We miss Bobby's kind and gentle ways, his fun-loving spirit, his laughter. Bobby's hopes and dreams should not have been taken from him, but they were. We can't have Bobby back; if we could we would say to him, as I say to all gay and lesbian people around the 

world, these benevolent words of Leo Buscaglia: 

'Love yourself -- accept yourself -- forgive yourself -- and be good to yourself, because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things.' 

"There are children like Bobby sitting in our congregations. Unknown to you, they will be listening to your 'Amens' as they silently cry out to God in their hearts. Their cries will go unnoticed for they cannot be heard above your 'Amens'. Your fear and ignorance of the word gay will soon silence their 


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cries. Before you echo 'Amen' in your home or place of worship, think and remember...a child is listening." 

Mary A. Griffith 


APA Slams NARTH and Conversion Therapy 


In response to Friday's picket of the American Psychological Association's annual convention by the conversion therapy group NARTH, the APA today released the following statement obtained by 

Truth Wins Out 

: 

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"For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure. The APA's concern about the positions espoused by NARTH and so-called conversation therapy is that they are not supported by the science. There is 


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simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish." 

"Truth Wins Out applauds the APA for taking a strong stand against quack science and not buckling to a transparent PR campaign designed to politically pressure the APA into abandoning sound science," said TWO's Executive Director Wayne Besen. 


Thursday, August 10, 2006 

Timeline: A Profile in Politicizing Terror 


from 

The Stakeholder 

Posted by jesselee 

Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 8:09 PM 

Wednesday: 

Days after the White House learns that the London terror plot will be uncovered, Cheney says Lamont victory will encourage "al Qaeda types." 

The White House announces that the threat level has been raised to ‘Red.’ 

10:54 a.m. (CDT): 

The President announces, on his way to a Wisconsin fundraiser for congressional candidate John Gard, that the arrests in London are “a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation.” 

12:26 p.m.: 

The RNC sends out a fundraising email penned by Rudy Giuliani saying “In the middle of a war on terror, we need to remain focused on furthering Republican ideas more than ever before… Please make your commitment felt with a financial contribution for $500, $250, $100, $50, $35 or $25 to the Republican 

National Committee today.” 

2:53 p.m.: 

Bush official celebrates the terror plot. The AFP reports, "‘Weeks before September 11th, this is going to play big,’ said another White House official, who also spoke on condition of not being named, adding that some Democratic candidates won't ‘look as appealing’ under the circumstances.” 

4:22 p.m.: 

The RNC follows with a statement attempting to elevate the war on terror above those who would crassly use it for politics sake: "On a day when American authorities are working with our allies to stop a global terror plot, instead of focusing on political attacks, we should focus on the fact that we are at war 


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and need every tool to win the War on Terror.” 


'Scuse me while I yawn 

'Nuff Said. Its roughly 90 days to the next election, one that looks to be a referendum on the Bush administration failures. The base is crumbling, Lieberman, a Democrat in name only, was defeated this week, the Middle East is a bigger mess than I've seen in my lifetime, soaring fuel costs are driving up costs 

all over, and our moonbat Congress thinks that the biggest priorities we have to deal with are same-sex marriage, use of the word "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, and flag burning. 

Who didn't see a terror alert coming? 

The sad thing is that its likely that this is the real deal, yet people are so sick of being manipulated by this sorry excuse for a President and his administration that we have come to doubt first and only accept something if a LOT of independent verification is provided. Perhaps equally bad or worse is that we 


apply the truth filter to Britain because of the unholy collaboration between Bush and Blair. 


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About Me 

Name: 

Toewalker 

Location: 

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States 

Trust me when I say that being gay is the least interesting thing about me. 

View my complete profile 

Some Blogs I Like 

● 23 Acres of Black Dirt 

● Adventus 

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● Bending the Rule 

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● Fr. Jake Stops the World 

● Freedom Bound 

● Gay Religion News 

● Get Religion 

● In a Godward Direction 

● Leaning Towards Justice 

● Louie Crew 

● LuiNotes 

● Meditatio 

● My Manner of Life 

● No Claim to Sainthood 

● Oasis California NewsBlog 

● Of course, I could be wrong... 

● Opinionated Old Fart 

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● Thinking Anglicans 

● What the Tide Brings In 

Religion and Spirituality Links 

● Trinity Episcopal, St. Louis, MO 

● The Oasis Missouri 

● Growing American Youth 

● Episcopal Diocese of Missouri 

● Christian Gays 

● Claiming the Blessing 

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● Integrity 

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● Via Media 

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Critical Thinking Links 

● Humbug! Online 

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● The Fallacy Files 

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● Mission Critical 

Other Cool Links 

● The Church of Groove 

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Blogging Episcopalians 

Join | List | Previous | Next | Random | Powered by 

RingSurf 

Previous Posts 

● What say you, Akinola? Explain yourself, sir. 

● Pirates of the Anglican Communion, Part Quatre 

● Breaking News from El Camino Real 

● Perhaps they'd fancy walking instead... 

● Windsor Compliant? Hardly 

● Voter suppression efforts seen in six states 

● El Camino shows its true colors... 

● Presumptious Primates and Dsysfunctional Dissidents 

● When the Rapture comes, can I have your car? 

● Those Goat-Diapers 

Archives 

● July 2006 

● August 2006

Musings of a Toe-Walker: What say you, Akinola? Explain yourself, sir. 


BlogThis! 

Random and generally tangential musing and mutterings from a happily partnered, toe-walking, gay 

Episcopalian with attention deficit disorder, and a rather quirky, disjointed view of life, spirituality and 

whatever catches my attention. Sometimes insightful, occasionally humourous, usually scattered. 


What say you, Akinola? Explain yourself, sir. 

Apostolic Constitutions adaptation of Didascalia Apostolorum 

written in Syria aboutAD 250 

36. A bishop must not venture to ordain out of his own bounds for cities or countries that are 

not subject to him. But if he be convicted of having done so without the consent of such as 

governed those cities or countries, let him be deprived, both the bishop himself and those 

whom he has ordained. 

37. If any bishop that is ordained does not undertake his office, nor take care of the people 

committed to him, let him be suspended until he do undertake it; and in the like manner a 

presbyter and a deacon. But if he goes, and is not received, not because of the want of his own 

consent, but because of the ill temper of the people, let him continue bishop; but let the clergy 

of that city be suspended, because they have not taught that disobedient people better. 

Hat tips: Info posted to comments on Father Jake's blog by John-Julian OJN and Miss Givings 

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3...626_ENG_HTM.htm 

Griswolds visit Nigeria, world's largest Anglican province 

By Emmanuel Adekola 

2002-021 

Wednesday, January 23, 2002 


Griswolds' Nigeria visit called 'incredible gift' 

By Jan Nunley and Emmanuel Adekola 

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2002-028 



Barriers break down during Griswold visit to Church in Nigeria 

By Nan Cobbey 

2002-030 

Friday, February 01, 2002 


Nigerian Archbishop Akinola seated on international throne of New York cathedral 

By Neva Rae Fox 

2002-176 

Tuesday, July 16, 2002 


Chaplaincy to expatriate Nigerian Anglicans launched in US 

By Jan Nunley 

2003-053 

Tuesday, March 11, 2003 


Canterbury says Akinola's convocation plan not approved by Williams 

By Jan Nunley 

ENS- 100604-1 

Wednesday, October 06, 2004 


Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) announces a covenant with two North American church 

bodies 

ACNS4075 

Thursday, November 17, 2005 

http://www.episcopal-life.org/26...593_ENG_HTM.htm 

Nigeria elects Virginia bishop 

to serve North American ‘convocation’ 

Section: Newsworthy 

7/1/2006 

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Virginia bishop calls Nigerian election an 'affront' 

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NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL NOUVELLES EN FRANÇAIS FEATURES ARCHIVES STAFF PRESS ROOM 

Griswolds visit Nigeria, world's largest Anglican 

province 

By Emmanuel Adekola 

2002-021 


[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold arrived in Nigeria 

January 14, on a visit that will take him to all three provinces of the Church of Nigeria, 

the largest in the Anglican Communion. 

Accompanied by his wife, Phoebe, and four aides, Griswold was met on arrival at Murtala 

Muhammed International Airport in Lagos by a team of dignitaries headed by Archbishop 

Ephraim A. Ademowo of the Church of Nigeria's Province I, which has 31 dioceses. 

Griswold is expected to lead the annual Episcopal Retreat at the IBRU Center, Agbarha-Otor 

towards the end of his stay in the country. 

On Wednesday, January 16, the Griswold party visited the capital city of Abuja, where a 

welcome team led by Bishop Tanimu Aduda of the Diocese of Gwagwalada drove in a convoy 

into the city. The Most Rev. Peter Akinola, Primate of All Nigeria, was waiting to receive them 

into Episcopal House, his official residence. A brief service of thanksgiving for safe arrival was 

held in the chapel. 

Dialogue rather than violence encouraged 

The next day, the American team visited the city of Bida, where the presiding bishop 

commended the Etsu Nupe--the Muslim traditional ruler of the kingdom of Nupe--Alhaji Umaru 

Sanda Ndayako, for his wisdom in playing a moderate role between the Muslim and Christian 

population. 

The ruler informed Griswold of the sadness of his subjects over the September 11 attack 

against the US, and said he wondered how such evil could be perpetuated in the name of 

religion. He stressed that his townspeople have always lived in peaceful co-existence with their 

neighbors and pledged the total commitment of his people to resolving issues of dispute 

among them through dialogue rather than to resort to violence, as in some other parts of 

northern Nigeria. 

Griswold later visited the community of Doko, where he encouraged Christians in their struggle 

to maintain their identity in a predominantly Muslim society. Doko, which has a history of 

persevering faith in the face of stiff persecution, stands today as a bastion of Christianity in 

Nupeland. 

Griswold rounded off his visit to Bida by laying the foundation stone of a 10-room guest house 

to be built by the diocese. 

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Taking the Word to the world 

On January 18, the party was the guest of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral 

Commission (INEC) in their headquarters in Abuja. There, the presiding bishop promised the 

moral support of the Episcopal Church in the US as Nigeria's fledging democracy faces another 

round of elections in 2003. 

At the office of the Nigerian Information Minister, Jerry Gana, Griswold affirmed the key role 

Nigeria plays in the community of nations. He stressed that news about Nigeria is closely 

monitored in the US, noting that because of its size and great potentials, events in Nigeria 

have a ripple effect in the African region and in the whole world. 

Gana, an Anglican from Doko, cited the 'great and indelible' contributions of the early Anglican 

missionaries to the making of the Nigerian nation. He said their concern was not just the 

conversion of souls but also the proclamation of a holistic gospel, which transformed the 

environment of the people they sought to evangelize through provision of schools, hospitals 

and other social amenities. Gana said that the only way the gospel can again make an inroad 

into the life of the nation is for the church to rediscover this age long secret of taking 'the 

whole Word to the whole world.' 

At All Saints' Nursery and Primary School in Wuse, owned by Abuja Diocese, the presiding 

bishop addressed both the staff and pupils, expressing joy in being in their midst and noting 

that they are important as future leaders of the nation. 

Built by faith 

The visit to St. Matthew's Church was remarkable, as the church building was under 

construction. Tucked in the highbrow Maitama district, St. Matthew's is a congregation with 

great potential for growth. The Rev. Peter Okunromade, vicar of the church, rehearsed the 

history of the congregation and its humble beginnings in the house of one of the foundation 

members before moving to a nearby school. The land that the church now occupies was a 

result of much prayer and exercise of faith, Okunromade said, noting that Archbishop Peter 

Akinola was said to have given the church a two-month deadline to take the construction to 

the roof stage and less than a year to complete it. 

The party made a brief stop at the 3,000-seat Cathedral Church of the Advent, where the 

Primate of All Nigeria has his throne. Built in 10 months, the cathedral combines modern 

architecture with plenty of space. Ade Ademo, the diocesan architect, explained to the 

American visitors the intricacies involved in situating the fully air-conditioned Church at 

Gwarinpa, an area within phase II of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. The decision in 

1999 to relocate the cathedral from All Saints' Church in Wuse to Gwarinpa was born out of 

the yearning to keep pace with the city's development. 

[Editor's Note: Nan Cobbey of Episcopal Life is covering the Presiding Bishop's visit to Nigeria.] 

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Griswolds' Nigeria visit called 'incredible gift' 

By Jan Nunley and Emmanuel Adekola 

2002-028 


[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold says his visit to the 

Church of Nigeria January 15-23 'exceeded any expectations I might have had' and 

called the trip 'an incredible gift' of insight into the challenges faced by Nigerian Anglicans. 

Griswold, his wife Phoebe, and four Church Center staff members spent nine days touring the 

three provinces of the largest church body in the Anglican Communion, and Griswold held a 

retreat for the Church of Nigeria's House of Bishops. 

Cities visited by the Griswold party included Abuja, Bida, Wuse, Enugu, Enugu-Ukwu, Onitsha, 

and Lagos. 

Mixed feelings dispelled 

Conducting the retreat involved some risk-taking, Griswold said, for himself as well as the 

Nigerian bishops. 'I think there was some fear that I was coming with an agenda,' he said, 

'and I didn't know if my experience of Christ would speak to them.' Nigerian Anglicans, most 

with strong evangelical roots, have been 'formed by a different spirituality and sacramentality' 

than the Anglo-Catholic Griswold. But by the end of the retreat they regarded each other with 

'deep affection.' 

He said some of the bishops were surprised at his response to a question about women's 

ordination. 'I told them that 'you have your own cultural context and I would not presume to 

dictate'' to the Nigerian church about how to proceed on such issues, he said. 

The retreat was held in the IBRU Retreat Center in Aghara-Otor in Delta State. The Primate of 

the Church of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, introduced his guest and his entourage to his brother 

bishops. He said that Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, Griswold and himself were in 

the same study group during the 2001 Primates' Retreat in Kanuga. It was then, he said, that 

he had the opportunity of a close encounter with Griswold and came to the conclusion that he 

was 'a godly man, a man of deep piety and spirituality.' 

Akinola said he knew that participants in the retreat may have mixed feelings about their 

guest and the church he leads back in the United States, but was optimistic all such 

reservations would be dispelled by the time the retreat came to an end. 

Smiles from the heart 

Bishop Peter Adebiyi, secretary for the Church of Nigeria, gave a positive assessment of the 

retreat led by Griswold. 'When the news came that he was coming to lead the retreat, it was 



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[received] with mixed feelings because of the situation in America, with the kind of teaching in 

the churches there,' Adebiyi stated. 'People were not eager to receive him. In fact, there was a 

division in the House of Bishops. 

'But since he arrived, it looks as if he is a different person entirely. The meditations he led 

were really perfect, enriching, down to earth, spiritual. So, with that, lots of people [bishops] 

have had a second opinion about him. The meditations were very good and we really enjoyed 

them.' 

Phoebe Griswold added it was remarkable that all the women's groups she met with in Nigeria 

displayed generous love and hospitality. 'You smile from your heart!' she exclaimed at one 

point on the journey. She said she hoped her visit to Nigeria would 'open her heart' and that 

she would take the same love back to the women of the Episcopal Church. 




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Barriers break down during Griswold visit to 

Church in Nigeria 

By Nan Cobbey 

2002-030 

Friday, February 01, 2002 

[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold's visit to Nigeria 

January 14-24 and his meditations for three score of that church's 78 bishops has 

changed the hearts of men previously wary of the leader of such a 'liberal' church. 

'There had been a huge dividing wall... misconceptions about this man,' said Archbishop Peter 

Akinola, the primate who issued the unusual and somewhat risky invitation to the leader many 

across the Anglican Communion view with suspicion because of his church's stance on 

homosexuality and women's ordination. 

'The breaking down of the barrier... that is what has happened,' said Akinola at the conclusion 

of the 10-day visit during which Griswold, his wife, Phoebe, and four staff members visited all 

three provinces of the fastest growing church in the Anglican Communion. 'Their impression of 

him before has now been removed. They now see him as a brother.' 

That change of heart was part of Akinola's motivation in inviting the Griswolds to Nigeria, in 

planning their itinerary to rural villages, to the largest cities, to the places where Christianity 

first arrived in Nigeria with the Church Missionary Society (CMS). Akinola had other motives as 

well. In a country where 15 states have adopted Islam's Shari'a law and Christians can face 

severe persecution, he wanted 'to let Nigerians know that Nigerian Anglicans are not alone. 

They have brethren all over the world.' He also wanted to give his prayer partner from the 

1998 Lambeth Conference of the world's Episcopal/Anglican bishops-Akinola and Griswold 

were in the same prayer group-an experience of a nation very different from his own. He 

hoped that this visit, and those of other church leaders to follow, would make Nigeria more 

known throughout the Anglican Communion and help Nigeria's 18 million members experience 

themselves as part of a worldwide communion. 

Meeting the Christ in each other 

Griswold seemed to share that wish as he traveled through the hot, dusty country, choked in 

January by the sand-laden winds of the Harmattan that sweep down from the Sahara to the 

north. 

'We are all brothers by virtue of our baptism and by being members of the Anglican 

Communion,' he told the 200 seminarians at St. Paul's University College in Awka. 'It's a 

profound privilege to be here among you.' To 400 enthusiastic worshippers gathered for a rally 

in Yaba, he said, 'Know what an honor it is for me to be here... I have come to meet Christ in 

you. Every one of you is Christ to me... I expect Christ to challenge me through you, to 



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encourage me through you. I hope I can encourage you.' 

The Griswolds and their entourage-the Rev. Canon Patrick Mauney, head of the office of 

Anglican and Global Relations, the Rev. Canon Benjamin Musoke-Lubega, the newly hired 

Africa Partnership officer, the Rev. Canon Gordon Okunsanya, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal 

Church in Flint, Michigan, a Nigerian who acted as consultant facilitating the trip, and Nan 

Cobbey, reporter from Episcopal Life newspaper-were indeed challenged and enlightened as 

they flew from one province to another on a 38-seat jet made available to the church with its 

crew by Royal Dutch Shell. And as they drove the highways from town to town in vans and 

Jeeps provided by each diocese. 

A church a year 

Again and again, they saw what seemed to be impossible building projects going up in record 

time. Akinola sets deadlines: 'One church in one year' is his building motto. Congregations 

make it happen, often with all materials donated and all or most of the labor provided by 

parishioners. 

On the outskirts of Abuja in what is developing into an upscale neighborhood of embassies and 

wealthy residences, the travelers were taken to what will be St. Matthew's Anglican Church. 

Under a billowing canopy of red, yellow and black plastic strips to protect them from the sun, 

they sat on the newly poured foundation amongst the support pillars and heard the dreams of 

the congregation. 

The church will be finished before the year is out. They expect to attract a congregation of 

1,000 eventually. The design, an architectural delight with seven sides, and the vista, 

expansive in all directions from a hillside perch, promise to make the church just what the 

primate promised: 'the most beautiful masterpiece in Abuja.' 

In awe, the Griswolds and their traveling companions learned that the land and the license to 

build had just been granted in November and the 20 families of the congregation had donated 

everything that appeared on the site. 

'As I listened to you, I though of the loaves and the fishes,' said Griswold after hearing from 

the architect and the leaders of the congregation, their pride showing in every word and 

gesture. 'I think this says that we have the capacity within ourselves... certainly your primate 

always sees possibilities. In the United States, we forget sometimes that the greatest resource 

we have is ourselves. This parish is an example to us.' 

The Gospel beat 

There were other examples and other lessons. The new cathedral in Abuja was one. The huge 

structure designed by the diocesan architect seats 3,000 and provides amazing acoustics. It 

was built in 10 months with everything donated. The revival meeting going on in a lean-to 

behind the cathedral in Ughelli diocese was another example. Phoebe Griswold was led to that 

revival after a morning service of worship and welcome. 

At least 200 people had jammed into the tightly placed pews. They were sheltered from the 

sun by a sloping roof of tin held up by wooden posts. As Griswold and her companions arrived 

with Blessing Muoghereh, the wife of the local bishop, all were on their feet singing, swaying, 

shouting praises and 'Alleluias.' They slowed down only a moment to greet the newcomers and 

be introduced and then started singing to their guests. 

These were not church members. For the most part they were market women that members 

of the local Mothers Union have been witnessing to and evangelizing. They came to the revivalconducted 

all that week from 8 to 4 every day-to sing and hear the word from a special 

ministry within the church, Anglican Adam's Preaching Society. The microphone-flourishing 

preacher seemed a lively emcee with a talk show host's exuberance and swagger. He had 

Griswold and her entourage dancing to the insistent beat of the gospel songs by the time they 

were ready to leave. 



The spirit of friendship 

It was in Onitsha, where in 1857 the Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther had led the CMS Niger 

mission and formed the first native pastorate, that the Griswolds shared Sunday morning 

worship. With 800 or so others, they sang and prayed and watched in warm delight a threehour, 

10-minute service that included two drummed and danced offertories as well as the 

rededication of the Knights and Lady Knights of the Order of St. Christopher. 

The next morning they were off to the Ibru Center in Agbarha-Otor, the modern, immaculately 

maintained complex donated for church use by wealthy businessman and newspaper publisher 

Alex Ibru, for the retreat Frank Griswold would lead for the bishops. His series of four 

meditations focused on 'The Bishop as Witness and Person of Prayer: The Spirituality of 

Episcopal Ministry in the Anglican Tradition.' Griswold scheduled time for silent reflection, for 

small group discussion and for plenary sessions at which he would answer questions--and 

there were plenty. And as the final meditation approached the touchy questions arose... and 

were answered. Griswold shared his personal experience of ministry in the congregations he 

led before becoming bishop, explaining what he had learned and his own changes of heart 

about the issues of homosexuality and women's ordination. 

As the retreat drew to a close and the bishops posed for their final formal picture before 

heading back to their dioceses, the spirit of camaraderie and friendship was evident even to 

those who had not been present. Griswold's traveling companions had been escorted to other 

venues during the retreat. 

The desire for God 

'The meditations he gave were really perfect, enriching, down to earth, spiritual,' said Bishop 

Peter Adebiyi, secretary of the House of Bishops in the church of Nigeria. 'Lots of people have 

had a second opinion about him.' 

Archbishop Akinola had known it would be so. 'If he had not come here, there is no way on 

earth any persuasion on my part would have had the kind of impact that his visit has made. 

From his gentle approach, the unfolding of himself into the hands of the bishops, using himself 

as point of illustration, giving his personal experience... that makes all the difference. .. they 

are able to se him as a Christian... as a pastor. And that, for me, is amazing.' 

Akinola was grateful for the instruction the bishops received, instruction he called 'extremely 

rich, deep, moving. Their desire is God,' he said, 'and they never attain this kind of standard. 

We are working on it.' 




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Nigerian Archbishop Akinola seated on 

international throne of New York cathedral 

By Neva Rae Fox 

2002-176 

Tuesday, July 16, 2002 

[Episcopal News Service] 'I believe this is a historic and propitious moment in 

the life of our beloved Anglican Communion.' 

With those visionary words, the Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New 

York, installed the Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria on the International Cathedra of 

the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. 

Over 500 people watched as Archbishop Peter Akinola was seated on the international throne 

on Sunday, July 7. The majestic cathedral radiated a festive mood with all the trappings. Many 

visitors were adorned in colorful African robes befitting the welcoming of an African leader, 

with African drums and music greeting the procession as it made its way to the high altar. 

'This is a moment when we reach around the globe and join hands with our brothers and 

sisters in the faith,' said Sisk in addressing the congregation. 'This is moment when we see 

face to face those for whom and with whom we pray. This is a moment in which we affirm that 

our essential unity in Christ transcends our need to agree in every particular. This is a moment 

in which we confirm that not only is our communion broad enough and strong enough to 

withstand diversity, we are strong enough to realize that our very strength is enhanced by our 

diversity.' 

Global mosaic 

All who stepped to the lectern--Sisk and Akinola, as well as Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold 

and Dean James Kowalski of the cathedral--addressed the different contexts of the global 

mosaic. 

'It is my belief, it is my conviction, it is my hope, that we in New York will be made stronger by 

a closer fellowship with the church in Nigeria as you, our brothers and sisters, witness Christ's 

presence and love in the face of some of the most demanding and even dangerous settings on 

earth,' said Sisk. 'And in turn, is it my hope and conviction that the witness of the church in 

Nigeria will be enhanced and strengthened by a deepened fellowship with us here in New York 

as we too, in our way, attempt to witness to the abiding love of God for all people, wherever 

and in it whatever circumstances they may find themselves.' 

Akinola drew applause when he announced with sincerity, 'You have accepted us as we are, no 

strings attached. And for this we are very grateful. In so doing, we believe that both you and I 

have left the door open for stronger mutual friendship, for greater deepening and 



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understanding of our relationships.' 

Talking about the phenomenal growth of the Anglican Church in Nigeria, Akinola cited his 

diocese's decision to plant 52 churches in 2002. 'In May 40 were already planted,' he 

announced. 'In the middle of last week, five more had been planted. For us, church growth is 

a task that must be done.' 

Moving beyond doubts 

Griswold relayed the rockiness of his initial meeting with Akinola two years ago, based on 

some public criticisms the archbishop made of developments in the American church, 

particularly on sexuality issues. 'Because of what had been reported, I was none too sure that 

I wanted to meet him. He, on the other hand, had similar doubts about me.' After meeting, 

praying and sharing together, they quickly became friends and learned 'to appreciate the very 

different contexts in which we were called to be ministers of Christ.' 

Following their first meeting, Akinola asked Griswold to visit his country for the Nigerian 

bishops' annual retreat, a trip reported in the national Episcopal press. The presiding bishop 

was asked if he came with an agenda, 'not simply because I was the primate of ECUSA but 

because the force of the United States economically and culturally is such that the Episcopal 

Church is seen as part of that highly ambiguous reality which is perceived as both curse and 

blessing known as globalization.' 

Griswold then told of the success and joy at the visit. 'Little did I realize the invitation to 

Nigeria was an invitation to meet Christ clothed in a context and a cultural reality very 

different from my own,' he said. 'There democracy is still very much a fragile experiment and 

much of the infrastructure we take for granted is tenuous, to say the least. It is therefore the 

church, engaged in what it calls pragmatic evangelism, that is seeking to build many of the 

structures of civil society seen always as an expression of the Gospel and part of the ongoing 

work of evangelization.' 

Kowalski underscored the symbolism of the occasion, noting that hosting Akinola showed that 

Anglicans could 'stand together despite our differences.' 

Answering questions 

Following the service, St. James Chapel was jammed with men and women from the USA, 

Africa, and all parts of the world who wanted to meet the archbishop and learn more about 

him. Akinola greeted every question with calmness and a smile. 

In response as to whether he previously had made disparaging comments about lesbians and 

gays, Akinola maintained that he had been misquoted. 'Anybody in my position suffers from 

press interpretation all the time,' he stated, announcing that he is often faced with people who 

'come with their own agenda. These are misleading people, people who deliberately mislead 

others,' he stated. 'The question did not ask about gays and lesbians.' 

Concerning the appallingly rapid growth of HIV/AIDS in Africa, Akinola pointed out the work 

the church. 'In Nigeria, we have engaged more in the area of counseling.' 

The Church of Nigeria is the fastest-growing member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, 

with 18 million members, comprised of 78 dioceses in three provinces. Others who have been 

seated on the International Throne are: Vasken I, Catholikos of the Armenian Church 

(February 1989); Karekin II, Catholicos of Cilicia (February 1989); Archbishop Michael Peers, 

Primate of Canada (October 1989); Archbishop George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury 

(September 1992); Archbishop Orland Lindsay, Primate of the West Indies (June 1994); 

Metropolitan Sergei, Moscow Patriarchate (March 1997). 






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Chaplaincy to expatriate Nigerian Anglicans 

launched in US 

By Jan Nunley 

2003-053 

Tuesday, March 11, 2003 

[Episcopal News Service] When the Rev. Gordon Okunsanya meets the 

bishops of the Episcopal Church during their spring retreat at the Kanuga Conference 

Center in March, an idea born at Kanuga just two years ago will have come full circle. 

Okunsanya, interim rector of St. Paul's in Flint, Michigan, begins his ministry as the Episcopal 

Church's chaplain to Nigerian expatriates this month, offering bishops across the US 

opportunities to consult with him about the best way to minister to Nigerian and other African 

immigrants living in their dioceses. 

Son of the Nigerian bishop of Ondo, the Oxford-educated Okunsanya is uniquely equipped to 

understand the issues bishops face, said the Rev. Patrick Mauney, director of the church's 

Office of Anglican and Global Relations. Okunsanya is trained in both conflict management and 

church growth. He's also experienced as a deployment and transition officer, serving in the 

Diocese of Milwaukee as the bishop's deputy for congregational development, deployment and 

pastoral care and as canon administrator for the Cathedral of St. Paul in Detroit. 

An American-African partnership 

The idea for a specifically Nigerian chaplaincy in the US grew out of conversations between 

American bishops and the archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, following the Primates Meeting 

at Kanuga in March 2001. Akinola later toured four US dioceses--Texas, Southern Ohio, 

Michigan, and Chicago--where there are significant Nigerian immigrant populations. The 

chaplaincy program is firmly established in the United Kingdom, where there are already 

Nigerian-focused student chaplaincies at such locations as Lancaster University and the 

University of Greenwich. 

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold visited Nigeria in January 2002, conducting a retreat for the 

Nigerian House of Bishops that allayed fears about the American leader's 'liberalism' fueled by 

Internet gossip. In April 2002, Akinola met with the bishops at Camp Allen in Texas for further 

conversations. There, and in subsequent gatherings, Akinola laid out his plan for the 

chaplaincy as a partnership between ECUSA and the Church of Nigeria, in which the chaplain is 

jointly responsible to the primate of Nigeria and to the presiding bishop of ECUSA. 

As it stands today, the chaplaincy is funded through a three-year commitment from four major 

donors: the Dioceses of Texas and Southern Ohio, the Church of Nigeria, and the presiding 

bishop's discretionary fund. Other US bishops have been asked to contribute. Currently 

Okunsanya serves on a contract basis, but an 'optimal budget,' said Mauney, would enable 



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him to work in the chaplaincy full-time. He'll be accountable 'to the bishop he's working with, 

to the presiding bishop through the Office of Anglican and Global Relations, and have 

conceptual accountability to the primate of Nigeria,' Mauney explained. The chaplaincy will also 

maintain connections to the Black Ministries office, currently being restructured, and to the 

Africa Partnership Office. 

In his address to the Church of Nigeria's 7th General Synod in September 2002, Akinola 

announced the establishment of the chaplaincy 'to look after the religious and spiritual 

interests of Nigerian Anglicans' in the US. 'We do not intend to stop in America,' Akinola told 

the gathering. 'Plans are fast afoot to establish similar chaplaincies in other parts of the globe.' 

Akinola cited South East Asia (including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia), 

Europe, Russia, and other parts of Africa as potential sites for similar Nigerian Anglican 

chaplaincies. 

Largest Anglican church in the world 

Christianity came to Nigeria in the 15th century through the efforts of Augustinian and 

Capuchin monks from Portugal. Anglicanism followed in 1842, brought by the Revs. Henry 

Townsend and Samuel Ajayi Crowther (a Yoruba ex-slave) of the Church Missionary Society. 

Crowther was elected bishop in 1864 and posted to the see of the Niger. The 16 dioceses in 

Nigeria were constituted into the Province of Nigeria in February 1979, and the fast-growing 

church was split into three provinces in September 1997. 

Now with 18 million members, the Anglican Church of Nigeria is estimated to embrace some 

12 to 15 percent of the total population of Nigeria, said Mauney, so it's possible there are 'an 

extraordinary number' of Anglicans among Nigerian immigrants to the US. 'A lot of our bishops 

had noticed an increasing number of Nigerian parishioners over the years in places like 

Chicago, New York, Houston, and other urban centers,' said Mauney. 'I was stunned to hear 

that there could be as many as a couple of million Nigerian expatriates in this country.' 

Many Nigerians in the US don't know that ECUSA is 'their church,' Mauney said. Those who do 

may not be comfortable with the predominantly Anglo-Catholic worship style of churches in 

Chicago and other urban centers, which does not reflect the evangelical emphasis of Nigerian 

Anglicanism. There is also concern that lonely Nigerians may seek out local expressions of one 

of the so-called 'prosperity churches' exported by US televangelists to Nigeria in the 1970s, 

charismatic congregations which emphasize wealth and healing as signs of God's approval and 

are especially popular in southern Nigeria. 

The American way has been to establish minority-language congregations, but Akinola prefers 

that the chaplaincy keep worship in English, which is Nigeria's official language, Mauney said. 

Nigeria is one of Africa's most culturally and linguistically diverse countries, with 11 major 

ethnolinguistic groups and 350 or more languages spoken. 'Where he is coming from is a real 

issue within Nigeria, which is the dangers of fragmentation of the church there and their 

witness because of the ethnicities and linguistic groups,' said Mauney. 'He did not want to see 

that exported.' 

But other Anglophone Africans would be welcome, too. 'We're starting with Nigeria and 

Nigerians. But what about all the Kenyans and Ghanaians and Liberians?' Mauney pointed out. 

'Where we wound up was, let's begin with the Nigerian community because it's large and this 

is where the initiative came from, but gradually we're hoping that the chaplain will be able to 

assist the bishops with Africans in general.' Whether the chaplaincy would encourage church 

plants with a distinctive African worship style or incorporation into existing congregations 

would depend on the situation in each diocese. 

Working through the Episcopal Church 

Akinola 'has been very clear that he wants to see this as a partnership with the Episcopal 

Church, rather than an overseas branch of the Church of Nigeria,' Mauney said, adding that 

Akinola has little sympathy for the tactics of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA.) In an July 

2001 interview conducted by Canon Emmanuel Adekola of Church of Nigeria News, the 



archbishop explained that his initial reaction to the AMiA idea was positive, but that as time 

went on he did not see 'any tangible effort being made' by AMiA leaders towards reconciliation 

with the Episcopal Church. 'I will not support any schismatic or separatist agenda for any 

church, be it America, Singapore or Uganda or anywhere for that matter,' Akinola said. 

A subsequent trip to four US dioceses convinced him that 'if what I saw [in those dioceses] 

was what obtained in other parts, then I don't know what people are talking about, in terms of 

crisis in the American church.' To the insinuation that his change of heart was motivated by 

'favors' from American Episcopalians, Akinola pointed out that he was 'one of the few leaders 

who spoke out vehemently against General [Sani] Abacha at the risk of my own life...There is 

no price tag on my head. I am not leading a beggar Church.' 

During his 2001 trip, Akinola also met with the Rev. Augustine Ogbunugwu and his dissident 

congregation in Houston for three days. The group grew out of a Sunday afternoon worship for 

African immigrants established by the Diocese of Texas at Houston's Church of the Epiphany in 

1999. 'But because of their hidden agenda, no sooner had I left Houston than they pulled out 

of ECUSA to join AMiA,' he said. 'To be an Anglican in part means you are in communion with 

the See of Canterbury. AMiA is not in communion with the See of Canterbury as a church. So, 

by breaking away from ECUSA, Augustine Ogbunugwu has broken communion with the Church 

of Nigeria.' 

In January of this year, Benjamin Nwankiti, recently retired archbishop of the Church of 

Nigeria's Province Two, attended the AMiA's winter conference in Pawleys Island, South 

Carolina, and announced his intention to take up residence at the Houston congregation. 

Nwankiti apparently did not contact Texas bishops Claude Payne or Don Wimberly in advance 

of his decision. In February, Griswold wrote to Akinola at the latter's request describing the 

situation. 

'The reason [Akinola] asked for this letter was that he had gotten word that this retired 

archbishop was coming to do this and was at the AMiA conference in January, and he wanted 

to bring it up with his council and say 'We don't approve of this,'' Mauney explained. 'And so 

he told [Bishop Griswold] and said it would be helpful to have a letter. He says, 'If we're going 

to work with Nigerians in this country, it has to be through the Episcopal Church.'' 




‹‹ Return 



Canterbury says Akinola's convocation plan not 

approved by Williams 

By Jan Nunley 

ENS- 100604-1 

Wednesday, October 06, 2004 

[Episcopal News Service] The Archbishop of Canterbury's office says 

Archbishop Rowan Williams has not approved plans to establish a non-geographic 

Nigerian diocese, independent of Episcopal Church (ECUSA) structures, on American soil. 

A spokesman says Williams and Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria did discuss working within 

the structures of ECUSA to provide for the spiritual needs of expatriate Nigerian Anglicans in 

the United States. 

At a news conference October 5, Akinola announced plans to establish the Nigerian 

convocation for "those thousands of Nigerian Anglicans who feel alienated by the actions of the 

Episcopal Church" in consecrating an openly-gay priest, V. Gene Robinson, as a diocesan 

bishop last year. Asked whether the convocation would be open to non-Nigerians, he said, 

"They are absolutely free to join. The convocation is a non-geographic diocese." 

Akinola said he had spoken with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams about the 

convocation and that Williams had told him, "I wish that you would do this with the Network" 

of Anglican Dioceses and Parishes, or NACDAP. So, he said, the convocation will be conducted 

in what Truro's rector Martyn Minns described as a "partnership" with NACDAP. 

Reached on Wednesday, Archbishop Williams' press secretary, the Rev. Jonathan Jennings, 

released a brief statement: "The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, and 

Archbishop Akinola have discussed difficulties for some Nigerian congregations in the USA 

arising from the General Convention decision and the consecration of Gene Robinson. Whilst 

the issue and its presenting difficulties were discussed, and the role of the 'network' raised as 

providing a possible solution within the structures of ECUSA, the possibility of a Nigerian 

convocation in the United States and of the Nigerian House of Bishops commending, 

recommending or choosing a bishop was not raised and formed no part of these discussions. 

"The Archbishop of Canterbury awaits the findings and recommendations of the Lambeth 

Commission." 

Akinola, leader of 17.5 million Nigerian Anglicans, has in the past called Robinson's election 

"an attack on the Church of God," declared his province to be in broken communion with the 

Episcopal Church (ECUSA), and refused to attend meetings at which any representative of the 



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American church is present. He also heads the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, and 

there has been speculation in some quarters that he would lead conservative Anglicans to form 

an alternative to the Anglican Communion if strong action is not taken against ECUSA. 

"My coming is to begin to explore ways and means of establishing another spiritual home for 

[Nigerian Anglicans in the U.S.] similar to what the Church of England has done for its people 

in Europe, and what ECUSA itself has done in Europe," Akinola told reporters gathering at 

Truro Church in Fairfax, Virginia. "Our people are deserting the Anglican church because of 

what has happened in this country," he added. "We have no choice but to rescue our people." 

The Convocation of American Churches in Europe was established in the 19th century to 

provide for the spiritual needs of Episcopalians and other English-speaking people in Europe 

where there was no Anglican presence. A small number of congregations were established in 

the great cities of Western Europe, while elsewhere Episcopalians were welcomed and 

committed members of many Church of England chaplaincies. Strictly speaking, the Presiding 

Bishop of the Episcopal Church has jurisdiction over the Convocation, but day-to-day 

responsibility is entrusted to the Bishop in Charge. There are now four Anglican jurisdictions 

on the European mainland. 

Akinola said he previously opposed crossing territorial borders, but had changed his mind. 

"That was when we were together sharing the same faith...but all that has been shattered," he 

said. 

In a pastoral letter to Nigerian clergy in 2001, Akinola wrote: "Ultimately, it is ECUSA that 

must sort itself out. Let us call a spade a spade: No one of us has any constitutional powers 

to impose any 'external' answers on others." 

The Anglican primates also stated following their meeting last October: "Whilst we reaffirm the 

teaching of successive Lambeth Conferences that bishops must respect the autonomy and 

territorial integrity of dioceses and provinces other than their own, we call on the provinces 

concerned to make adequate provision for episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities within 

their own area of pastoral care in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of 

the Primates." 

Akinola arrived in the U.S. Monday night and gave a speech at All Saints Church in Chevy 

Chase, Maryland, with about 100 people in attendance. The All Saints web site reported that 

Akinola was there to "encourage Nigerian Christians" and that his speech was particularly 

aimed at Nigerian priests in the area. 

"I think there were about eight or ten Nigerians in the building, none of them were priests of 

our diocese, and several were friends of Akinola," said Jim Naughton, director of 

communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. "There were a lot of members of the 

American Anglican Council on hand, though." 

Akinola estimated that there are 250,000 Nigerian Anglicans in the United States. Naughton 

said the Diocese of Washington, which is one of the main entry points for Nigerian immigrants 

to the U. S. has between 500 and 700 Nigerian members. 

Akinola is spending two weeks in the U.S. with stops in Washington, New York, Chicago, 

Houston, Los Angeles and Oklahoma City. 

-- The Rev. Jan Nunley is deputy director of Episcopal News Service. 






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Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 

announces a covenant with two North American 

church bodies 

ACNS4075 

Thursday, November 17, 2005 

[Anglican Communion News Service] The Church of Nigeria has released 

the following two press statements: 

Covenant Between The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and the Reformed Episcopal 

Church and the Anglican Province of America. 

In an historic moment, as part of the realignment of global Anglicanism, on November 12, 

2005 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Most Rev. Peter J. Akinola, Primate of the Church of 

Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Rev. Leonard W. Riches, Presiding Bishop of the 

Reformed Episcopal Church, and the Most Rev. Walter H. Grundorf, Presiding Bishop of the 

Anglican Province of America, entered on behalf of their three Churches a Covenant Union of 

Anglican Churches in Concordat. 

The purpose of the covenant of concord is to work together in the common cause of the 

Gospel of Jesus Christ, pledging to each other their mutual cooperation, support, discipline and 

accountability. Recognizing that all three Churches share a common heritage of faith and order 

within the Anglican tradition, they are united by saving belief in Jesus Christ as the Way, the 

Truth and the Life, and by their commitment to the Faith once delivered, based on the 

irrevocable Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the final authority for faith and 

life. 

It was agreed that ministers of these Churches, subject to the respective regulations within 

the jurisdictions, may be eligible to exercise pastoral ministry in each Church. Archbishops and 

bishops of the Churches in concordat may also be invited to conduct episcopal duties within 

the other jurisdictions with the blessing of the appropriate provincial authorities. 

The three Churches have united specifically for joint mission in North America. Archbishops 

Riches and Grundorf welcomed the Church of Nigeria's CANA initiative. They assured 

Archbishop Akinola that, wherever possible, individual congregations of all three jurisdictions, 

within proximate geographic locations, would work closely and cooperatively together to 

demonstrate their commitment to one another and their desire to witness to a consistent 

Biblical, Evangelical and Catholic expression of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Covenant Union of Anglican Churches in Concordat among The Church of Nigeria (Anglican 



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Communion) The Reformed Episcopal Church, and The Anglican Province of America. 

Whereas the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Reformed Episcopal Church and the 

Anglican Province of America share a common heritage of faith and order within the Anglican 

tradition; be it understood that: 

Article 1: The Churches, recognizing the fact that they are working together in the common 

cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, pledge to each other, their mutual cooperation, support, 

discipline and accountability. 

Article 2: Wherever possible, individual congregations within proximate geographic locations 

will work closely and cooperatively to demonstrate their commitment to one another and their 

desire to witness to a consistent Biblical, Evangelical and Catholic expression of faith in the 

Lord Jesus Christ. 

Article 3: As evidence of our union in Christ and the Common Standards of the faith existing 

among the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Reformed Episcopal Church and the 

Anglican Province of America, a delegation of ministers and laity may be sent to attend each 

other's Provincial and General Synods or Councils. As a further demonstration of our union, 

bishops of the Churches may attend each other's episcopal meetings with the expectation that 

they will be invited to speak but not cast votes. 

Article 4: The Ministers of the Churches may, subject to the respective regulations of the 

Churches, be eligible to exercise pastoral ministry in each Church. Archbishops and Bishops of 

the Churches in the concordat may also be invited to conduct episcopal duties with 

accountability, discipline and the episcopal blessing of the local appropriate provincial 

authorities. 

Article 5: Communicants of the Churches may be received into the other Churches on 

presentation of letters of transfer, or their equivalent. 

Article 6: It is also our declared intention to initiate a process that will permit us, in due course 

to enter into an agreement of full communion with a clear and common understanding of all of 

its implications. 

The miracle of CANA continues! 

From the Primate of all Nigeria, Archbishop Peter J. Akinola: 

Greetings in the name of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 

Earlier this year we announced CANA - a mission of the Church of Nigeria, a Convocation for 

Anglicans in North America. We see this as a creative way to provide pastoral and episcopal 

care for those alienated by the actions of ECUSA. As we said in our letter of April 7th, 2005, 

"Our intention is not to challenge or intervene in the churches of ECUSA or the Anglican 

Church of Canada but to provide safe harbour for all those who can no longer find their 

spiritual home in those churches." While CANA is an initiative of the Church of Nigeria it is our 

desire is to welcome all those who share our faith and vision for the Church. 

In September 2005 at its 8th General Synod of the Church of Nigeria made the necessary 

constitutional changes to permit the formal establishment of the Convocation in the USA and 

we have just completed the necessary legal framework to establish CANA as a recognized 

Anglican Church structure in the USA. Abraham N. Yisa, Esq., Registrar of the Church of 

Nigeria will serve as chairman of the board of trustees, Chief Gboyega Delano of Chicago will 

serve as secretary and Mrs. Patience Oruh of Maryland will serve as treasurer. I am profoundly 



grateful for their willingness to serve and look forward to adding additional members to the 

Board as our work expands 

We are beginning a process of formally incorporating clergy and congregations into CANA and 

we will shortly be selecting and consecrating episcopal leadership to oversee further growth 

and development and enable us to more effectively respond to the pressing needs within the 

USA. We are working closely and cooperatively with the Anglican Communion Network and 

others who are committed to orthodox Anglican faith and practice. It is our hope to find more 

creative ways to strengthen our common witness as we seek to remain faithful to our Gospel 

mission. One example is our recently adopted Covenant agreement with the Reformed 

Episcopal Church and the Anglican Province of America. 

In the first miracle of CANA Jesus transformed a disaster into a glorious celebration and it is 

our desire to see God use CANA again to transform the crisis in the Communion into an 

occasion of great blessing. 

For further information about CANA please contact the Rev'd Nathan Kanu, Oklahoma City, 

CANA Interim Communications Officer, odinathnfe@sbcglobal.net 

Editors Note: 

The Reformed Episcopal Church and The Anglican Province of America are Churches that are 

not in Communion with the See of Canterbury. 

ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is distributed to more than 

8,000 journalists and other readers around the world. 

For subscription INFORMATION please go to: 

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/acnslist.html 

For daily updates on local, national and communion-wide news stories please visit the ACNS 

Digest page: 

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/digest/index.cfm 


Episcopal Life 

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for a free subscription 

‹‹ Return 

Nigeria elects Virginia bishop 

to serve North American ‘convocation’ 

Section: Newsworthy 

7/1/2006 

http://www.episcopal-life.org/26769_76593_ENG_HTM.htm [8/17/2006 10:34:01 PM] 


The Anglican Church of Nigeria on June 28 announced that its 

Episcopal Synod had elected four priests as bishops, including the 

Rev. Canon Martyn Minns of Truro Church in Fairfax, Va. The Nigerian church’s website 

said that Minns, who was a deputy from the Diocese of Virginia at General Convention, was 

elected to serve the church’s Convocation of Anglican Churches in North America. 

CANA serves about 20 churches in the United States and Canada and was established by 

Archbishop Peter J. Akinola, primate of Nigeria, in April 2005. In a letter at the time, he 

wrote, “Our intention is not to challenge or intervene in the churches of ECUSA or the 

Anglican Church of Canada but to provide safe harbor for all those who can no longer find 

their spiritual home in those churches.” 

The Church of Nigeria’s website noted that the synod also had elected Simon Mutum of the 

Diocese of Jalingo as “bishop for nongeographic nomadic mission.” No other details were 

offered. 


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Virginia bishop calls Nigerian election an 'affront' 

Friday, June 30, 2006 

The Rt. Rev. Peter Lee, Bishop of Virginia 

[Episcopal News 

Service] Virginia Bishop Peter 

Lee has written to his diocese to say that 

the June 28 election of the Rev. Martyn 

Minns, rector of Truro Church in Fairfax, 

Virginia, as a bishop of the Church of 

Nigeria with oversight of the Convocation 

of Anglicans in North America is "an 

affront to the traditional, orthodox 

understanding of Anglican Provincial 

Autonomy." 

"Archbishop Akinola acknowledges as 

much in his letter to Archbishop of 

Canterbury Rowan Williams," Lee wrote. 

Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola 

founded the convocation (CANA) in April 

2005 to, he said, minister to "all those 

who can no longer find their spiritual 

home" in the Episcopal Church and the 

Anglican Church of Canada. 

Lee wrote that it is impossible to honor 

Akinola's request that Minns remain 

rector of Truro Church while serving as a 

Nigerian bishop. 

In the letter posted on the diocesan website, Lee also wrote that a June 29 news article in the 

Washington Times was wrong to report that Minns and the leaders of The Falls Church, Falls 

Church, Virginia, want to lead members out of the diocese. 

The full text of Lee's letter is available at http://www.thediocese.net/press/pressroom.shtml 



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Musings of a Toe-Walker: Pirates of the Anglican Communion, Part Quatre 


BlogThis! 





8:33 AM 


Pirates of the Anglican Communion, Part Quatre 

Unsaintly Pat 

has posted the latest installment of her tome detailing the adventures 

of our heroine +Katherine Jefferts-Schori and her ragtag band of not- 

quite-saints who have formed the resistance against the 

Pirates of the Anglican Communion 

Don't miss this latest episode: 


Well done, Pat! This latest episode gave me chills and goosebumps! 

0 Comments: 


http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/pirates-of-anglican-communion-part.html (1 of 2) [8/17/2006 10:34:31 PM] 

0 comments

Musings of a Toe-Walker: Pirates of the Anglican Communion, Part Quatre 

No Claim to Sainthood 


BlogThis! 

A branch in the vine. Postings about faith, a calling and living an imperfect life in an 

imperfect world. Making no claim to sainthood, but sharing my joys and struggles. 

Commentary on everything. 


Pirates of the Anglican Communion: 


Note: To read Part 1, go here. For Part 2, go here; For Part 3, go here. 

After traveling through a dry, barren wasteland for many hours, the 

Band of the Three-Legged Stool slows as its members approach a river. 

Bishop Schori holds up her hand in the universal sign for "stop." On foot, she, Father 

Jake and Sparrow cautiously approach a rough, wooden bridge spanning the river. 

It's old, and worn, and bleached white with age. Beneath it, sluggish black water 

oozes past. 

The smell wafting up from the water is rank. It tells a tale of dead things, of decay, of 

lost hope. 

Schori turns to Jake and Sparrow and asks, "Will this bridge carry our weight?" 

The two men gingerly step on the first plank. It creaks, but holds. 

http://1episcopalvoice.blogspot.com/2006/08/pirates-of-anglican-communion-dead_15.html (1 of 6) [8/17/2006 10:38:52 PM]


"Perhaps we should cross it one rider and one horse at a time," 

Sparrow says. 

They stand staring into the sludgy water. The smoky mist rising 

from it seems to fill the land on the far bank. 

Jake understands why MadPriest looked so drawn. As the band 

drew deeper into the wasteland, an oppression settled over him 

like a shroud. He felt it pushing him down, as if into the earth itself. The pinched 

expressions around him tell him others are suffering from it, too. 

Jake shakes his head, trying to jar loose the sense of doom. 

Schori looks at him with concern. 

"We must pray before we take another step," she says. 

Schori calls the entire band together. They stand hand in hand, or hand on shoulder, 

head bowed, as she prays, "Dear mother God, look after us as a hen looks after her 

chicks. Shield us from danger under your wing. Bless us that we may accomplish 

your will here, in this strange land. Bless us that we may then return home safely." 

She anoints each rider and each horse, and pronounces individual benedictions. Then 

she approaches the convoy of vehicles. 

"I don't think your trucks and vans will make it across this bridge. I don't know what 

we'll find on the other side. What say you; do you wish to turn back?" 

"We stand together," Jeffrey says. "We will not turn back." 

"Lisa the Crucifer will hold high the cross. It will be as a beacon for us," he adds. 

Lisa, dressed in white, steps forward with determination, holding the cross before 

her. Its golden light radiates around her. 

"Very well," Schori says. "Onward. I'll go first. If it's safe, you, Jake, 

then Sparrow, then Lisa, then the rest of the horse riders, then those 

on foot. Remember, one at a time." 

Sparrow says, "No, milady. My charge is to protect you, and bring you 

safely to Lambeth Palace. I cannot let you perish here, in this unholy 

water." He looks down at it with disgust. "I will go first, and make sure 

the bridge can be safely passed." 



After a bit of arguing and a coin toss with Jake to settle the argument of who will go 

first, Sparrow proceeds. 

Cautiously, he steps onto the bridge, holding his horse's reins. The horse follows 

hesitantly, with a little nicker of anxiety. 

The bridge creaks ominously. The horse's eyes roll with fright, white showing all 

around. 

Sparrow takes another couple of steps. One board breaks, but he and the horse 

scramble past it. They make it to the misty land on the other side. 

The horse's flanks continue to tremble in fear. 

Sparrow removes a coil of rope from his saddlebag. 

"Jake," he calls. "Catch this. Wrap the middle of it 'round Bishop Schori, and hold fast 

your end, until she's safe across the river." 

"Aye," says Jake. He carefully girdles Schori with the rope, then cinches the end of 

the rope's length around the saddle horn on his horse, for good measure. 

Everyone holds their breath until Schori arrives safely on the other side. Sparrow and 

Jake hold the rope so tightly, her feet barely touched the planks as she crosses. 

Schori loosens the rope around her and wheezes in a gulp of air. 

Her horse, like Sparrow's, quivers in fear. 

Jake ties the rope around Lisa, then, holding her elbow, he escorts her across the 

bridge. His horse follows closely behind him. 

Another plank breaks, and the horse slides toward the edge, scrambling for footing. 

Jake pulls on the reins with all his strength, and the horse stops. The animal then 

follows Jake so closely his nose stays under Jake's arm, as they complete their 

tortuous journey. 

One-by-one, the remainder of the band cross the bridge. 

"It's only your prayers got us all here safe," Sparrow says, bowing to 

the bishop, who bows back to him. 

He hears a cracking of twigs in the woods lining the road. Sparrow 

draws his sword as he turns toward the sound, but it's too late. A horde of screaming 

Fundamentalists attack the band, beating them with Bibles. 



Sparrow senses danger, draws his sword, but it's too late. 

Sparrow sees Jake, Schori, Jeffrey, and the rest valiantly trying to 

repel the blows, but in this place, they're vastly outnumbered. 

Growly screams, quoting Leviticus and Deuteronomy, are almost 

as terrorizing as the two-handed swings with heavy Bibles. 

Under the hail of thumps to his head, Sparrow falls to the ground, 

unconscious. 

What will happen to our intrepid band? Will it survive this attack? 

Be sure to tune in for the next episode of Pirates of the Anglican Communion. 

posted by UnSaintly Pat @ 8/15/2006 08:30:00 PM 

2 Comments: 

At 7:37 AM, Toewalker said... 

2 comments links to this post 

'"Jake," he calls. "Catch this. Wrap the middle of it 'round Bishop Schori, and hold 

fast your end, until she's safe across the river.""Aye," says Jake. He carefully girdles 

Schori with the rope, then cinches the end of the rope's length around the saddle 

horn on his horse, for good measure.'This mental visual really spoke to me. In it, I 

saw Jake on one side of the bridge, Sparrow on the other, both holding the rope that 

will save Schori if the bridge gives way. It illustrates very clearly that +KJS needs our 

protection and support as much as we need hers.Thanks for this latest chapter, Pat. I 

quite literally got goosebumps while reading it. 

At 8:31 AM, UnSaintly Pat said... 

Thanks, Toewalker. (blush). Yes, we must be willing to support each other, and be 

there for each other. 




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Thursday, July 13, 2006 

Playing now in a diocese near you: 


Dead Man's Province 

Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself drawn into a supernatural battle, 

when the Archbishop of Canterbury (Robbie Coltrane) charges him 

with bringing Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church 

(Keira Knightley), safely to a meeting at Lambeth Palace. 

Sparrow arrives in the U.S. only to find the pirate Robert Duncan (Peter Lorre) and 

his cohorts have raided and looted six dioceses, and taken their people as slaves into 

a land they have stolen from others and renamed Province X. They declare 

themselves its rulers. Little do they know the true plans of Akinola of Africa (Darth 

Vader), with whom they have forged a compact. 

http://1episcopalvoice.blogspot.com/2006/07/playing-now-in-diocese-near-you.html (1 of 6) [8/17/2006 10:40:13 PM]


Schori tells Sparrow he must rescue the stolen dioceses 

before she will acompany him to England. What is Sparrow 

to do? 

He knows entering Province X may doom him to eternal 

Inquisition, endless fundamentalism and intolerable 

Calvinism. Yet, in order to break the compact, restore life 

to the Anglican Communion and save the exiles, he must 

go in. 

Schori pledges to stand with Sparrow, as does Father Jake 

(Johnny Depp. Or maybe it really is Father Jake.) 

Together, they rally the forces of True Anglicanism, the Via 

Media and the Free Dioceses, under the banner of the Three- 

Legged Stool. 

Sparrow remembers the vials of anti-viper venom and Holy 

Water the Archbishop gave him (as well as the cross his 

mother gave him, but which he usually keeps hidden), and 

holds them closely. Bishop Schori arms herself with the 

Sword of Truth and holds high the Bible. Father Jake arms 

himself with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace and the Shield of Salvation 

offered to all. They see others around them similarly armed. 

What will be their fate? What adventures and misadventures lie before them? 

[Ed. Note: these events are fictional, so far.] 


10 Comments: 

At 5:48 PM, Anonymous said... 




Arr, harrr harr, matey! Rolling on the floor! Can't wait to read the rest of the 

adventure. 


I don't get it. I read about the woman who was elected presiding bishop, but who is 

Robert Duncan? What's a 3 legged stool? What is the Father Jake stuff?Puzzled in 

Virginia 


Puzzled, here's a very short history of Anglicanism from 

http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/visitors_43633_ENG_Print.html:Richard Hooker 

(1554 –1600) was the theologian who affirmed the Anglican sources of authority as 

scripture, tradition, and reason (a.k.a. the three-legged stool).Why Hooker?“Shaped 

a distinctive Anglican approach that steers a course between authority and reason, 

giving it adaptability to changing cultural situations.”–Anon“Hooker essentially 

invented Anglicanism... He also articulated a distinctive liturgical theology that 

undergirds our life of prayer.”–Priest and professor“His argument for appeal to 

scripture tradition and reason is something that has survived the ages. He is also 

credited with the term ‘Via Media’ or ‘Middle Way’ which means that we are both 

Protestant and Catholic. We don't need to decide between these two branches of 

Christendom because we as Anglicans are unique in Christendom in that we are fully 

a part of both Protestant Christianity and Catholic Christianity.”–College student, 

Pennsylvania 

At 5:31 PM, kevin beck said... 

You have a great blog here. I'm looking forward to reading more.Blessings 

At 9:23 PM, Prior Aelred said... 

Dear Unsaintly --Here because of dear MadPriest -- a marvelous post that I have sent 

to all my church friends (expect many hits!) 




Thanks, guys. (blush) 


So Archbishop Akinola is Darth Vader? Is that because he's black? 

At 1:11 PM, Monk-in-Training said... 

This is hilarious. I will have to keep tabs on it.For the record Darth Vadar is caucasian 

his clothing is black and has nothing to do with his race. 


Bishop Duncan is Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, my diocese. I think the choice 

of Peter Lorre is a hoot!! 

At 5:04 PM, John-Julian , OJN said... 

Just found your blog, and it is a sheer delight!You know, I always wanted to be holy, 

too, but it just didn't work out! So it goes… 



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Friday, July 28, 2006 


Dead Man's Province, Part Deux 

Sparrow and the band of hundreds of clerics and determined lay 

people amass on the journey to the border of Province X. 

Though it is only early afternoon, darkness and uneasiness 

descend swiftly upon them. 

The band of the Three-Legged Stool traveled across featureless plains all day. 

Vehicles began to act erratically around noontime. Some trucks stalled, and refused 

to start again, and those vehicles were abandoned, of necessity. 

Sparrow is at a loss to explain the deepening darkness. The sun 

should be bright in the sky, yet it looks like a winter's evening. 

Sparrow, Schori and Father Jake agree to halt and make camp until MadPriest 

(Orlando Bloom) returns from a scouting expedition. 

http://1episcopalvoice.blogspot.com/2006/07/pirates-of-anglican-communion-dead.html (1 of 4) [8/17/2006 10:40:21 PM]


The aroma of coffee fills the air as the command team pores over 

maps, trying to determine exactly where they are in this featureless 

land, and where the border to Province X lies, for no one knows 

exactly where the tenth province begins. They speculate about the 

causes of the enveloping gloom. 

Sparrow surreptitiously pulls a flask from his pocket and pours "a little" rum into his 

coffee. "Arrggghh. I remember a day like this only once before. It was 

20 years ago, and we were chasing the ghost ship into deep waters of the Atlantic. 

There was monstrous evil things out there..." Sparrow stops to finish his cup. 

The air is still and silent. There's no trace of life around them — neither the chirp of a 

single bird nor the yip of a lone coyote. 

Suddenly, the air is filled with thundering hooves.It is MadPriest on horseback, and 

50 more horses follow, tethered to a line trailing from his saddle. 

What happened to MadPriest's Geo Tracker? Where did he find the 

horses? 

Only readers of the next installment will know. 

posted by UnSaintly Pat @ 7/28/2006 12:36:00 AM 

4 Comments: 

At 12:42 AM, Anonymous said... 

Horses and a Geo Tracker? That's great. 

At 12:06 PM, Grandmère Mimi said... 




Unsaintly Pat, what an imagination! This is wonderful. Did you know that your post 

was so powerful that it caused blogger comments to crash for a bit? Careful there. 

At 5:49 PM, UnSaintly Pat said... 

Aw, shucks. (Drags toe of shoe through sand). 'T'weren't nothin'!My e-mail's trying 

to crash, too -- maybe I'm more powerful than I realized....(Thanks, Mimi.) 

At 2:14 PM, Pisco Sours said... 

*teehee!* 



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Dead Man's Province, Part Trois 

Note: To read Part 1, go here. For Part 2, go here. 

MadPriest 

rides his horse all the way up to the command post before dismounting. He's 

immediately beset with questions. Brushing the queries aside, he grabs the 

coffeepot, fills a mug, and downs it. 

"You need everything you've got to keep you going out here," he says. 

"Sit down and rest for a moment. Are you all right?" Schori asks. 

"Yes. I'm exhausted. It's that place," MadPriest replies. "It's oppressive. With each 

mile into that Godforsaken land, the air became heavier. Stifling." 



"What about the horses? Where's your Geo Tracker?" Father Jake queries. 

"I had to abandon the Geo Tracker about five miles in. It just quit. No modern 

invention works there. Even my watch quit, a bit after the Geo sputtered out. Then 

the watch started running backwards," MadPriest says, holding his watch up for them 

to see. 

The watch hands jumped erratically, forward and back. 

"I think it's trying to right itself now," MadPriest explains. 

"Were you able to determine where Province X is? And where 

we are?" Father Jake asks. 

"Maps are useless there. I think it's somewhere in Texas." MadPriest rubs his face. 

"Although, there were some indicators of Nigeria. It's all very confusing. Where we 

are now? Just in a wasteland, on the edge of Province X." 

"Listen," MadPriest continues. "Most of the people there are confused. They don't 

know where they are. And it's growing darker and more oppressive by the hour. The 

people are frightened, and they don't know what to do. They don't know which 

direction will take them out." 

"How did you find your way out?" Father Jakes asks. 

"It was the oddest little fellow. He's some sort of mystic. He found me wandering, 

and told me, 'Madly Priest. This way is no good you go. Go you must back to the real 

world, and tell them, you will. This: pray you must, if you want the Gospel light. If to 

pray no one cares enough, then God will not work to perpetuate the lightness. Tell 

them, pray they must, to free the Gospel light.'" 

MadPriest went on, "The gnomish bloke said there's a castle in the heart of Province 

X. There, the Gospel light is imprisoned. There, also, is the source of a spreading 

darkness. We must set free the Gospel light, but it will be impossible, without 

worldwide prayer in support. He gave me the horses, and pointed the way out. He 

said to find you and tell you." 

"How did he know about us?" Father Jake asks. 

"I don't know," MadPriest says. "He just seems to know everything." 

The three brood for a bit. Finally, Schori says, "Then, that's what we must do. 

MadPriest, take the truck and go back. Get everyone to pray. Tell them they must 

believe, and pray." 



Schori turns to Jake. "You and I will lead in as many as we can get on 

horseback. We're going in. We have to." 

Jake bows. "I am at your service, Madam." 

Soon, a line of riders on horseback threads across the 

wasteland. Behind follow vehicles, whose drivers refused 

to turn back. They pledge to follow on foot when their 

vehicles quit. 

Stay tuned for more adventures of the Band of the Three-Legged Stool. 


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Musings of a Toe-Walker: El Camino shows its true colors... 


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El Camino shows its true colors... 

...and they ain't pretty. All flowery attempts at cloakery aside, we now know the real, 

indisputable truth about Resolution B033 which was adopted by both the House of Bishops and 

the House of Deptuties at General Convention 2006: 

No Queers Allowed 

From Meditatio: 

Yesterday it was reported on various Episcopal 

listservs that the Standing Committee of the 

Diocese of El Camino Real (ECR) included the 

following in its instructions to the Search 

Committee established to secure nominations for 

their next diocesan bishop: 

"At this time in our history and in view of 

General Convention Resolution B033, the Search 

Committee shall not nominate any homosexual 

person as a candidate for bishop of the Diocese 

of El Camino Real." 

Lisa gives us her take on what this means and what it may mean to the souls of those who are 

enforcing this kind of discrimination in our Church. Read her post at 


http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/el-camino-shows-its-true-colors.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:41:04 PM]



8:36 AM 

read the rest of the article at Meditatio 

2 Comments: 

At 

Tue Aug 15, 09:59:47 PM CDT 

, 

Lisa 

said... 

ToeWalker, this just in: According to 

Susan Russell’s "An Inch at a Time" blog 

, the Standing Committee of El Camino Real has issued a major revision! 

At 

Tue Aug 15, 11:29:09 PM CDT 

, 


said... 

2 comments 

Got it, thanks! I copied your update and posted it here.W()()T!! Score one for the good folks! 



About Me 

Name: 


Location: 




http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/el-camino-shows-its-true-colors.html (3 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:41:04 PM]

My Manner of Life: Breaking News from ECR 


BlogThis! 

A blog for my thoughts, opinions, observations, and rants about life in the Episcopal Church and in the U.S. today. 


Breaking News from ECR 

According to Susan Russell’s “An Inch at a Time” blog, the Standing Committee of El Camino Real has issued a 

revision. She says: 

. . . it is being reported that the Diocese of El Camino Real has changed the charge to its Nominating 

Committee from: 

"At this time in our history and in view of General Convention Resolution B033, the Search Committee 

shall not nominate any homosexual person as a candidate for bishop of the Diocese of El Camino 

Real." 

to 




posted by Lisa at 9:50 PM 

2 Comments: 

rowan said... 

I don't know... I think they said exactly the same thing they just didn't use actual words. I liked the first version. It was clear. Linda 

McMillanAustin, Texas 

8/16/2006 9:03 AM 

http://my-manner-of-life.blogspot.com/2006/08/breaking-news-from-ecr.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:41:17 PM]


Jarred said... 

I'm inclined to agree with Linda. If the revision is just to make it less obvious that they're really interpreting B033 to just exclude gay 

people from the process, then I find the original statement much more honest. Despicable, but honest. But to me, that's better than 

despicable and less than honest. 

8/17/2006 8:42 AM 



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http://my-manner-of-life.blogspot.com/2006/08/breaking-news-from-ecr.html (3 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:41:17 PM]

Musings of a Toe-Walker: Breaking News from El Camino Real 


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Breaking News from El Camino Real 

There's been an interesting development in the 

story I posted earlier 

regarding the Diocese of El Camino Real's search for a new bishop. 

Hat tip to Lisa, the update below was copied from her blog, 


: 

According to Susan Russell’s “An Inch at a Time” blog, the Standing Committee of El Camino 

Real has issued a revision. She says: 

. . . it is being reported that the Diocese of El Camino Real has changed the charge to its 

Nominating Committee from: 

"At this time in our history and in view of General Convention Resolution B033, the 

Search Committee shall not nominate any homosexual person as a candidate for bishop of 

the Diocese of El Camino Real." 

to 



http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/breaking-news-from-el-camino-real.html (1 of 2) [8/17/2006 10:41:33 PM]

Musings of a Toe-Walker: Breaking News from El Camino Real 


Thanks for the update, Lisa! 

Side note and question: I've been formatting links to external sites such that they open in a 

new window (or a new tab if you're using a tab-capable browser like Firefox or Mozilla). What's 

your opinion on this? Is the opening of a new window or tab OK, or is it more of an annoyance 


11:22 PM 

or, worse yet, something that makes you reluctant to follow a link. 

Let me know what you think. Your feedback on this is very helpful. 

0 Comments: 


AFA ActionAlert 

August 9, 2006 

Donald E. Wildmon 

Founder and Chairman 

Please help us get this information into the hands of as many people as possible by forwarding it to your 

entire email list of family and friends. 

78 Dealers Ask Ford to Stop Supporting the Homosexual Agenda 

Ford gives donation to pro-homosexual marriage group 

Great news! Read the dealer's letter to Bill Ford before you continue. 

Ford sales have consistently dropped since AFA began the boycott. The drop in March was 5%, April 7%, May 2%, 

June 6.8%, and July 4.1%. 

Ford has made yet another donation to a homosexual group pushing homosexual marriage. And they 

continued supporting homosexual marriage with ads in two homosexual publications—The Advocate and OUT. 

Ford is listed by Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) as being a "Topaz" sponsor of PFLAG. 

PFLAG did not identify the specific amount required to be a Topaz sponsor, perhaps because they did not want the 

amount made public. Nevertheless, it requires a considerable sum to be a PFLAG "Topaz" sponsor. 

Here is the policy statement from PFLAG: "PFLAG supports revision of federal and state statutes to extend to 

persons in same-gender committed relations the right to marry with the full legal rights and benefits, as 

well as responsibilities and obligations." PFLAG is a leader in promoting the pro-homosexual agenda and 

legalizing homosexual marriage 

Ford obviously agreed with the goal of PFLAG to legalize homosexual marriage, else they would not have made the 

donation to help PFLAG. 

When Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX), an organization helping homosexuals come out of the 

homosexual lifestyle, asked Ford for a grant, Ford refused. In fact, in our research AFA did not find that Ford 

gave a donation of any amount to any organization helping those who want out of the homosexual lifestyle. Ford 

says they are committed to diversity, but their definition of diversity is evidently confined to supporting only prohomosexual 

organizations. 

Ford continued their support of the homosexual lifestyle by advertising in the August, 2006 issues of both The 

Advocate and OUT. They placed a full page ad in OUT and two full pages in The Advocate. Ford has been supporting 

homosexual media with advertising for years. 

What kind of material is Ford supporting? Here is the front cover of The Advocate along with one of the Ford ads. The 

pictorial contents inside the magazines are so offensive that we could not include them in this mailing. Here are some 

titles of the articles in the magazines: Is Porn An Option, At Your Service (male escort), The Book Of Lesbian Love, 

Five Sex Tips For Gay Men, Five Sex Tips For Lesbians, and Private D--K In A Hard Place. 

According to the Detroit Free Press, Ford "donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to homosexual groups, sponsors 

gay pride parades, and holds mandatory diversity training..." 

http://www.afa.net/ford081006.asp (1 of 2) [8/17/2006 10:41:45 PM]

AFA ActionAlert 

Take Action 

● Forward this email to your local Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, 

Mazda or Ford dealer (all owned by Ford). Find their email address here (click on the auto 

icon). Ask him to forward it on to Chairman Bill Ford, the one person who can stop Ford's 

financial support of homosexual organizations. 

● If you haven't already done so, please sign the Boycott Ford Pledge. 

● Print out the Boycott Ford Petition and distribute at Sunday School and church. 

● Extremely important! Help us get the word out about Ford by forwarding this to 

friends and family! 

http://www.afa.net/ford081006.asp (2 of 2) [8/17/2006 10:41:45 PM]

Musings of a Toe-Walker: Perhaps they'd fancy walking instead... 


BlogThis! 





Perhaps they'd fancy walking instead... 

Recently the American Family Association has been slamming the Ford Motor Company for 

"Supporting the Homosexual Agenda" 

and calling for a boycott of Ford products, including the brands: Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, 

Jaguar, Land Rover and Mazda. 

But I think they're being a bit short-sighted. After all, if they really want to push their anti-gay 

agenda, they shouldn't only concentrate on Ford. After all, there are a couple of other 

automobile companies who support gay rights, gay organizations, gay publications or just 

support diversity and equality in general. These anti-family companies must be stopped. This is 

America, dammit. We don't tolerate diversity or equality here! 

Below is a partial list of automobile manufacturers and brands who have been gay/diversity 

supportive in their advertising campaigns. 

Get to work, AFA. You're falling behind. 

Company Brand Advertisement 

BMW Mini Cooper Space 

BMW Rover 200 Pearly Queens 

Classic BMW BMW Being Out Has Never Been So In 

Classic BMW BMW 

Classic BMW BMW It's About Respect. 

DaimlerChrysler Mercedes-Benz Similarly Individual 

Freedom to Go Where You Want and Be Who You 

Are 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/perhaps-theyd-fancy-walking-instead.html (1 of 5) [8/17/2006 10:42:01 PM]


Ford Ford Escort Jeans (Lily Savage) 

Ford Ford Als hätten wir nur Autos im Kopf - men 

Ford Ford Als hätten wir nur Autos im Kopf - women 

Ford Ford As If We Only Think About Cars 

Ford Ford Christopher Streetka 

Ford Ford Let Every Day Be a Street Day 

Ford Ford Rob Has Changed our Policies 

Ford Jaguar 

Ford Jaguar Pride/GLAAD 

Life is Full of Twists and Turns. Care for a 

Partner? 

Ford Volvo Get Noticed by the Boys in Blue 

Ford Volvo Happy Mardis Gras 

Ford Volvo Starting A Family 

Ford Volvo Suspected 

Ford Volvo We're Just As Excited As You 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru A Window Where One Ought To Be 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru At Least We've Got Our Priorities Straight 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Baja Play Mobile 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Different Drivers. Different Roads. 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Different Roads 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Diversity is One of Our Strengths Too 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Entirely Comfortable With Its Orientation 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Get Out. And Stay Out. 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Great Looking, Stylish 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru I'm Ready for my Closeup 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru It's Not a Choice 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Likes to be Driven Hard 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Makes Your Heart Throb 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Opposites Attract 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Radar Love/WRX Turbo Music 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Shadows 



Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Speed Racer - WRX 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Support Comes Standard - Eco-Challenge 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru What Do We Know? 

Fuji Heavy Ind. Subaru Who Says There Is Only One Queen of England? 

General Motors Cadillac Break Through 

General Motors Cadillac Major Pride 

General Motors General Motors GMequality 

General Motors General Motors Kisses 

General Motors Saturn Engineer Michele Smith 

Honda Honda Facepaint 

Hyundai Hyundai Toy Boy 

Hyundai Kia Spectra Cruising 

Land Rover Land Rover Get in here. 

Land Rover Land Rover Get In Here. Get Out There. (orange) 

Land Rover Land Rover Get In Here. Get Out There. (silver) 

Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz Not Really His Girlfriend 

MG Australia MG Half 

Nissan Micra I Sitges 

Nissan Nissan Eno/Kiss 

Nissan Nissan Ryan/Keith Haring 

Porsche Porsche Go Girl 

Porsche Porsche Muscled Body And A Dash Of Leather 

Peugeot Peugeot Le Duel 

Renault S.A. Renault Clio Gay Motorcycle Cop 

Seat S.A. Altea Mini Skirt, Basketball 

Seat S.A. Seat Leon Lost Drag 

Suzuki Suzuki Shogun Man On A Motorcycle To The Rescue 

Toyota Toyota Everyday People 

Toyota Toyota Corolla Girlfriend 

Toyota Toyota Family Car 

Volkswagen Audi Changing Religion 



Volkswagen Audi Party 

Volkswagen Audi Successful People 

Volkswagen Audi Wink 

Volkswagen Citi Golf Changes 

Volkswagen Volkswagen Have a Safe Mardis Gras 

All of the links in the table above are provided by 

The Commercial Closet 

. Pay them a visit and see what other companies are spending their advertising dollars in 

support of equality and diversity. 

Clicking on the links will take you to the page on the Commercial Closet site for that particular 

ad. Some of them are for print media, others are for television. The print media ads contain the 

actual ad, and the television ads have a link in the upper-left corner of the page that lets you 

view a Quicktime of the ad in a small window. Some are pretty run-of-the-mill, others are 

rather entertaining. Not all of the ads are work-safe. That is, while not containing nudity or 

profanity, they may still raise an eyebrow or two, so use some discretion when viewing. 

Back to the AFA's boycott, they've gone so far as to create a website dedicated to the Ford 

boycott. On one of the pages, they have what looks like an 

article from BusinessWeek magazine. 

Most of the comments are what you'd expect from people who have to be led by the nose at all 

times and need to be told what to think, say and do. (Pam, over at 

Pam's House Blend 

, refers to them as "Sheeple"). Other comments are from people who do have a brain, and one 

of these struck me as rather humorous in its sarcastic and pointed view of the typical Sheeple- 

ish responses: 

How dare they advertise to customers who don't agree with me?! I want to make damn 

sure that a corporation that I buy from doesn't want to sell to anyone but people like 

me!!! 

Jaguar ads in a gay magazine are the gravest threat this country faces! I mean, they're 

imposing the gay lifestyle on me by advertising in a magazine I don't read so that people I 

avoid will buy cars that I can't afford! 

I'm the victim!!! 



Side note and question: I've been formatting links to external sites such that they open in a 

new window (or a new tab if you're using a tab-capable browser like Firefox or Mozilla). What's 

your opinion on this? Is the opening of a new window or tab OK, or is it more of an annoyance 


10:12 PM 

or, worse yet, something that makes you reluctant to follow a link. 

Let me know what you think. Your feedback on this is very helpful. 

0 Comments: 


Thinking Anglicans: more about CANA 

« Wimberly statement published | Main | What happened to the Nigerian 

chaplaincy? » 

Tuesday, 15 August 2006 

more about CANA 

The American Anglican Council has issued a press release: A Statement from the 

President of the American Anglican Council Congratulating Archbishop Akinola on Formation 

of CANA: 

The American Anglican Council offers its congratulations and gratitude to the 

Church of Nigeria and its Primate, Archbishop Peter Akinola, in the 

establishment of CANA as Convocation for Anglicans in North America and the 

consecration of Canon Martyn Minns, as its first Missionary Bishop. 

These are difficult times for faithful Anglicans and the AAC is especially 

thankful for the creative and timely response of many of the Global South 

primates in recognizing the danger that the Episcopal Church in the United 

States posed for the Anglican Communion and the offer of safe harbor that 

was and has been extended to congregations in the United States looking for 

orthodox episcopal and primatial oversight. Additionally the AAC is deeply 

appreciative of the clear and prophetic voice of Global South primates who 

have spoken up, at great cost personally and for their provinces, and called 

the Anglican Communion to a holy and orthodox faith consonant with the 

historic teachings of both Christianity and Anglicanism. 

http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/001866.html (1 of 9) [8/17/2006 10:43:10 PM]


We take note of the vision and heart that the Global South has for evangelism, 

and in expanding the Anglican Church family, and note in particular efforts by 

the Global South Steering Committee members in reaching out to parts of 

mainland Asia and seeking closer ties and understanding. It is leadership such 

as this that combines pastoral concern for those churches in the United States 

that are under persecution by their own province, for adherence to orthodoxy 

of the faith, and for vision to reach fields still ripe for the harvest that marks 

Christian leadership that others can model their lives on. 

Some of you may remember that originally CANA stood for Convocation of Anglican 

Nigerian Churches in America, see as evidence this statement (last April) from the 

official Nigerian provincial website: 

After much prayer and careful discernment with appropriate colleagues and 

advisors over the last two years, and in full consultation with the Nigerian 

congregations in America, together with the enthusiastic endorsement of the 

Episcopal Synod and the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria 

(Anglican Communion) we announce the formation of the Convocation of 

Anglican Nigerian Churches in America. 

This Convocation will function as a ministry of the Church of Nigeria in 

America. Our intention is not to challenge or intervene in the churches of 

ECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada but rather to provide safe harbour 

for those who can no longer find their spiritual home in those churches. While 

it will initially operate under our Constitution and Canons, it will have its own 

legal and ecclesial structure and local suffragan episcopate. I will be asking the 

next General Synod of the Church of Nigeria, which will meet in September 

2005, to make the necessary constitutional amendments. 

Then in September 2005, it became Convocation of Anglican Nigerians in Americas 

(CANA). 



Now of course it stands instead for Convocation of Anglicans in North America a term 

first used officially in November 2005. Corrected: hat tip to Fr Jake 

As the December review of 2005 explained: 

April 2005 

A carefully worded statement by the Primate of Nigeria announced the 

formation of Convocation of Anglican Nigerians in America. (CANA) 

In a pastoral letter announcing the convocation, the Primate said the ministry 

of Church of Nigeria in the US will provide a safe harbour for worshippers who 

feel estranged because of the revisionist agenda of some North American 

Churches. 

In the same month of April, the Primate published a letter to members of the 

Church intimating them about the recent developments of the Anglican 

Communion particularly the outcome of the Primates’ February meeting in 

Northern Ireland. He talked about the intransigence of the North American 

Churches on the issue of homosexuality. He dismissed it as unfounded the 

alleged influence of external forces on some Primates in their decision to 

suspend the North American Churches. 

November 2005 

The Church of Nigeria announced a covenant with the Reformed Episcopal 

Church and the Anglican Province of America, signaling the implementation of 

the amended constitution. Chapter 1 Section 3 of the constitution states that 

“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) hereinafter called “The Church 

of Nigeria” or “This Church” shall be in full communion with all Anglican 

Churches Dioceses and Provinces that hold and maintain the Historic Faith, 

Doctrine, Sacrament and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic 

Church as the Lord has commanded in His holy word and as the same are 

received as taught in the Book of Common Prayer and the ordinal of 1662 and 



in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion.” With a name change, they now become 

part of CANA, The Convocation for Anglicans in North America. 

And, in case you forgot, the Primates at Dromantine said in February 2005 (emphasis 

added): 

15. In order to protect the integrity and legitimate needs of groups in serious 

theological dispute with their diocesan bishop, or dioceses in dispute with their 

Provinces, we recommend that the Archbishop of Canterbury appoint, as a 

matter of urgency, a panel of reference to supervise the adequacy of pastoral 

provisions made by any churches for such members in line with the 

recommendation in the Primates’ Statement of October 2003. Equally, 

during this period we commit ourselves neither to encourage nor to 

initiate cross-boundary interventions. 

Earlier, the Windsor Report had recommended: 

155. We call upon those bishops who believe it is their conscientious duty to 

intervene in provinces, dioceses and parishes other than their own: 




We also call upon these archbishops and bishops to seek an accommodation 

with the bishops of the dioceses whose parishes they have taken into their 

own care. 

Posted by Simon Sarmiento on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 6:24pm BST | TrackBack 

You can make a Permalink to this if you like 

Categorised as: Anglican Communion 



Comments 

It is very useful to have chapter & verse like this. Thanks. 

Much of it including subtle name changes, and slippages, puts me in mind of Animal Farm. 

Posted by: Laurence Roberts on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 7:50pm BST 

If ++Cantuar, +Dunelm and +Winchester acted in the best interests of the Anglican 

Communion, they would speak out against the border-crossings more forcefully rather than 

engage in such actions themselves, now with the so-called "Windsor bishops" gathering at 

Camp Allin in Texas in the presence of ++Cantuar's emissaries/commissaries - to wit, 

+Dunelm and +Winchester. 

The present ++Cantuar has disgraced the legacy of ++Geoffrey Fisher, ++Michael Ramsey, 

++Donald Coggan et al., and especially the legacy of the first Executive Officer of the 

Anglican Communion, +Stephen F. Bayne, Jr. 

After initially approving the selection of Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading, the present 

++Cantuar turned against his one-time friend and co-founder of Affirming Catholicism, 

sacrificing him on the altar of expediency. Now ECUSA is the next sacrificial victim to 

appease the the great modern-day Donatist, ++Abuja and his cohorts. 

Posted by: John Henry on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 8:18pm BST 

Thank you for recalling Dromantine 15 and WR 115. When the folks who are so critical of 

TEC applaud those who are Dromantine or Windsor "compliant," surely they do not have 

these parts in mind. I am weary of their hypocrisy. 

Posted by: Cynthia Gilliatt on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 8:49pm BST 

At the new CANA website referred to in an earlier posting, a map of the world appears with 

a handful of US cities named; among them New York City. There is no indication on this 

website (that I can find) giving a rationale for this listing of cities, nor for what New York 

has to do with Abuja (apart from Archbishop Akinola's honorary "chair" at the Cathedral 

Church of St John the Divine). Are there any CANA congregations in New York City (which 

spans two US dioceses: New York and Long Island)? Does anyone know? 



Meanwhile, thanks to Simon for reminding all of us that such ventures as CANA do not have 

the approval of the ABofC (although he appears on the CANA website as an "affiliate" with a 

link to his own website. Does he know about this? ) 

Posted by: Tobias S Haller BSG on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 11:31pm BST 

You will be far better off without them - as I am! 

Posted by: Merseymike on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 11:56pm BST 

I cannot let pass unchallenged the statement on the CANA website by Canon Minns that 

TEC "unilaterally sacked the former Nigerian chaplain" who had been appointed to look after 

Nigerian Anglican expats in the U.S., and that by this action had made the formation of 

CANA necessary. This is untrue. I know, because until my retirement the end of 2004, I was 

the Presiding Bishop's deputy for Anglican relations and responsible for oversight of TEC's 

share of the Nigerian Anglican chaplaincy jointly established by Bishop Griswold and Abp 

Akinola. 

The truth is that the chaplain had overspent his budget and further expenses on his part 

were disallowed until income was sufficient. The chaplain chose to interpret this as a 

sacking, but he was clearly informed that he was not being terminated and that he could 

resume his work once sufficient funds were on hand. Abp Akinola was kept fully abreast of 

this development, but by this time (2004) I think he clearly had intended to cease 

cooperating in the joint chaplaincy and to establish CANA, although he never informed the 

Presiding Bishop of these plans. 

For the record, tens of thousands of dollars were raised for the joint chaplaincy, with major 

grants coming from the dioceses of Southern Ohio and Texas. Numerous TEC bishops had 

indicated their support and facilitated the work of the former chaplain. Abp Akinola, for his 

part, pledged US$5,000 to the effort, but had not made good on his pledge by the time I 

departed the end of 2004. 

Patrick Mauney 

Posted by: Patrick Mauney on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 12:46am BST 

I think we can possibly rest assured that prohibited boundary crossings are as important to 

the conservatives as the Lambeth 1.10 1998 listening process has been. Alas. Now, of 

course, CANA comes out its own closets as a missionary effort of the real conservagive 



Anglicans against all the other believers who are definitively pronounced UN-Anglican in no 

uncertain terms. 

I still do not think Rowan Williams will like being the first among these equals - especially if 

he continues to balk at unintelligent readings of scripture, and some other reading materials 

as well. Many conservative personal bests are yet to come as the schism unfolds - and 

surely there will eventually be endless rounds of self-congratulation among outside funders 

as their detonation of the worldwide Anglican bonds of affection proves again that power is 

much more important than love. Who could ever have imagined otherwise? 

I foresee a great deal more of the principled dissents we are starting to see from various 

quarters across the spectrums as this pre-engineered split/realignment is brought to its own 

boiling points. Too many evangelical believers I know are really quite intelligent, and 

progressive in their own ways, so that there is only so much angry mileage to get out of 

beating the drums against the queer folks. 

Quiet, please. The show has begun. You will not wish to miss one moment of the dialogue, 

intrigue, and occasional unwitting streams of Ambrose Biercian bon mots. 

If Canterbury suddenly announces that it, alas, only can now - only barely - bring itself to 

recognize the conformed conservative crowds, and nobody else around the world, will that 

ultimately free us as we let those covenant police powers bear that ancient vision of 

Camelot / Canterbury away? 

Posted by: drdanfee on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 4:01am BST 

I am grateful to Patrick Mauney for clarifying this, from his own experience. 

It is discouraging the way people seem to lie--but I guess that is a naive thing to say, 

knowing what we do about the way the mind functions around perception, memory and so 

on. So that misunderstandings lead to misinformation and everyone thinks they are right. 

Even so, I tend to think Peter Akinola seizes any moment, so that his power can be 

increased. --or do I just want to demonise him ? (That is, have a personal investment in 

demonising him), which would be unethical & far from ahimsa. 

I saw Gotterdammerung the other day, and it threw a lot of light on all this twisted stuff, 

about 'facticity', motivation and love with integrity. I experienced as being applicable to 

'individual psychology' and 'corporate dynamics' of instituions , groups and so. 

Trouble is, I am still unsure I can (be sure to) avoid falling into Wotan's trap, myself. 



Posted by: Laurence Roberts on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 12:39pm BST 

If there is a crisis, it is a crisis of conscience and moral grounding in these characters who 

claim (but malign) orthodoxy. 

Posted by: marc on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 12:54pm BST 

Patrick Simon has started a new thread on funding (thanks for your posting). 

My other contemplations of the last few days is that the only way this crisis could have been 

averted was to quietly submit to one faction imposing its theology across the alternative 

"unsuitable" elements under the broad tent of Anglicanism. Personally, that reeks a bit like 

the torturer telling you that it is your fault that you were burnt with the brand (when your 

choices were to be silent and be burnt with the brand, or speak and be burnt at the stake). 

Either way they were going to abuse you, the only thing that changed were the techniques 

and words used whilst they inflicted their abuse. Maybe that is why Jesus didn't cry out in 

the lead up to the crucifixion, nothing he said would have changed the outcome, it merely 

would have changed the form. (And for any Jews reading this posting, that was not a 

Jewish error, it was a human error the likes of which some would reinstate in a flash if they 

thought they could get away with it - and Klu Klux Klan did for many decades). 

Fortunately, I see things such as the 24,000 attended 16th International AIDS conference 

in Toronto this week and give praise to God that the world is moving on. There have been 

clear calls bring more respect to women and children, acknowledge the vulnerables in the 

community in such a way that they co-operate with disease management (versus hiding 

their status so they are not killed as "beasts"), accepting the need for condoms, and Clinton 

gently chiding us not to dismiss the poor who have demonstrated in Africa an excellent 

uptake on strategies and medicines: when they are made available to them. 

The world moves on and it will survive, but with no thanks to overly puritanical homophobic 

and/or misogynistic priestly thugs. 

Posted by: Cheryl Clough on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 7:44pm BST 

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Thinking Anglicans: Wimberly statement published 

« Dallas clergy dissent from diocesan action | Main | more about CANA » 

Tuesday, 15 August 2006 

Wimberly statement published 

The expected statement from Bishop Don Wimberly of Texas relating to the forthcoming 

meeting of “Windsor bishops” has been published on the Diocese of Texas website. It is 

reproduced below the fold. 

The Houston Chronicle has published a news report: Episcopalians will gather, chart course 

on gay issues. 

Bishop Wimberly to Host Consultation in September 

The Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, Bishop of Texas, will host a consultation for bishops who are 

compliant with the requests of the Windsor Report at Camp Allen, September 19-22, 2006. 

Bishop Wimberly stated that he does not believe General Convention’s response to the 

Windsor Report was sufficient.The consultation provides an opportunity for interested 

bishops to discuss the relationship of the Episcopal Church to the Archbishop of Canterbury 

and other Primates within the Anglican Communion. 

“Our baptismal promises call us to reconciliation and unity,” Bishop Wimberly said.“This 

consultation may help us arrive at a common response to the current circumstances of the 

Episcopal Church—one that will insure an unimpaired relationships with the rest of the 

Anglican Communion.” 



Statement from the Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly 

Since this summer’s General Convention, I have sought a way in which I might help lead 

our diocese and, with other bishops, the Episcopal Church through the circumstances facing 

our Church today. 

My intention is to stay within the Episcopal Church and remain a part of the Anglican 

Communion even though I don’t believe General Convention’s response to the Windsor 

Report was sufficient. 

We are called to witness to the Church and the Communion that we may be unified beyond 

differences into a Church that is about the work of the Gospel of Christ. 

In the Diocese of Texas, we are One Church of 158 congregations.This is more than a 

catchy slogan; it is my deeply held theology. We must be obedient to Christ’s charge to be 

one even as Jesus and the Father are one. 

We must take a step forward. For that reason, I have invited a number of bishops 

(representing a diversity of opinions) who are firmly committed to the Windsor Report to 

gather for a consultation September 19-22 at Camp Allen. 

The purpose of the meeting is to arrive at a common response to the current circumstances 

of the Episcopal Church—one that will insure an unimpaired relationships between bishops 

who uphold the requests of the Windsor Report, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other 

Primates of the Anglican Communion. 

The Rt. Rev. N. T. Wright, Bishop of Durham, and the Rt. Rev. Michael Scott-Joynt, Bishop 

of Winchester will also attend with the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury to aid in the 

discussions. 

Jesus himself gathers us, calls us, and sends us forth to share the Good News of 

salvation.Being One Church is a holy calling not dreamed up by any bishop or vision 



committee but called forth by our very baptismal vows. Please pray for me and for the 

other bishops who love this Church, that we may be called to unity in the truth of Christ. 

Posted by Simon Sarmiento on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 10:00am BST | TrackBack 


Categorised as: ECUSA 

Comments 

Bp. Wimberly's reasoning is flawed in several areas: 

1. Lambeth 1.10 represented the mind of the House of Bishops at Lambeth 1998 and is not 

binding on any church in the Anglican Communion. It has not been adopted by the General 

Convention of TEC as a "teaching." If Wimberly's logic is followed, does that mean Lambeth 

1.11 on banning nuclear weapons will be as aggressively pursued as a "teaching?" 

Wimberly and a handful of dissatisfied bishops saying Lambeth 1.10 is the "teaching" of the 

Anglican Communion doesn't make it so. 

2. General Convention has never embraced the Windsor Report as "the way forward." WR is 

a set of recommendations, period. This gathering is a polite way of trying to circumvent 

General Convention. 

3. How can you have "diversity" in the consultation when conditions are attached that make 

it possible for only likeminded bishops to attend? 

4. I find it curious--and a bit uncivilzed--that the ABC would send representatives to this 

gathering; and, that Wimberly and his friends would not include a representative of the PB 

of TEC. 

Like Stanton in Dallas, I don't think Wimberly will find all his clergy willing to go along with 

anything that even smells like schism. He may be catering to St. Martin's and St. John the 

Divine in Houston--the $$$ parishes--but most of the D of T is moderate conservative and 

wants to remain in TEC. 

Posted by: peteford on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 2:35pm BST 

peteford has covered most of what makes +Wimberly's manifesto so disturbing, but I'll just 

add a few more: 



* "I have sought a way in which I might help lead our diocese and, with other bishops, the 

Episcopal Church" 

It goes w/o saying, that a bishop of TEC, merely by virtue of their standing in the HofB, has 

a role in "helping lead, with other bishops" TEC. But beyond that---who was elected PB at 

GC '06? +Wimberly, or +Jefferts Schori? 

* "I don’t believe General Convention’s response to the Windsor Report was sufficient." 

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion---what gives +Wimberly's opinion standing 

*beyond* his own diocese, and his *one vote* in the HofB? He is NOT authorized to make 

this kind of judgment, vis-a-vis the rest of the AC! 

* "I have invited a number of bishops (representing a diversity of opinions) who are firmly 

committed to the Windsor Report" 

While peteford mentioned (the contradiction of) this already, I want to underscore the 

casual interchange of the words "committed" and "compliant": is the latter defined to be the 

ONLY way of being the former? 

* "insure an unimpaired relationships between bishops who uphold the requests of the 

Windsor Report, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other Primates of the Anglican 

Communion" 

By far, the MOST DISTURBING part of +Wimberly's project. So, he's not even undertaking 

his (supposedly irenic) mission, on behalf of ALL TEC's bishops, but ONLY those "upholding 

the requests" of the WR? (If they're only "requests", then how can "compliance" be 

compulsory?) 

+Wimberly has made his real agenda clear: "*MY* invite to Lambeth at ALL COSTS! My 

brother&sister bishops in TEC be damned!" 

I continue to counsel that any and all TEC bishops who can, make the time, effort and 

*witness* at Camp Allen ("Windsor Compliant" or no). Clergy and laity should consider a 

prayerful, nonviolent witness there, also. 

Posted by: J. C. Fisher on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 5:50pm BST 

Thanks for this peteford. It seems very clear and helpful in such a minefield of detail and 

counter-claims, etc. 



I always tend to feel fed-up when I see the words "Lambeth 1.10". Remembering how the 

Working Group (if that is the right term for it, a specially convened panel / group entrusted 

to study and deliberate on sexuality issues for the Conference.) had its work and its self 

supressd by George Carey, and their motion--the true and original 1.10 was gutted and the 

commitment to listening was all taht remained. 

I forget the details of the name of the chair and so on. Anyone recall this ? 

I think that when so much is made of 1.10 it is VERY important that the true story of what 

happened is recounted. It must mean that the present 1.10 has very little moral authority 

(as what Carey was allowed to do lacked moral integrity), and is highly compromised, by its 

own process. 

Do those running the Church really think we have all forgotten ? It's a bit lack Wotan's 

sword in Gotterdammerung -lacking all credibility. 

Similarly, the suppression of the June Report, by Carey, and its replacement with 'Issues' - 

an inferior document---has not been forgotten, and I wish it could still be more widely 

circulated / published. It is the true 'Issues'. 

I value my photocopy. 

Didn't RCs groan when Paul V1 ignored HIS panel of birth control experts--publishing 

Humanae Vitae instead. And now it gathers dust as RC couples get on with it. ---the fate of 

leaders and Reports which ignore the voice of the people. 

At the end of the day, we all have to get on with it... 

Posted by: Laurence Roberts on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 6:09pm BST 

Don't forget that +Wimberly *was* a candidate for PB when Griswold was elected. Perhaps 

he sees himself in the role of leader of a minority party. In any event, I'd wait to see what 

they produce at this conference before getting too worked up about it. 

Posted by: Davis d'Ambly on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 6:41pm BST 

"I forget the details of the name of the chair and so on. Anyone recall this ?" 

Absolutely, LR. The chair of the Lambeth '98 Working Group (whose balanced report on 



sexuality was gutted and trashed, in favor of the biased blather of 1.10, that the majority 

voted for)... 

...was one +Njongonkulu Ndungane, Archbishop of Capetown. 

The problem is not a Northern view, versus a (Global) Southern one. The problem is 

*prejudice*. 

Posted by: J. C. Fisher on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 at 11:58pm BST 

Oh, thanks for this JCF. I SEE. 

Do you know if the report is available anywhere , on-line or hard copy ? I wonder who else 

was on the Lambeth 98 Working Group ? 

I do thnk we should be reading and propagating "Lambeth 1.10--the true version!". 

Also the report from England is still worth reading ; and both can inspire. (I've forgotten her 

name too --for the mo', I realise----June ........... ). 

I don't know how people can take L 1.10 serioulsy as 'THE teaching of THE Church' knowing 

that the hard work and thoughtful Report was aborted, and that the new L 1.10 was 

imposed. (Just realised imposed and imposter must have the same root. ) 

Posted by: Laurence Roberts on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 8:24am BST 

Laurence, you can read my contemporaneous reports of Lambeth 98 from this page: 

http://justus.anglican.org/newsarchive/lambeth98/ 

Posted by: Simon Sarmiento on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 9:04am BST 

Thanks very much , Simon. 

Much appreciated. 

I have just recalled the name of the report that was aborted, for 'Issues'. -- The Osborne 

Report. Hope that's the correct spelling. 

I'd love to see that, and the Lambeth Working Party Report used to show there is another 

integrity, a teaching that can speak to our condition as lgbt folk and those who want to 



value and benefit from the gifts of lgbt people. 

Posted by: Laurence Roberts on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 12:46pm BST 

Gee it would be so interesting to read the suppressed/forgotten draft report/resolution 

reported up originally. Like actually finding texts of the gnostic gospels or something, 

sharpening our inquiry. Best wishes to all investigators, then. 

Posted by: drdanfee on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 3:16pm BST 

Oh, thanks for alerting us to this statement by Bishop Wimberly. I wish I could go to Camp 

Allen in silent protest, too. I was for over 20 years a member of St Stephen's, Houston (also 

3 yrs a member at Palmer, Houston). I moved to Vermont in 2000. I'll be writing our 

Diocesan here to see if he's going. 

peaford wrote: I don't think Wimberly will find all his clergy willing to go along with 

anything that even smells like schism. He may be catering to St. Martin's and St. John the 

Divine in Houston--the $$$ parishes--but most of the D of T is moderate conservative and 

wants to remain in TEC. 

I agree, having got to know several of the parishes and clergy as a delegate to diocesan 

council. And you are so right about the power of SJD and St Martins Remember, Claude 

Payne was the Diocesan before Wimberly and had served as Rector of St Martin's. And his 

predecessor was Ben Benitez, who'd been at St John the Divine. 

Posted by: JayVos on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 9:19pm BST 


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Thinking Anglicans: What happened to the Nigerian chaplaincy? 

« more about CANA | Main | Sentamu interviewed » 

Wednesday, 16 August 2006 

What happened to the Nigerian chaplaincy? 

On the CANA website, Martyn Minns says the following: 

…It’s a little known fact that Nigerians have a significant presence in the US- 

many are doctors, communications professionals, and successful business 

people-and a large segment of these Nigerians are Anglican Christians. For a 

while, the Anglican Church of Nigeria attempted to work with Presiding Bishop 

Griswold and ECUSA dioceses to meet the pastoral needs of these Anglican 

Nigerians in the US. 

But, ECUSA proved over and over again that it was unwilling to respect the 

faith of Anglican Nigerians by its divisive actions. One of these actions was 

that ECUSA unilateraly sacked the former Nigerian chaplain appointed to care 

for Anglican Nigerians in this country, the Rev. Canon Gordon Okunsanya. So, 

we can really say that ECUSA itself made the creation of CANA necessary. 

Necessity is truly the mother of invention. 

Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria attempted to meet the needs of Anglican 

Nigerians in this country himself. But, he soon realized that maintaining a vital 

mission in the US could not be sustained without the presence of a domestic 

church structure and a local bishop. Thus, my election as CANA’s missionary 

bishop. 



Archbishop Akinola is also well aware of the pastoral crisis that ECUSA has 

caused for Anglicans of all races and ethnicities in the US. And so, he is 

committed to seeing that CANA is welcoming of everyone-whether they’re 

from Nigeria or not-who believe in the uniqueness of Jesus the Messiah, the 

authority of the Bible in our lives, and the historic faith of the Anglican 

tradition… 

Also Archbishop Peter Akinola himself says this elsewhere on the site: 

Several of our Nigerian clergy in America have been informed they can no 

longer work in an Episcopal diocese or have had their funding cut. Finally, the 

unilateral dismissal by the Presiding Bishop of the Chaplain we had jointly 

appointed to minister to Nigerian congregations illustrates the extent of the 

brokenness of our relationship and underlines the need to provide alternative 

structures for episcopal and pastoral care. 

Last night, Patrick Mauney who was formerly ECUSA’s director of Anglican and global 

relations commented here on TA, as follows: 

I cannot let pass unchallenged the statement on the CANA website by Canon 

Minns that TEC “unilaterally sacked the former Nigerian chaplain” who had 

been appointed to look after Nigerian Anglican expats in the U.S., and that by 

this action had made the formation of CANA necessary. This is untrue. I know, 

because until my retirement the end of 2004, I was the Presiding Bishop’s 

deputy for Anglican relations and responsible for oversight of TEC’s share of 

the Nigerian Anglican chaplaincy jointly established by Bishop Griswold and 

Abp Akinola. 

The truth is that the chaplain had overspent his budget and further expenses 

on his part were disallowed until income was sufficient. The chaplain chose to 



interpret this as a sacking, but he was clearly informed that he was not being 

terminated and that he could resume his work once sufficient funds were on 

hand. Abp Akinola was kept fully abreast of this development, but by this time 

(2004) I think he clearly had intended to cease cooperating in the joint 

chaplaincy and to establish CANA, although he never informed the Presiding 

Bishop of these plans. 

For the record, tens of thousands of dollars were raised for the joint 

chaplaincy, with major grants coming from the dioceses of Southern Ohio and 

Texas. Numerous TEC bishops had indicated their support and facilitated the 

work of the former chaplain. Abp Akinola, for his part, pledged US$5,000 to 

the effort, but had not made good on his pledge by the time I departed the 

end of 2004. 

Subsequently Patrick Mauney wrote to me with additional information: 

Gordon Okunsanya (the former chaplain, an American priest of Nigerian birth), 

was resident in the diocese of Atlanta and used a business credit card issued 

by the diocese. (The chaplaincy was deliberately not a national church-funded 

“program” but a partnership of the PB’s office, individual dioceses with large 

African expat populations, and, ostensibly at least, the Primate of Nigeria. 

Gordon charged his expenses on his diocesan card, then we reimbursed 

Atlanta, as we (815) were the reception point for the contributions from TEC 

dioceses.) 

I have written to both CANA and to Martyn Minns personally inviting them to reply. So far 

nothing has been received here. I have also asked for a response from 815 Second 

Avenue and received this: 

ENS contacted the Presiding Bishop’s Office and the accuracy of Canon 

Mauney’s recollections was confirmed. 



Meanwhile, the following earlier reports relating to all this can be found on the web: 

March 2003 

ENS Chaplaincy to expatriate Nigerian Anglicans launched in US 

October 2004 

Washington Times Nigerian bishop forms U.S. denomination 

Voice of America Nigerian Anglicans Consider US Gay Bishop Controversy (with audio 

interview of Canon Gordon Okunsanya) 

Posted by Simon Sarmiento on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 6:30pm BST | TrackBack 


Categorised as: ECUSA 

Comments 

The unknown God of money and power. I'd love to know how they are funding these 

ventures, particularly the sources of start up revenue. I wonder if it is a uniquely Anglican 

sponsorship? 

Posted by: Cheryl Clough on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 7:32pm BST 

I shall be interested to see if you get a reply from either Martyn or CANA. If they will lie 

about something like this, how can they and their friends be trusted about anything else? I 

appreicate your making this known. 

Posted by: Cynthia Gilliatt on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 7:35pm BST 

I would welcome seeing a list of all of the CANA congregations and the clergy affiliated with 

them. The map of the US at the CANA website with an odd assortment of cities named (Los 

Angeles, Washington DC, New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, and Oklahoma City...) is 

intriguing. Are these the only cities with CANA congregations in them? Is that what their 

being singled out on the map of the world -- along with Abjua, Lagod and Jos -- represents? 



If CANA is a reality, surely a list should be available, if only for Nigerians travelling from city 

to city and searching for a like-minded congregation. 

Posted by: Tobias S Haller BSG on Wednesday, 16 August 2006 at 10:18pm BST 

There is a CANA parish in Irvington, NJ (Dio. of Newark). It had originally been an Episcopal 

parish that closed due to lack of interest. A Nigerian Anglican tent-maker priest (full time 

job is as an engineer/planner in NYC) received permission to start a parish in the old 

building. Soon had about 150 or 200 in worship at which time, he was told the parish need 

a full-time priest and he got the boot by the Diocese. A new priest was appointed and inside 

of several weeks, virtually the entire congregation left the parish. They now worship 

together again in other quarters in the same town and TEC's parish is again defunct. 

Posted by: Dave on Thursday, 17 August 2006 at 7:20pm BST 


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Press Releases - American Anglican Council Live Website 

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A Statement from the President of the American Anglican 

Council Congratulating Archbishop Akinola on Formation 

of CANA 

AAC Press Release 

A Statement from the President of the American Anglican 

Council Congratulating Archbishop Akinola on Formation 

of CANA 

*PDF version of the statement is here. 

[On AAC Letterhead] 

August 15, 2006 

The American Anglican Council offers its congratulations and 

gratitude to the Church of Nigeria and its Primate, Archbishop 

Peter Akinola, in the establishment of CANA as Convocation for 

Anglicans in North America and the consecration of Canon 

Martyn Minns, as its first Missionary Bishop. 

These are difficult times for faithful Anglicans and the AAC is 

especially thankful for the creative and timely response of many 

of the Global South primates in recognizing the danger that the 

Episcopal Church in the United States posed for the Anglican 

Communion and the offer of safe harbor that was and has been 

extended to congregations in the United States looking for 

orthodox episcopal and primatial oversight. Additionally the AAC 

is deeply appreciative of the clear and prophetic voice of Global 

South primates who have spoken up, at great cost personally 

and for their provinces, and called the Anglican Communion to a 

holy and orthodox faith consonant with the historic teachings of 

both Christianity and Anglicanism. 

We take note of the vision and heart that the Global South has 

for evangelism, and in expanding the Anglican Church family, 

and note in particular efforts by the Global South Steering 

Committee members in reaching out to parts of mainland Asia 

and seeking closer ties and understanding. It is leadership such 

as this that combines pastoral concern for those churches in the 

United States that are under persecution by their own province, 

for adherence to orthodoxy of the faith, and for vision to reach 

fields still ripe for the harvest that marks Christian leadership 

that others can model their lives on. 

Faithfully, 

[signed] 

The Rev. Canon David C. Anderson 

President and C.E.O. 

Get Involved! 

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http://www.americananglican.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=ikLUK3MJIpG&b=675589&ct=2881561 (1 of 2) [8/17/2006 10:47:57 PM]

Press Releases - American Anglican Council Live Website 

Date: 8/15/2006 

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Musings of a Toe-Walker: Windsor Compliant? Hardly 


BlogThis! 





Windsor Compliant? Hardly 

them, shall we? 

The Primates at Dromantine said in February 2005: 

Can you smell the hypocrisy? Its all 

around us, and the stink appears to be 

particularly strong in Canturbury, Texas 

and Nigeria. Not unlike their convenient 

proof-texting of Scripture to reinforce 

their radical agenda, the so-called 

"Windsor Compliant" bishops are 

nothing of the sort. Have they so soon 

forgotten the recommendation of the 

Primates at Dromantine in 2005 and the 

specific calls for expression of regret, 

expressions of desire to remain in 

Communion and moritoria on 

interventions into "provinces, dioceses 

and parishes other than their own"? 

Apparently they have. Let's remind 

15. In order to protect the integrity and legitimate needs of groups in serious theological 

dispute with their diocesan bishop, or dioceses in dispute with their Provinces, we 

recommend that the Archbishop of Canterbury appoint, as a matter of urgency, a panel of 

reference to supervise the adequacy of pastoral provisions made by any churches for such 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/windsor-compliant-hardly.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:49:05 PM]


members in line with the recommendation in the Primates’ Statement of October 2003. 

Equally, during this period we commit ourselves neither to encourage nor to initiate cross- 

boundary interventions. 

The Windsor Report had recommended: 

155. We call upon those bishops who believe it is their conscientious duty to intervene in 

provinces, dioceses and parishes other than their own: 




We also call upon these archbishops and bishops to seek an accommodation with the 

bishops of the dioceses whose parishes they have taken into their own care. 

read the full article at 

Thinking Anglicans 

Rough translation for Akinola, Minns his poodle and the rest of the slimy pack: 


5:28 PM 

This is our Province. Bugger off! 

1 Comments: 

At 

Tue Aug 15, 08:17:28 PM CDT 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/windsor-compliant-hardly.html (2 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:49:05 PM] 

, 

1 comments


Monk-in-Training 

said... 

As is so often the case, what is sauce for the Goose, rarely is for the Gander.These people need 

to be called on this and OFTEN. 


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Musings of a Toe-Walker: Voter suppression efforts seen in six states 


BlogThis! 





Voter suppression efforts seen in six states 

from Raw Story: 

After votes were suppressed in Florida and Ohio during the 2000 and 2004 presidential 

elections, Salon warns that four additional states could see voters prevented from casting 

ballots, with the greatest impact felt by Democratic candidates. 

The report shows business as usual in Ohio where gubernatorial candidate and current 

Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has pushed regulations working to hinder voter 

registration efforts in the state. Similar efforts are afoot in Florida, as well as new 

authority for partisan pollwatchers to challenge the registration of individual voters. 

But it is in four new states where Salon emphasizes new troubles might break out: 

In Arizona, legislation that requires proof of citizenship to vote is taking a toll beyond 

the illegal immigrants it seeks to keep out of polling places. 

In Indiana, difficulties in securing state identification have complicated the ability of 

many to register to vote. 

In California, problems have been identified with electronic voting machines, and the 

consolidation of statewide voter registration lists is being used to bar voters from the 

rolls. 

In Missouri, rigid ID laws for voters are seen to be targeting minority voters likely to vote 

against Republicans. 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/voter-suppression-efforts-seen-in-six.html (1 of 2) [8/17/2006 10:49:59 PM]

Musings of a Toe-Walker: Voter suppression efforts seen in six states 

An excerpt of the article, which is available to subscribers or after watching Salon advertisting, 


9:07 AM 

is presented at The 

Raw Story 

0 Comments: 


My Manner of Life: Quenching the Spirit? 


BlogThis! 



Quenching the Spirit? 

Quenching the Spirit? … and What’s Really at Stake 

I spent the first 24 years of my life in the Southern Baptist Church. I remember many a sermon where the 

preacher talked in truly frightening terms about the sin of “quenching the Spirit” or of “sinning against the Holy 

Spirit.” 

That phrase came to my mind again this weekend when I read the guidelines issued by the Diocese of El Camino 

Real for calling their next bishop. These sections particularly caught my attention in the Standing Committee’s 

charge to the Search Committee: 

“All constituencies of our diverse community are to be considered.” 

“The Search Committee needs to ensure that all nominees meet the constitutional and canonical requirements 

set forth by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America:” [Need I remind 

you, readers, that our Canons say that sexual orientation is not a bar to the discernment process?] 

“3. At this time in our history and in view of General Convention Resolution B033, the Search Committee shall 

not nominate any homosexual person as a candidate for bishop of the Diocese of El Camino Real.” 

This made me think. I notice they didn’t say the Search Committee shall not nominate any oak trees … or any 

poodles … or any radial tires … or any barbeque grills to be the next bishop of the diocese. Of course not! For 

there’s no way that God would call an oak tree or a barbeque grill to be a bishop in this church of ours! For the 

Standing Committee explicitly to say no “homosexual person” may be nominated, they must believe it is 

possible that God might be calling one of them to be their bishop. So … are they running scared of that hideous 

possibility? 

So what if God is calling a homosexual person to be the next bishop of El Camino Real? Should the Standing 

Committee be concerned that they are “quenching the Spirit”? I wonder how the members of that Standing 

http://my-manner-of-life.blogspot.com/2006/08/quenching-spirit.html (1 of 4) [8/17/2006 10:50:28 PM]


Committee feel, saying to the Spirit, “if you try to call one of Those Queers, we’ll just say NO!” Sinners in the 

hands of an angry God, anyone? 

I would not want to be in the shoes of that Standing Committee! I heard way too many sermons about what 

happens to people who "quench the Spirit." Let it be upon their heads. 

. . . 

For those few people still trying to claim that “manner of life,” as passed in B033, does not simply mean 

“homosexual,” I’ll now simply point to the Diocese of El Camino Real and its statement here. It’s about nothing 

but “homosexuals”! Women archbishops don’t sufficiently “pose a challenge to the wider church.” [Happy as I 

am that Bishop Jefferts Schori was elected as our next PB!] Twice-divorced-and-thrice-married bishops don’t 

sufficiently “pose a challenge to the wider church.” [Bishop-elect Beisner, anyone?] Fat, gluttinous bishops 

don’t sufficiently “pose a challenge to the wider church.” [I’m not naming names! You can look at their photos.] 

No, these folks don’t pose a sufficiently-scary “challenge to the wider church.” 

Who does? The queers do – whether “active” or not. 

Over the past years since GC03, I have been constantly amused by the sanctimonious “conservatives” who say 

they don’t hate “homosexuals,” but are merely taking a “biblical” stance against “practicing homosexuals.” They 

love to quote that mantra, “I just hate the sin, but love the sinner.” 

Thank God, the Diocese of ECR didn’t try to play that nuanced card. They didn’t try to walk that dainty line 

between "homosexual person" and "practising homosexual.” They just said it out flat: "no homosexuals 

allowed!" And I am glad they did. That must have required some courage. 

Friends, it is not about “homosexuals in relationships outside the bounds of marriage.” It’s about any 

homosexual person – whether you are trying to live a celibate life, or are trying to live a holy life with your 

beloved. Makes no difference. El Camino Real has now made clear what most of us sensed in GC06. 

To this one diocese that has made its bigotry crystal-clear, I am grateful. 

… 

And a brief, simple codicil: You sense I’m angry here? You think my language and tone are just a wee bit over 

the top? You’re darn right! 


4 Comments: 

Ann said... 



Yes - I am angry and I am even more angry at those "nice" people who are trying to say it is an okay thing to do. Try substituting women, 

African Americans, etc., in the sentence and see it for what it is. When we moved to Wyoming there were still signs in some bars that said 

no dogs or Indians - guess we have not come very far. I am not getting depresssed about this (anger turned inward) - I am outraged. 

8/15/2006 7:15 AM 

Jarred said... 

Personally, I found your tone and content rather constrained.My issue with "hate the sin, but love the sinner" is I've seen far too many 

people who are too busy practicing the first part to practice the second part on anything but the most abstract level. 

8/15/2006 10:54 AM 

Grace said... 

I think it's a very serious matter to hinder someone from ministry that God may be gifting and calling by His Spirit. I can only judge that 

these people do not realize the depth of what they're actually doing and saying here. They need our prayers.I think the church in general 

has lost a real sense of the reality of the judgement of the Lord, and the real life consequence for things such as quenching or grieving the 

Holy Spirit of God.We desperately need renewal in the body of Christ!! 

8/15/2006 7:05 PM 

rowan said... 

To this one diocese that has made its bigotry crystal-clear, I am grateful.Yes, I am thankful for the clarity of ECR's statement. From now on, 

no conservative can come along and say, "Well, B033 dosen't say anything at all about homosexual persons." That's what they call us, you 

know, "homosexual persons." This statement of ECR's is a mirror held up to GC showing all those B033ers what they really did.You think your 

blog has a tone? You should see mine.Best,Linda McMIllanAustin, Texas(Logged in as Rowan. Rowan is my dog. He has his own blog which is 

much more interesting than mine.) 

8/16/2006 9:11 AM 



Create a Link 


Previous Posts 

● What Went Wrong . . . 

● Quotable ... on B033 

● Why The Episcopal Church Needs to Remain in The Anglican Communion 

● As the World Turns 

● Spooky! 

● A Codicil to – and Amplification on – My “Whoosh-and-Crack” Post 

● Acolyte to the Order of St. Verbosa 

● The Canterbury Bus 

● The Truth Unmasked! 

● That "Whoosh-and-Crack" of the Belt 


meditatio: Discrimination-R-Us 

meditatio 

BlogThis! 

Reflections of an Episcopal priest serving a largely lgbt, inner city parish. All views published 

here are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of my parish or of the Episcopal 


Discrimination-R-Us 

Church, much less those of God! 

Yesterday it was reported on various Episcopal listservs that the Standing Committee of the Diocese of 

El Camino Real (ECR) included the following in its instructions to the Search Committee established to 

secure nominations for their next diocesan bishop: 

"At this time in our history and in view of General Convention Resolution B033, the Search Committee 

shall not nominate any homosexual person as a candidate for bishop of the Diocese of El Camino 

Real." 

You remember B033: 

"Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, that the 75th General Convention receive and embrace 

The Windsor Report's invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further 

resolved, that this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction 

to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose 

manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion." 

Well, it is clear whose "manner of life" is, um, challenging to the wider church. ECR has done us the 

service of making explicit what we knew already: that B033 institutionalizes discrimination based on 

sexual orientation in our episcopal election process. ECR has followed the logic of B033 a step further 

by refusing to accept even the nomination of a gay or lesbian person as a candidate for bishop. 

Thus, we now have a diocese that, in keeping with the spirit of B033, has contradicted the letter of 

http://revkirkley.blogspot.com/2006/08/discrimination-r-us.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:50:50 PM]


Canon III.1.2: 

"No person shall be denied access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this 

Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, 

disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to licensing, ordination or 

election is hereby established." 

Access, much less election or consent, is now being denied to otherwise qualified gay or lesbian priests 

who might be nominated for bishop of El Camino Real. At this point, unless the Standing Committee of 

El Camino Real rescinds this prohibition, their election process is in violation of the canons from the 

outset, and no one elected as a result of this process should receive consent from Standing 

Committees and bishops with jurisdiction. 

The diocese of El Camino Real is free to elect any canonically qualified candidate to be their next 

bishop. They are not free to deny access to the nomination process based on sexual orientation. Gay 

and lesbian clergy have the same right to due consideration as any other qualified nominees: not that 

any gay or lesbian priest in his or her right mind would want to serve there. 

Then again, any gay or lesbian person has to be a little bit crazy to hang in there with this church. As 

Anne Lamott famously said: "Sometimes the church is enough to make Jesus want to drink gin from a 

cat bowl." 

Meow! 

posted by Fr. John at 4:02 PM 

2 Comments: 

Thomas B. Woodward said... 

The Standing Committee has revised its instructions to the Search Committee to bring them in line 

with the concerns you have noted.Tom Woodward 

12:27 PM 

Toewalker said... 

One wonders with what hubris the Standing Committee felt justified in drafting the instructions as they 

had initially,Easier to beg forgiveness than to ask for permission (read: don't ask and hope that no one 

notices)? 

1:10 PM 

http://revkirkley.blogspot.com/2006/08/discrimination-r-us.html (2 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:50:50 PM]



Musings of a Toe-Walker: Presumptious Primates and Dsysfunctional Dissidents 


BlogThis! 





Presumptious Primates and Dsysfunctional Dissidents 

In reading the responses to 

Mark Harris's post on his blog, Preludium, 

concerning the invitational meeting called by Bishop Wimberly of Texas to which the bishops of 

Durham and Winchester are going as envoys of the Archbishop of Canterbury, I ran across a 

comment that really struck me. In it, Bill Carroll describes very plainly what a goodly number of 

us are seeing regarding the current efforts by a group of foreign Primates and domestic 

dissidents to undermine the Episcopal Church. 


The most offensive thing about this is the presumption that the Episcopal Church needs to 

be reinvigorated. We have never been stronger. This conflict is like the confict in an 

alchoholic family, when one member gets sober or starts asserting personal boundaries. It 

is also, as several have pointed out, like the conflict in a family when one member comes 

out of the closet. When the Church of England becomes capable of honest speech about 

the lives and ministries of its gay and lesbian members, and of listening to these members 

instead of trying to silence them and collaborating in their oppression, then they can give 

us advise about how to be reinvigorated. For our part, reinvigoration would mean an even 

more radical break with the powers that corrupt and destroy God's creatures, including 

sexism and homophobia, as well as classism and economic privilege. We are far from full 

inclusion ourselves. This intervention is a sign that senior leadership in the C of E, as well 

as some bishops in the U.S., cannot free themselves of a colonial paradigm. These bishops 

are free to meet with whomever they choose, but this is a profound insult to the 

collegiality of the House of Bishops. These matters were dealt with, for good or ill, by the 

General Convention. The way to dissent with integrity was modelled by the statement of 

conscience issued by Bishop Chane and others, which points out the flawed and 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/presumptious-primates-and.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:51:17 PM]


manipulative process that led to B033, but pledges loyalty to "this great Church." Having a 

separate meeting of "Windsor Bishops" starts to look too much like an effort to associate 

with the Anglican Communion on some other basis than one's role as a bishop of the 

Episcopal Church. It is kind of like being "Network-Lite." The Episcopal Church has already 

made a response to Windsor. We are willing to work on our relationships, but unwilling to 

simply submit to ultimatums. These bishops should respect that this is our response and 

stop trying to subvert the legitimate process. 

Critics point to declining numbers as a sign of weakness. I believe this is a sign that we are 

moving past Christendom and that this offers us the opportunity for greater faithfulness. 

Churches can always be more faithful, and we are far from perfect. We could also show 

more zeal in sharing the Good News. Adopting an "evangelical" paradigm is not the way to 

do this. Continuing to proclaim God's universal kingdom, in which there are no outcasts, 

by word and deed, is. The problem with "evangelicals" today is that they are not 


12:22 PM 

evangelical enough. 

2 Comments: 

At 

Tue Aug 15, 08:31:32 AM CDT 

, 

UnSaintly Pat 

said... 

2 comments 

Bill Carroll said it rightly! He made a good point about evangelicals not being evangelical 

enough. Is the good news limited to only one sort of people? Isn't that kind of like the country 

clubs people joined because the riff-raff weren't allowed?Thanks for posting this. 

At 

Tue Aug 15, 09:03:52 AM CDT 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/presumptious-primates-and.html (2 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:51:17 PM]


, 


said... 

Close-minded "orthodox evangelicals" make Baby Jesus cry.And they hate America too. 


PRELUDIUM: Dr Wright ,wrong again. 

PRELUDIUM 

BlogThis! 

PRELUDIUM;from the Latin - pre (pre) ludium (sound), a prelude to what is to come. In the Anglican Communion and the 

Episcopal Church there are signs of the emergence of a new progressive vocation within Christianity. The new sounds and 

words to envision such a possibility are still being formed. These notes, poems, essays, observations and links are my 

efforts to add to the voices that seek to address this envisioning. 


Dr Wright ,wrong again. 

The Church Times, concerning the invitational meeting called by Bishop Wimberly of Texas to which the 

bishops of Durham and Winchester are going as envoys of the Archbishop of Canterbury reported this (report 

covered by Thinking Anglicans): 

“Dr Wright said on Tuesday that the group consisted of those who wanted to hold to as broad a base of 

Episcopalianism under the Windsor and Communion rubrics as they could, and who needed to be taught some 

Anglican and biblical theological pathways by which they could do so. “They need to be encouraged to 

extend their left arms as far as they can in one direction and their right arms in another to prevent what 

could otherwise be multiple fracturing and break-up,” he said. “The Bishop of Winchester and I want to see 

ECUSA refreshed, renewed, and full of vigour.” 

The suppositions that these bishops “needed to be taught some Anglican and biblical theological pathways” 

is an interesting one. Arrogant, but interesting. 

Bishop Wright of Durham has meddled in Episcopal Church affairs already, having produced a critique of the 

proposed resolutions of the Special Committee on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion just 

hours before General Convention began. He has been a strict “constructionist” regarding the force of the 

Windsor Report, contending that compliance is what is required, not response. Bishop Wright of Durham can 

often be very right indeed, but not always. In this case he is about to find himself in trouble. 

When The Right Reverend Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter, spoke to the March 2006 meeting of the House 

of Bishops concerning the Windsor Report and the Special Committee’s preliminary report his response was 

considered by many to be arrogant and misplaced. Exeter was sent by Canterbury, and if that is the style of 

engagement then we can look forward to more of the same efforts to teach “some Anglican and biblical 

http://anglicanfuture.blogspot.com/2006/08/dr-wright-wrong-again.html (1 of 10) [8/17/2006 10:51:24 PM]


theological pathways.” If these are the teachers, perhaps one question to ask is if the Church of England, 

itself on the edge of break up or breakdown, is in any position to teach anything. 

Bishop Wimberly’s invitation is to those who agree want to be “compliant” with Windsor and thus qualify for 

full inclusion in the imaginary (or perhaps visionary) scheme the Archbishop of Canterbury proposed in his 

reflections. This so called two-tiered approach makes some Churches, and perhaps some Dioceses, 

“constituent members” of the Communion and others not. It will be a mess if it is done on less than a 

Provincial level. It will be a mess even then. 

The envoys of the Archbishop and the self selecting bishops who are compliant will have a fine time. Having 

declared they are compliant in order to get in the door, they will be taught a variety of things, and if they 

are indeed compliant they will hear and obey the envoys. 

And who gave these envoys any power at all? They represent a prince of the church who has no more power 

here than any foreign bishop. But there will be no way for these bishops to learn than other in the school of 

hard knocks. That school has its beginning training session in Texas. 

posted by Mark Harris at 8/13/2006 10:11:00 PM 

37 Comments: 

Andy Morgan said... 

From reading your blog (which is interesting) i get the impression that you have no regard or respect for Anglicianism. Of course to call one 

self an anglican is to adhere to the 39 articles (despite the episcopal church placing them as historical documents). How then would you 

describe the espicopal church? Simply a protestant church? Or a progressive christian church? 

13/8/06 10:35 PM 


Andy, you're quite wrong. Rather than posting a detailed explanation of why in this comments section, I point to a response by MadPriest in 

which he details the erroneous nature of your comment:http://revjph.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-i-learned-to-stop-worryingandlove.html#links 

14/8/06 7:36 AM 

Anonymous said... 

Andy, do you believe that "General Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes"? 

14/8/06 7:46 AM 

Andy said... 



Thank you for the link - I have left a comment there in response to the post. 

14/8/06 8:28 AM 

David Huff said... 

Great googly-moogly. I thought we had to worry about foreign bishops invading from the so-called "Global South." Looks like the biggest 

offenders these days are +++Canterbury, +++York, and their envoys.And does +Wright ever stay in his own diocese and, one would hope, 

mind his own business ?If this is the future of the AC, count me out. 

14/8/06 9:40 AM 

Andy said... 

Just to respond to Anonymous' comment about councils. While the statement 'General Councils may not be gathered together without the 

commandment and will of Princes' is steeped in historic context - that Princes had a major role within church government and theology (a 

legacy of Constantine) at the time it was written - There is something to be said for the idea of councils. Nicaea, 325 formulated the first 

part of the Creed; Constantinople, 381, formulated the second part of the creed, defining the divinity of the Holy Spirit; Ephesus, Asia 

Minor 431 defined Christ as the Incarnate Word of God and Mary as Theotokos; Chalcedon 451 defined Christ as Perfect God and perfect 

man in One person - plus Constantinople II 553, Constantinople III 680 & Nicaea 787 (I think that is all of the major ecumencial councils 

from memory). Councils called together the five patriarchs of the church (i.e. the heads of the various parts of the church) to discuss 

doctrine. Of course the General Convention can be seen as a 'council' of some sort - but I wonder what would happen if ALL the heads of the 

church were to meet together. That would be interesting (or maybe frightening for some)! 

14/8/06 10:00 AM 

Andy said... 

This post has been removed by the author. 

14/8/06 10:01 AM 


The most offensive thing about this is the presumption that the Episcopal Church needs to be reinvigorated. We have never been stronger. 

This conflict is like the confict in an alchoholic family, when one member gets sober or starts asserting personal boundaries. It is also, as 

several have pointed out, like the conflict in a family when one member comes out of the closet. When the Church of England becomes 

capable of honest speech about the lives and ministries of its gay and lesbian members, and of listening to these members instead of trying 

to silence them and collaborating in their oppression, then they can give us advise about how to be reinvigorated. For our part, 

reinvigoration would mean an even more radical break with the powers that corrupt and destroy God's creatures, including sexism and 

homophobia, as well as classism and economic privilege. We are far from full inclusion ourselves. This intervention is a sign that senior 

leadership in the C of E, as well as some bishops in the U.S., cannot free themselves of a colonial paradigm. These bishops are free to meet 

with whomever they choose, but this is a profound insult to the collegiality of the House of Bishops. These matters were dealt with, for 

good or ill, by the General Convention. The way to dissent with integrity was modelled by the statement of conscience issued by Bishop 

Chane and others, which points out the flawed and manipulative process that led to B033, but pledges loyalty to "this great Church." Having 

a separate meeting of "Windsor Bishops" starts to look too much like an effort to associate with the Anglican Communion on some other 

basis than one's role as a bishop of the Episcopal Church. It is kind of like being "Network-Lite." The Episcopal Church has already made a 

response to Windsor. We are willing to work on our relationships, but unwilling to simply submit to ultimatums. These bishops should 

respect that this is our response and stop trying to subvert the legitimate process. Critics point to declining numbers as a sign of weakness. 

I believe this is a sign that we are moving past Christendom and that this offers us the opportunity for greater faithfulness. Churches can 

always be more faithful, and we are far from perfect. We could also show more zeal in sharing the Good News. Adopting an "evangelical" 

paradigm is not the way to do this. Continuing to proclaim God's universal kingdom, in which there are no outcasts, by word and deed, is. 

The problem with "evangelicals" today is that they are not evangelical enough. 

14/8/06 10:33 AM 



Miss Wiggins said... 

I beg your pardon, did you really say the Episcopal Church has never been stronger? 

14/8/06 12:19 PM 

Wendy Dackson said... 

I always find it interesting when an appeal is made to the 39 Articles in terms of being the test of authentic Anglicanism and loyal 

membership in the Communion. At the time(s) of the drafting(s) of the various sets of Articles, no such entity as 'the Anglican Communion' 

was in any way imagined. In fact, the idea of an 'Anglican Communion' is rather late in the history of the churches historically descended 

from the see of Canterbury.And just like Scripture, it seems that people pick and choose which of the various Articles are the litmus test 

for 'authentic' belonging. 

14/8/06 12:59 PM 


"This conflict is like the confict in an alchoholic family, when one member gets sober or starts asserting personal boundaries."A very 

accurate analogy, Bill. 

14/8/06 1:07 PM 

Freedom Bound said... 

The most offensive thing about this is the presumption that the Episcopal Church needs to be reinvigorated.It was that assertion that 

struck me too. I look with envy at the life and prophetic witness of my Epoiscopal sisters and brothers across "the pond" - oh that some of 

your bishops could come and reinvigorate the C of E, or just kick a few of them firmly up the..... [thinks it best to stop there]. 

14/8/06 1:33 PM 

Freedom Bound said... 

I thought we had to worry about foreign bishops invading from the so-called "Global South." Looks like the biggest offenders these days 

are +++Canterbury, +++York, and their envoys.And does +Wright ever stay in his own diocese and, one would hope, mind his own business ? 

There was a time when the US was "cared for" by English bishops at a distance - please feel free to make up the episcopal visitation time 

they owe to the US by keeping these ones, with our thanks and blessing! We won't need them back....... 

14/8/06 1:36 PM 


Yes, I said it. I guess it depends on what one means by strong. By some measures we are weaker, but these aren't Christian measures.If by 

stronger, we mean more faithful and more alive in the Holy Spirit, I think it is true. We are experiencing conflict because we have been 

faithful to what God requires of us. Much of the weakness we experience is an experience of the believer's cross. I also acknowledged how 

weak we are, still highly imperfect and deeply flawed. I think that many of those who think of this as a crisis are looking for us to regain 

lost cultural influence, which will never happen. We have moved into a post-Christendom period. Many of our congregations and dioceses 

are alive and doing God's work joyfully.The restoration of Appalachian ministry funding, the commitment to the MDG's, the election of 

Katharine Jefferts Schori, the commitment to the rights of immigrants, the signs that we are not going to capitulate on our commitment to 

lgbtq Christians (despite the tragedy of B033), all of these point to a very strong Church. We continue to confess the Gospel of Jesus Christ 

boldly and without apology, in word and deed.As a social institution we may be weaker, as a Church we are stronger than ever. 

14/8/06 2:08 PM 




Mark, you wrote:'perhaps one question to ask is if the Church of England, itself on the edge of break up or breakdown, is in any position to 

teach anything.'I have to question this. Although there's a fair amount of disagreement, and even some acrimony, I'm not sure that 

describing the church situation here as 'on the edge of break up or breakdown' is quite accurate.There's lots of hot-headedness. There's 

even some pressure from individual parishes and congregations for a stricter sort of definition of who is 'in' and who is not, in terms of 

Christian identity. (For various reasons, I don't think that's going to happen.)But to say that the CofE is at the edge of falling apart is a little 

premature, I think--at least from where I sit, anyway. 

14/8/06 3:00 PM 


Gee - agents of a foreign prince with no power here! So why do you care what he or anyone else thinks? TEC has made it clear it has 

discerned a new teaching of the HS and its actions at GC 2003 were prophetic. Stop whining about the consequences you were told would 

flow from your actions and "live into" your new reality! You have chosen to be a denomination, separate and apart from the church 

catholic. Embrace the new truth you have discovered. 

14/8/06 3:14 PM 


TEC does not need to be reinvigorated. It needs to be resurrected. 

14/8/06 3:17 PM 

janinsanfran said... 

Bill Carroll said: This intervention is a sign that senior leadership in the C of E, as well as some bishops in the U.S., cannot free themselves 

of a colonial paradigm. That is the project for all of us. Let those who need to hang on to power over others go; let the rest of us strive for 

justice and compassion in community. 

14/8/06 5:05 PM 

Widening Gyre said... 

Bill Carroll wrote: "We continue to confess the Gospel of Jesus Christ boldly and without apology, in word and deed."Well, to paraphrase old 

what's his name, you know, the NY Senator's husband, "I guess it all depends on what you mean by the Gospel of Jesus Christ."Bill, I can 

appreciate your zeal and enthusiasm for the current direction TEC is headed, but I think your arguments might be stronger if you toned 

back on the use of hyperbole.Just a thought. 

14/8/06 5:05 PM 

fatherjones.com said... 

Actually, N.T. Wright is usually correct on many things, and appears to be quite correct again. The Episcopal Church does need invigoration, 

and we are blessed to be in a communion where we may learn from bishops outside our provincial boundaries. We have learned from Tutu. 

We have learned from the Anglicans of Sudan, who keep the faith despite murder, rape and oppression. We have learned from England, 

again and again. What baffles me, frankly, is the strange isolationism and arrogance of American Episcopalians who presume that we do 

NOT need to learn and be reproached from time to time by friends from abroad. N.T. Wright has as much wright to speak to us as we do to 

him. So does the Bishop of Exeter. It's a small world friends, and a catholic church. The real agenda that is most worrisome, apart from the 

right-wing power politics clearly at large in many quarters, is the left-wing power politics at play among radical provincialists who seem to 

think we are autonomous. We're not. We're not self-ruling friends. We're to be ruled by Christ. And in His body -- the other members have 

as much to do with us as we do with them. 

14/8/06 11:36 PM 

Dave said... 



I propose a moratorium on the use of +Durham's surname as a pun on "right." Cliches are a plague that diminsh us all. Stop the madness. 

15/8/06 12:21 AM 


fatherjones, I think you have a point about learning from bishops outside the normal jurisdictional patterns.But there is a difference: 

Archbishop Tutu and the Sudanese Christians were teaching and leading by example. Their witness is one people can admire because it is a 

genuine expression of gospel living in their particular circumstances. It calls the rest of us to figure out what gospel living in our own 

situations might entail.It is not the arrogance of 'We'll show those d@mn liberal Yankees a thing or two'.I agree--there is much to be learned 

from Anglican Christians in other parts of the world. But there are better and worse people from whom to learn, and there are better and 

worse ways of doing the teaching.As always, discernment on all sides is called for. 

15/8/06 3:30 AM 


How is it hyperbole? I think I was quite careful to admit that we are a deeply flawed institution. At the same time, we have Good News to 

share and are doing so faithfully. Jesus Christ continues to change lives in the Episcopal Church. Moreover, the Church continues to bear 

witness to his name before the powers of this age. The stance on the human rights of immigrants is but one example of this. I gave some 

others. I don't think it is hyperbole to celebrate what God is doing in our midst. 

15/8/06 7:09 AM 

Widening Gyre said... 

Bill,I think your second post explaining what you meant by a strong church was helpful. I'm still not so sure reasonable people couldn't 

disagree with your comment that TEC has never been stronger, though. It does raise interesting ideas about what a church is supposed to 

do. I think we would both agree that to the extent the local parishes are rebuilding a sense of community and fellowship by "doing" the 

work of Christ they are getting stronger. I'm just not quite yet willing to agree with your assessent of the national church. There is still a lot 

of work left to be done in our local (non-network, quite liberal) diocese repairing the wounds from the past three years. Not to mention 

figuring out a way to deal with a ballooning deficit budget! 

15/8/06 10:04 AM 

piegrrrl said... 

My fear is that this is not really about liturgy or theology, but about power. +Wimberly gave a lovely sermon recently at an installation. 

Lovely until the slightly menacing statement, "The Church is not a democracy. It is a benevolent dictatorship." (With the unstated, "And 

don't you little parishioners forget it. Trust an obey.") That's when it struck me that the machinations at the macro level of the church and 

its various communions is about power. 

16/8/06 11:41 AM 

fatherjones.com said... 

Wendy writes: "It is not the arrogance of 'We'll show those d@mn liberal Yankees a thing or two'."While I think Nigeria is an example of this 

kind of arrogance -- I ABSOLUTELY reject that Canterbury, Durham or Exeter are in any way displaying this sort of attitude.To be incapable 

of seeing the difference is what astounds me. 

16/8/06 1:19 PM 


father jones wrote:'While I think Nigeria is an example of this kind of arrogance -- I ABSOLUTELY reject that Canterbury, Durham or Exeter 



are in any way displaying this sort of attitude.'Exactly wrong. Canterbury perhaps not, but right now Canterbury is not doing much of 

anything except capitulation to Nigeria.Durham? Yes, it's a matter of exactly 'we'll show those nasty liberals'. In a way, it's the arrogance 

born out of success: Wright is the top-selling author at SPCK, and is reported to have threatened them that he'll pull out if they publish the 

work of any author with whom he disagrees. So, he's controlling a major portion of English Christian publishing by petulant childishness and 

a lack of engagement with difference.There is much the Church of England has to teach ECUSA--things about patient perseverance in the 

midst of a culture that doesn't pay you much attention until they need you (and never really has done), about compromise and 

accomodation in the setting in which one finds oneself, and in articulating identity without condemnation of those whose identity is 

differently articulated.+Wright, unfortunately, is not the person to do that teaching. But again, those inviting his teaching are not ones who 

would learn those things, anyway. 

16/8/06 2:22 PM 

john said... 

The real problem is +Wimberly, who pompously proclaims himself "the most senior" bishop in the HofB. I think he would love to birth a 

parallel office to that of the PB, an honor he didn't achieve by election, if memory serves, nine years ago. A hopeless mediocrity, +Texas 

hopes to carry water for ++Rowan and the esteemed visiting bishops, with a reward in the new Anglican Communion, whatever that may 

become. 

16/8/06 6:14 PM 

BillCarroll said... 

All bishops are equal, because all people are equal. Hierarchical thinking is at the root of our present problems. If our episcopal impulses 

run counter to our baptismal ecclesiology, we should choose the latter every time. 

16/8/06 7:35 PM 


Bill Carroll stated "All bishops are equal, because all people are equal. Hierarchical thinking is at the root of our present problems. If our 

episcopal impulses run counter to our baptismal ecclesiology, we should choose the latter every time." Interesting notion, though I doubt 

any would consider such an idea Anglican let alone biblical. Even in our supposed "democratic" church we call our bishops "chief priests and 

pastor" and make them take an oath to defend the faith. Let's face it, democracy is absolutely contrary to the Kingdom to which we call the 

world.Peace,JB 

16/8/06 8:00 PM 

obadiahslope said... 

Wendy said"Wright is the top-selling author at SPCK, and is reported to have threatened them that he'll pull out if they publish the work of 

any author with whom he disagrees. "Can we have a citation or a link to back this assertion up please? 

17/8/06 1:01 AM 


obadiahslope, no you can't. It's been told to me by friends whose potential books have been rejected by SPCK because they 'don't fit our 

portfolio'. These are people who (a) have previously published with SPCK, and (b) have known disagreements with +Wright. It takes little to 

figure out what is going on. Money wins over open exploration of ideas, even (or especially) in Christian publishing.But the rese of what I've 

said, that's from my own observation. There are plenty of good things happening in the Church of England. But they've nothing to do with 

the kind of exclusionary, absolutist bombast that is likely to happen in Texas.I'm definitely not sure that the Network bishops, or the 

'Windsor Compliant' bishops in the US want what historic Anglicanism has meant here in England. It's meant a church that pretty much has 

to function in a society that largely ignores it, except at the moments of need or convenience. It's meant having to open its doors and 

provide its ministrations on demand to people at pivotal life junctures, even if those are the only times such folk ever enter a church. It 

has, in places, meant that the church warden rings the bell and stands on the path on Sunday morning--if anyone actually shows up, then he 



goes and gets the vicar to conduct the service.It's meant that well-heeled parents could see the church as a proper means of making a living 

for sons that didn't have much potential, such as this:'One did not have to be a believer to see that an aimless son with a penchant for field 

sports would fit in nicely. Was the Church not a haven for dullards and dawdlers, the last resort of spendthrifts? What calling but the 

highest for those whose sense of calling was nil? And inwhat other profession were the risks of failure so low and the rewards so high?'Of 

course, the dullard son in question here never became a vicar. No, he ended up with far more influence, both in the religiuos and secular 

mind. That's from Desmond and Moore's 1991 biography of Charles Darwin.But oh, well. That sort of thing has been as much a part (maybe 

more) of 'historic Anglicanism' as anything else. If the meeting in Texas wants to be the true 'continuing Anglicans' in North America, they 

need to take the whole lot with them, not just the pretty stuff.To me, it looks like they've got their man. 

17/8/06 4:07 AM 

lizw said... 

the group consisted of those who wanted to hold to as broad a base of Episcopalianism under the Windsor and Communion rubrics as they 

could, and who needed to be taught some Anglican and biblical theological pathways by which they could do soI can think of some Anglican 

and biblical theological pathways I'd like to teach +Durham and +Winchester that might enable them to hold a broader base of 

Episcopalianism, too... 

17/8/06 7:30 AM 

obadiahslope said... 

Wendy, The SPCK faces financial difficulty according to the Church Times 

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/80256FA1003E05C1/httpPublicPages/75EEF05CD99DCD588025715D0052F289?opendocumentSo a simpler 

explanation to the difficulty some authors might have getting published with SPCK is that the organisation has to be extra careful about 

spending money these days. This may mean a "name" author like Wright is favoured by the economic situation.I hold no particular brief for 

Bishop Wright. But it seems to me that your attack on him crosses the boundaries of libel. I think Mark should think carefully about whether 

he wants to publish it. 

17/8/06 9:01 AM 


Obadiahslope, 'libel' is a very strong word. And I don't think I've crossed that line. But it does seem odd that authors who have previously 

published with SPCK, and are now finding themselves rejected, are ones who don't fit a certain conservative evangelical profile. SPCK used 

to be more comprehensive than that.And yet, I think that the English bishops who are going to Texas are really not going to teach anybody 

anything. They're going to confirm existing biases, and it's going to be one big pep rally for those who want the kind of exclusive, hardboundaried 

church which has only been a mythic construct in the Church of England's history. 

17/8/06 10:27 AM 


The Bible is quite clear about the equality of all the baptized and that Christian leaders are the servants of the faithful and indeed of the 

world. Hierarchical models of episcopacy are contrary to Scripture. Anglicanism has at different points in history and in different cultures 

embraced this unbiblical model. In the Episcopal Church, the model of authority is more democratic than most, though it varies widely from 

diocese to diocese. A denial of baptismal equality seems heretical to me, though I'm against all forms of inquisition favored by the neopuritans. 

All Christians are directly empowered by the Holy Spirit to represent Christ in word and deed. The authority of office, like the 

authority of Scripture, is provisional and contingent. Ultimate authority belongs to God alone. Anglicanism has been good, at least in 

principle, of admitting the priority of conscience to all other forms of authority.I fully admit that what I am suggesting may be at odds with 

what Anglicans have practiced and do practice. Where offered a choice between being "Anglican" and being "Christian" I'd choose the latter 

every time. Jesus is Lord. 

17/8/06 3:01 PM 

J.C. Fisher said... 



Interesting notion, though I doubt any would consider such an idea Anglican let alone biblical.Geez, JB, hyperbole much? (i.e., I agree w/ 

Bill C---or, not being a "Prince of the Church", do my considerations simply not matter?)Let's face it, democracy is absolutely contrary to 

the Kingdom to which we call the world.Au contraire. There is a direct connection between "all are one in Christ" and "E Pluribus Unum". 

Democracy ain't perfect (per Winston Churchill, "just better than any other" form of government)......but it's cure is MORE democracy, not 

less (the democratic principle that even permanent minorities, like LGBT people, ought to be respected and protected).It's "The World" 

which teaches "Paradise is dictatorship, with [your favorite dictator (person/group/ideology) here] in charge": that's nuthin' like the Reign 

of God! 

17/8/06 6:45 PM 



Create a Link 


This lists by TITLE all the articles published prior to the most recent, listed here: 

Last 20 Entries 

Dr Wright ,wrong again. 

IMPORTANT SITES where, among other things, much of my writing finds publication: 

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Musings of a Toe-Walker: When the Rapture comes, can I have your car? 


BlogThis! 





When the Rapture comes, can I have your car? 

File this one under "I sh*t you not". Its a 

Rapture Index 

, billing itself as (seriously, I'm not kidding) "The prophetic speedometer of end-time 


11:39 AM 

activity." 

Hat tip to 

Pam Spaulding 

3 Comments: 

At 

Mon Aug 14, 02:59:13 PM CDT 

, 

MadPriest 

said... 

When the Rapture comes, can I have your cat? 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/when-rapture-comes-can-i-have-your-car.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:52:00 PM] 

3 comments


At 

Mon Aug 14, 03:04:19 PM CDT 

, 


said... 

You don't understand, MP. Me and Mr. Bean (and hubby and the other critters) will be Left 

Behind.But you're welcome to join us for car shopping. I'm sure somewhere amongst 

TheChosen(tm) there is bound to be a late model BMW that they will have no further use for 

(PostRapture, of course) 

At 

Mon Aug 14, 04:36:24 PM CDT 

, 

Freedom Bound 

said... 

Hey with all the loopholes the folk who will-so-obviously-be-raptured have found in order to 

ignore endless Scriptures about social Justice and what money is for - I claim one of the many 

houses with pool that will be left empty!! 




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Musings of a Toe-Walker: Those Goat-Diapers 


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Those Goat-Diapers 

from Andrew Sullivan 

"It's hard to get them out of my head. Here's the story if you missed it: Iraqi 

Islamists are threatening shepherds with violence if they don't clothe their goats with 

diapers to avoid tempting lonely shepherds. Another facet of the "new Middle East." Yes, 

it's funny. But it's also revealing about the way fundamentalism and sex interact. What 

most male-run religious fundamentalisms include is a major exception for the hetero- 

male sex drive. Sex outside of missionary-position reproduction with legal wife/wives is 

officially verboten; but when frail male flesh gives in, the blame is almost always the 

object of desire - not the guy actually responsible. Hence: it's the goat's fault. The way 

they were dressed, they were asking for it." 

(continued below) 

"So it's not the men buggering the goats who need monitoring: it's the goats and the 

shepherds for not covering them up sufficiently! As we know, holding straight men 

accountable for anything sexual is very tough in fundamentalist circles, be they Islamic or 

Christian. So Catholic priests and bishops were granted church and moral immunity for 

the rapes and molestations of thousands of minors for decades. The history of wayward 

pastors and priests getting away with sexual abuse and harassment is long and colorful. In 

many Islamic cultures, Women are deemed responsible for their own rape or molestation 

if they haven't dressed modestly enough. Gay soldiers are to blame if straight men cannot 

help themselves and start buggering them in the shower. It's never up to the straight 

guys to restrain themselves from getting a blow-job; it's always up to the gay men not to 

offer temptation. Adultery, likewise, is almost always the woman's fault in Islamist 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/those-goat-diapers.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:52:49 PM]


circles - and the women are the ones most often punished. The goat diapers are funny. 

But they are a function of a sexual pathology, maintained by religious norms, and all for 

sustaining the immunity of heterosexual males from the consequences of their sex drives - 

and the subjugation of women into near-slavery throughout many enclaves in the Muslim 

world. I don't see much progress toward democratic culture in the Middle East until their 

deeply disturbed sexual culture gets healthier. 

The above paragraphs are from Andrew Sullivan's blog and reflect his opinion. I do want to 

stress that my reasons for posting this on my blog have nothing to do with the people of Islam, 

wherever they may live. Rather, it was Mr. Sullivan's point regarding his perception that 

heterosexual men are often able to shift the blame for their own inappropriate behavior onto 

their victims, thus absolving themselves from any responsibility for their actions. It is my 

feeling that we are all responsible for our own actions and no one makes us do anything and no 


6:41 AM 

one makes us feel anything. 

Personal responsiblity, folks. Its a GoodThing(tm) 

2 Comments: 

At 

Mon Aug 14, 09:27:02 AM CDT 

, 

MadPriest 

said... 

2 comments 

Hi Toe-Walker.Please let me be the first one to ask -Well, who's got your goat today then, Toe- 

Walker? 

At 

Mon Aug 14, 09:37:40 AM CDT 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/those-goat-diapers.html (2 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:52:49 PM]


, 


said... 

Dadgummit, I should have known better than to read your comment with a drink in my hand. 

(wipe, wipe, wipe) 


Musings of a Toe-Walker: Holy Hunk of the Month 


BlogThis! 





Holy Hunk of the Month 

Calendario Romano 2007 

Welcome to the new 2007 edition of the Italian priests calendar. 

No, I'm not kidding. There really is a Hunky Priest of the Month calendar and, apparently, has 

been for the past few years. The creator assures us that its all in good taste and that the 

proceeds go to charitable organizations. 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/holy-hunk-of-month.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:53:18 PM]



8:25 PM 

2 Comments: 

2 comments 

At 

Mon Aug 14, 04:34:28 PM CDT 

, 

Freedom Bound 

said... 

why oh why wasn't he at my seminary.....oh yeah, something to do with me not being Catholic - 

conversion suddenly looking attractive tho! 

At 

Mon Aug 14, 09:30:54 PM CDT 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/holy-hunk-of-month.html (2 of 3) [8/17/2006 10:53:18 PM] 

,


Pisco Sours 

said... 

I can't believe I'm lusting after priests! Man, this is going to take some explaining at my 

confession. 


Calendario Romano 2007 - Roman Priest Calendar 2007 


http://www.calendarioromano.org/03.html (1 of 8) [8/17/2006 10:53:24 PM]


ther CALENDARIO ROMANO 2007 

di 

Piero Pazzi 

the most typical souvenir from Rome 

WHERE CAN YOU FIND IT ? 

in all kioscos and souvenir store of Rome and Venice or for e-mail: 

p.pazzi@libero.it 

The price of the CALENDARIO ROMANO 2005 is 10,00 (ten) Euros (fine 

included). 

WHAT IS IT? 

The CALENDARIO ROMANO 2007 joint to pictures it also contains generical 

informations about of the Vaticano State 

http://www.calendarioromano.org/03.html (2 of 8) [8/17/2006 10:53:24 PM] 

NOTES ABOUT THE VATICAN


Often tourists, mainly foreigners, don't have a complete knowledge of the things 

they see while in Rome, especially concerning the rather confusing Vatican 

grounds. 

This calendar intends to give basic information and some notes on the general 

characteristics of the Vatican with the hope of sating the thirst for knowledge 

continually demonstrated by the Eternal City's visitors. 

The Vatican is a true and proper sovereign state, heir of the ancient Pontiff State 

born following the Treaty of Lateranñ the agreed upon protocol signed between 

the Holy Sede and the Italian State on February 11, 1929. 

The Vatican is the smallest State in the world, its surface is a little smaller than 

half a kilometer squared, and is a theocratic monarchy. Like every state, the 

Vatican has its own passports, provides for the use of a flag and anthem, and 

even possesses a train for the transport of goods. It has diplomatic 

representatives in almost all of the countries in the world and, because of the 

presence of the Vatican, Rome can be considered the only city in the world to 

have a double diplomatic body: one representing the Republic of Italy and the 

other the Holy Sede 

The Stateís leader is the Pope, elected by the Holy College of Cardinals, and 

chosen from the around 150 Cardinals whom are under 80 years old. As a result 

of this, the Pope can come from anywhere in the world. 

No one may ever be above the Pontiff, who, in fact, can establish any law without 

any authority able to check his actions. 

In practice, however, the Pope is surrounded by advisors, from whom the 

Cardinals of the curia, whom assist him with his work, stand out. Above them all 

is his right hand man, the hand picked Secretary of State. 



In effect, the Pope delegates a special commission of cardinals that exercise their 

power over the State. However, in any moment he can take this power back, and 

can also naturally block the Commissionís decisions. The Pontiff can be 

considered ìlegibus solutusî, which, while not above the law, is in so much 

absolute sovereign. 

Other than the territory proper of the State, the jurisdiction of the Vatican is 

made up of other buildings in and out of Rome that benefit from the privileges of 

extraterritoriality and are exempt from expropriation and tributes. 

The extraterritorialities of the Holy Sede in Rome, including the various 

agreements underwritten in subsequent regards between the Holy Sede and 

Italy, are: 

1. The complex of St. John in Laterano (Basilica, Palazzo Apostolico Lateranense 

with the connected buildings and the Holy Steps); 

2. St. Mary Maggiore's Basilica with the connected buildings; 

3. St. Paulís Basilica outside the Wall along with the connected buildings; 

4. The Chancellor's Palazzo; 

5. The Palazzo of Propaganda Fide, seat of the Congregation for the Evangelizing 

of the People; 

6. St. Callisto's Palazzo in Trastevere; 

7. The Palazzo of the Holy Offices and adjacent seat of the Congregation of the 

Doctrine of Faith (ex Holy Offices); 

8. The Palazzo of the Convertendi, seat of the Oriental Churches Congregation; 



9. The Palazzo Maffei or of the Vicariato (already seat of the Curia Diocese of 

Rome, whom act as guards to some officials); 

10. The Palazzo of the Congregation of the Propilei; 

11. The Palazzo Pious, declared extraterritorial in 1979 (with the complete 

exclusion of the locals who actually accommodate the Auditorium) in 

substitution of the Palazzo of the Dataria, no longer property of the Holy Sede; 

12. The Minor Roman Papal Seminary; 

13. The property on Gianicolo (Pio Romeno Papal College, Ukraine Papal 

College of St. Jehoshaphat, North American Papal College, Hospital of Baby 

Jesus, Church and Convent of St. Onofrio, Papal Urban University, Area of 

Technical Services of the Holy Sede, St. Monicaís International College, Curia 

Generalizia of the Companions of Jesus, Institute of Baby Mary, Church of 

Saints Michael and Magno, Building of the Calasanzian Sisters, House of the 

Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, Property on Borgo Santo Spirito adjacent to the 

Curia of the Jesuits). 

In virtue of the agreement of the Holy Sede (1982) at the Convention of 

November 16, 1972 on the protection of the worldís cultural and natural 

heritage, all of Vatican City, as well as the Holy Sedeís exterior territories in 

Rome, were written in the world heritage list. They were added equally, both for 

their individual worth and because they make up part of the historical city 

center. 

Property with extraterritoriality privilege outside of Rome include the Palazzo 

Pontificio, the Villa Cybo and the Villa Barberini at Castelgandolfo, and the 

Supreme Pontiffís summer residence which covered a global area of 400 

thousand meters squared and which came to join the new Broadcasting Center of 

Santa Maria di Galeria, which arose near Cesano18 km from Rome, following 



the agreement between the Holy Sede and Italy on October 8, 1951. 

TOGETHER WITH THE POPE 

The words of the Pope, when not on a world pilgrimage or in his summer seat of 

Castel Gandolfo (from mid-July to the end of September) can be heard in Saint 

Peter's Square every Sunday at the 12:00am Angelus. 

The Pope appears from his private studioís window and blesses the faithful. The 

special benediction Urbi et Orbi is bestowed at Easter and Christmas. 

THE MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES 

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the State for the tourist is the fact that the 

Vatican is a brimfull treasure chest of universally important works of art. These 

collections can be viewed for free every last Sunday of the month. 

The principle collections are: the Egyptian Gregorian Museum, the Etruscan 

Gregorian Museum, the Chiaramonti Museum, the Pious-Clementine Museum, 

the Belvedere, the Animal Room, the Statue Gallery, the Bust Gallery, the Mask 

Room, the Room of the Muses, the Round Room, the Greek Cross Room, the 

Candelabra Gallery, the Tapestry Gallery, the Map Room, the Gallery of Saint 

Pious V, Saint Pious V's Room, the Sobieski Room, the Immaculate Conception 

Room, the Chiaroscuro Room, Pope Nicholas Vís Chapel, the Rafael Room, and 

the celebrated Sistine Chapel. A visit to the Museum of the History of the 

Vatican situated near the Palazzo Lateranense and Saint Peterís Treasury is also 

recommended. 

MONEY, STAMPS AND TELEPHONE CARDS 

Skilled in the age-old tradition of minting their own coin, the Vatican also 

actually benefits from it. The money is only minted by the Instituto Poligrafico e 

Zecca of the State of Rome and has the same characteristics composition and 



nominal value as the corresponding money of the European Union. 

The stamps, generally dedicated to art, culture and world issues, are renowned 

and researched by stamp collectors worldwide. 

Telephone cards, of which the first run began in 1992, are also collector's items. 

STATE SURVEILLANCE 

Vatican City has two surveillance groups. The more noted Swiss Guard, founded 

in 1506 and composed of around one hundred men, their colorful uniforms are 

said to have been designed by Michelangelo. Consisting of a mini-army at the 

service of the Pope, their duties consist of defending his person, not to mention 

the State grounds and the entrance of the Apostolic Palace. 

The second body is the much less well known Vatican Guard, their members 

wear a dark blue uniform. 

LICENSE PLATES 

Vatican City has had its own license plates since 1930. They are normally black 

on a white field, with the letters SCV and a number. Special red on white license 

plates are used for the Pope and for the Cardinals. Vatican plates go from SCV 1 

until about SCV 100. 

VATICAN CITIZENSHIP 

Vatican citizenship is not obtained by birth, but is given from time to time by the 

appropriate office. 

No one can own private property within the Vatican. All of the territory and 

property is considered ìstato patrimonialeî of the Holy Sede. 



There are numerous Papal diplomats scattered worldwide which are Vatican 

citizens, but not residents. Those that regularly reside in the Papal city amount to 

about 300 people! 

THE VATICAN PHARMACY (tel. +39.06.69885361 - +39.06.69883422) 

This is perhaps the most complete pharmacy that exists in Rome. Here, in fact, 

you can find a great assortment of mostly foreign medicines not marketed in 

Italy. Entrance is given to anyone with a medical prescription. 

I hope that these brief notes could be of help. For additional information, check 

the official Vatican internet site or other sites easily found on the net. 

Piero Pazzi 

www.calendarioromano.org 

e-mail: p.pazzi@libero.it 

tel. +39.347.3724217 

Calendario dei Gondolieri - Biblioteca Orafa Sant'Antonio Abate - Online Reservations for Hotels Worldwide 


Musings of a Toe-Walker: West Point Thesis Challenges Gay Policy 


BlogThis! 





West Point Thesis Challenges Gay Policy 

from Yahoo News 

WASHINGTON - Alexander Raggio says he was 16 when 

he learned one of his relatives was gay — and watching 

that person's struggle gave him a grim introduction to 

discrimination against gays. 

He carried those feelings into West Point, and in his 

senior thesis argued that the military's policy banning 

gays is not only wrong, but harmful to the Army. 

The Pentagon may not agree, but the U.S. Military 

Academy gave him an award for the paper. 

Below is the introduction from the title page of 

Alexander Raggio's paper, which can be 

downloaded in .PDF form here. 

Following, on the next page, is the Prologue of the paper in which Mr. Raggio describes his 

reasons for reading the paper. 

DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL, DON”T BE: 

A PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GAY BAN IN THE US MILITARY 

ALEXANDER H. RAGGIO 

The issue of gays in the military has been hotly debated since the end of the Cold War, but it 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/west-point-thesis-challenges-gay.html (1 of 5) [8/17/2006 10:54:06 PM]


has usually been debated (at least superficially) in the context of pragmatic policy analysis. 

What has almost always been left out of the public discussion is what is truly at the core of the 

matter: philosophy. Taking the Constitution and other documents as the stated philosophy of 

the nation, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Be: A Philosophical analysis of the Gay Ban in the US 

Military” presents philosophical arguments for open homosexual service while debunking 

common philosophical arguments against such service. It further explores parallels of 

integration and other forms of discrimination and explains why “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is not 

significantly different than the policy it replaced. 

Alexander Raggio is a graduate of the United States Military Academy currently en route to the 

Officer Basic Course. This essay was composed as a Cadet and was awarded the BG Adams 

Award for Outstanding Senior Thesis. Lieutenant Raggio’s research interests include political 

philosophy, metaphysics, history and civil-military relations. 

Prologue 

I think it is important for me to address why I chose this topic. I have a background that is 

atypical within the officer corps. I was raised in a church that had as members of its 

congregation a number of open homosexuals. I had a lesbian youth group leader and through 

the church became friends with several gays of my own age. I was simultaneously very active in 

the Boy Scouts of America, an organization that has declared homosexuality unwholesome and 

inappropriate within its ranks. As I grew older, I began to have problems resolving the official 

stance of the BSA with what I knew to be true of homosexuals from my personal experience. 

The BSA was something I loved, but I thought its attitude toward homosexuals was harmful to 

the image of the organization and into the minds of the young men who were involved in 

Scouting. By virtue of the institution declaring homosexuality to be a negative trait, many 

scouts found it easy to express prejudice against gays. After all, if the BSA says that gays ought 

to be excluded from scouting, it is not much of a stretch to see them as labeling gays as not 

only “morally inferior,” but as inferior in general. It is impossible to say—especially in the eyes 

of impressionable young men—that a person should be treated with the same respect as others 

when the policy of the organization is that homosexuals are not good role models, regardless of 

any aspect of their life except their sexual orientation. 

I also noticed that this single policy caused many members of my church to view the Boy Scouts 

as incongruent with their own beliefs, despite the fact that both organizations were committed 

to many of the same ideals: community service, care for the environment, charity, moral and 

ethical development, and general civic responsibility. I came to see the issue of homosexuality 

as a wedge between two groups that I cherished, a divisive topic to be avoided in both circles. 

My cousin came out of the closet to me when I was sixteen, but he kept it from much of my 



family for more than year after that. He asked me to keep it a secret because he didn’t know 

how my parents would react, and he didn’t want to create a rift in the family. I had known 

other homosexuals who had either experienced family problems because of their orientations or 

kept their homosexuality a secret for fear of reprisal or disownment. The family did not split 

apart when my cousin came out to my parents and sisters, but seeing his pain in having to 

conceal a vital part of his identity from the people he cared about brought me to appreciate 

the situation many homosexuals are forced to deal with. 

I applied to West Point shortly after being awarded the rank of Eagle Scout and, upon reporting 

to the Academy, found a similarly disheartening attitude toward gays was common among many 

of the cadets and officers. After hours and hours of “respect” classes that dealt with racial, 

religious and sexual discrimination and harassment, one group remained noticeably 

unaddressed: gays. The silence may as well have been a green light for people to promote a 

negative, disparaging image of homosexuals. It was made clear that discrimination against 

women and racial or religious minorities would not be permitted, but although the formal DoD 

stance towards homosexuals is supposedly one of tolerance, the idea that “committing 

homosexual acts” somehow made people unfit for military service could not do anything but 

label them as second-class individuals who were detrimental to the Army. 

I wrote my first philosophy paper on the issue of gays in the military. When I began, I thought I 

would be arguing that the practical considerations of the Army would override the wellbeing of 

a few soldiers, something that is accepted in the military out of sheer necessity, but I found 

myself confronted by a smattering of illogical and impractical excuses. I found that despite my 

best efforts I could not rectify the current policy of the Department of Defense with what I had 

learned about the practical aspects of homosexual military service. 

I believe the Gay Ban, whether in previous guises or in the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” 

form, is harmful to the Army psychologically, pragmatically, and morally, but the aim of this 

paper is not to discuss the practical reasons for why the policy should be abandoned. These will 

be presented in a cursory manner, but the policy side of this issue has been addressed many 

times. It is the ethical and philosophical side that has been neglected, a sad sign of how the 

priorities of the nation have shifted. The Army often talks of doing the harder right rather than 

the easier wrong, and now it is time to put the policy where the propaganda is. Allowing the 

open service of gays in the military is the right thing to do, no matter how difficult a transition 


9:48 PM 

it may be. 

Read Mr. Raggio's entire thesis. 



2 Comments: 

At 

Sun Aug 13, 05:54:19 PM CDT 

, 

Freedom Bound 

said... 

2 comments 

You do realise how hard it is to read the words on this post with the cute pic distracting me!! ;- 

)Cheers for posting this. When the British army finally allowed gay and lesbian service personel 

to be out and proud there was a funny (in spite of playing on stereotypes!) cartoon in the press 

here. An army barracks with all the beds identical except for one at the end which was 

tastefully surrounded by Ikea furniture.So strange that the army is ahead of the Church in gay 

social justice over here........ 

At 

Sun Aug 13, 07:09:30 PM CDT 

, 


said... 

"So strange that the army is ahead of the Church in gay social justice over 

here........"Considering that your castoff Puritans were the core of this country's founders, its a 

wonder our women aren't still wearing corsets and that they're allowed to vote.America. Over 

two centuries later, we're still a bunch of provincial prudes. 



About Me 

Name: 


Location: 





West Point thesis challenges gay policy - Yahoo! News 

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West Point thesis challenges gay policy 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060808/ap_on_go_ot/military_gays_1 (1 of 7) [8/17/2006 10:54:18 PM]


By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer Tue Aug 8, 5:05 PM ET 

WASHINGTON - Alexander Raggio says he was 16 when he learned one of his relatives was gay — and 

watching that person's struggle gave him a grim introduction to discrimination against gays. 

He carried those feelings into West Point, and in his senior thesis argued that the military's policy banning gays is 

not only wrong, but harmful to the Army. 

The 

Pentagon may not agree, but the U.S. Military Academy gave him an award for the paper. 

"I love the Army and I think that this is hurting the Army," said Raggio, 24, in an interview this week from his new 

military post at Fort Riley, Kan. "I see it as my obligation to say 'I don't agree with what you're doing.' I'm not 

being insubordinate — I just think we're making a mistake here." 

He said it was the first time he had spoken publicly about the paper or the award, which he received last year 

when he graduated from West Point in New York. 

While the topic was controversial, and the argument contrary to the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, Raggio 

was presented the Brig. Gen. Carroll E. Adams Award for the best senior thesis in the art, philosophy and 

literature major in the academy's English department. 

"It won independent of the subject matter and content," said his thesis adviser Richard Schoonhoven, a 

philosophy professor at West Point. "It was a closely argued piece of philosophical prose. He tackled a 

substantive issue, took a stand and didn't back down from the controversy. He presented a good case." 

Initially Raggio worried about a backlash from his paper, saying people told him, "There's a possibility this will 

come back to haunt you, that people will use it against you." But in the end, he said he felt obligated to say what 

he thought. 

"The Army often talks of doing the harder right rather than the easier wrong, and now it is time to put the policy 

where the propaganda is," he wrote in his 24-page thesis. "Allowing the open service of gays in the military is the 

right thing to do, no matter how difficult a transition it may be." 

Under the Pentagon's policy, the military is prohibited from inquiring about the sex lives of service members, but 

those who openly acknowledge being gay must be discharged. There were 726 military members discharged 

under the policy during the year that ended last Sept. 30. 

"I have a problem where you have a military that says you can't discriminate based on race; in all but very 

minimal ways you can't discriminate based on gender, and you can't discriminate based on religion or lack of 

religion. The only people not getting a fair shake were homosexuals," said Raggio, who is from Muncie, Ind., and 

describes himself as "about the straightest guy you can imagine." 



He says he knew by the time he was in seventh grade that he wanted to go to West Point and become a career 

Army officer. Now a 2nd lieutenant, leading a platoon in the 97th Military Police Battalion, he talks eagerly of 

going to 

Iraq, possibly next year. 

He plans to spend at least 20 years in the service, and he said he believes the Army he loves is capable of 

integrating openly gay soldiers, much as it brought in minorities and women. 

In his paper Raggio acknowledged that changing the policy may create tension or put openly gay soldiers at risk 

of violence. 

But he argued that soldiers who make life and death decisions in Iraq and handle volatile situations with 

insurgents and prisoners are capable of dealing with a gay soldier in their battalion. 

Advocates of gays in the military said they were encouraged that Raggio's paper was lauded by the school. 

"I think that this award symbolizes a shift in military culture," said Aaron Belkin, director of the Center for the 

Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military, a think tank at the University of California at Santa Barbara. "Raggio 

was brave enough to write about it in the first place, but the fact that West Point would give him an award for 

challenging the gay ban is a powerful indication of how far the military has come culturally." 

___ On the Net: 

Defense Department: http://www.defenselink.mil 

Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military: http://www.gaymilitary.ucsb.edu 

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Musings of a Toe-Walker: A Brief Musical Interlude 


BlogThis! 





A Brief Musical Interlude 

I was thinking about putting together another installment of "By Way of Introduction", but I'm 

feeling rather lazy today after a very long work week. So instead, I think I'll just share with you 

one of my favorite songs. I listen to this a lot. When I'm feeling up, it bolsters the feeling and is 

a heartfelt reminder of why I do indeed feel good. When I'm feeling down, the words help me to 

remember where my real source of strength is, and to call upon it. God never fails to listen and 

help. 

Anyway, some time ago, I was came across a duo called SpiritPop. 

The members, Jason Warner and deMarco DeCiccio, initially began 

singing inspirational music, and have in recent years branched out to 

incorporate other styles like pop/rock and dance. I think their a 

capella rendition of It Is Well is perhaps my favorite, although its 

really hard to pick just one. 

Click here to listen to an MP3 of It Is Well 

from their album Songs For The Spirit. 

Continue reading to see where to go to see a video of their new song This is Love 

This video 

is currently being hosted on Logo's website as part of their Click List, 

an ever changing compilation of new music. When you get to Logo's 

page, just click the "watch video" button by Jason and deMarco. (not 

to worry, there's nothing untoward in the video). 

Enjoy! 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/brief-musical-interlude_12.html (1 of 2) [8/17/2006 10:54:56 PM]

Musings of a Toe-Walker: A Brief Musical Interlude 


6:14 PM 

0 Comments: 


Musings of a Toe-Walker: Women we Love 


BlogThis! 





Women we Love 

Normally New Yorkers, hate scaffolding, but Marc Jacobs is making the most of his. This week it 

has personal tributes to 11 women he admires for their various accomplishments. The Marc 

Jacobs store scaffolding on Bleecker Street in NYC is having an ongoing silent Accomplished 

Women Awards ceremony. I think it says quite a lot about the impact TEC and the election of 

+KJS as the new Presiding Bishop have made on the rest of the country when a completely 

secular, commercial venue uses its precious space to honor her. Thank you for this, Marc 

Jacobs, and congratulations again, +Katherine Jefferts-Schori. 

I'm not much of a Christina Aguilera fan, but it was too cool that someone who apparently is, paired her with 


2:01 PM 

+KJS for his billboard. 

Hat tip to Opinionated Old Fart once again 

. Click on the image to go to the billboard creator's page. 

2 Comments: 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/women-we-love.html (1 of 2) [8/17/2006 11:24:00 PM] 

At 

2 comments

Musings of a Toe-Walker: Women we Love 

Sat Aug 12, 08:36:56 PM CDT 

, 

Lisa 

said... 

Jeffrey, you really must give some context. This wasn't a church sign. This was a sign that 

popped up on a NYC sign unaffiliated with TEC. It's way-cool that some folks outside the church 

are noting one of the few courageous things our church did in Columbus! 

At 

Sat Aug 12, 08:56:50 PM CDT 

, 


said... 

Oops, my bad. I'll have to dig up a bit more info and add that to the post. Thanks, Lisa. 


Musings of a Toe-Walker: Mad? Perhaps. Wise? Absolutely. 


BlogThis! 





Mad? Perhaps. Wise? Absolutely. 

I'm thinking of nominating the MadPriest for sainthood. Anyone who thinks like he does surely 

qualifies. The 

latest post from his blog 

, quoted in its entirety below is profound in its simplicity and the manner in which MadPriest 

suggests that we treat people as individuals is utterly Christ-like. 


Lisa's post from Tuesday on MY MANNER OF LIFE, has shot round Christian Blogging Land 

with a bigger WHOOSH-AND-CRACK than it seems she thought would happen. Those who 

felt her pain before the posting, feel even more of her pain now. Those who hate queers 

still hate queers. It is as it always is, but at least she's given us who support her more 

resolve to go on fighting, and I'm sorry my nice friends, it is a fight. 

I am often asked if I am in favour of women priests and women bishops. I never answer 

this question. You see, I don't think I have any right, whatsoever, to have an opinion on 

such matters - I mean, I'm not a woman. It really is the businesss of women as to whether 

or not they want to be ordained to the various orders of the Church. I think the same goes 

for gays and lesbians and any other group who do not cause harm to people. So, what the 

Church should do is let our gay friends decide for themselves and then the Church should 

go with their decision. Of course, many people in the Church will disagree with the 

decision, whichever way it goes. But then their position becomes the same as the gay 

position insomuch as it's nobody else's business but their's as to how they react. Both gay 

Christians and those who don't accept them should be given as much information as 

possible about the inevitable consequences of their decisions and then they must decide 

FOR THEMSELVES. 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/mad-perhaps-wise-absolutely.html (1 of 2) [8/17/2006 11:26:48 PM]

Musings of a Toe-Walker: Mad? Perhaps. Wise? Absolutely. 

This is idealistic and would probably result in anarchy, but, at the least, any decision that 

the Church makes should be "biased towards the poor" so to speak. It should not be up to 

women and gays to prove their worth in the eyes of God, it should be up to their 

detractors to prove that God sees them as second class Christians, if Christians at all. 

If we had a rule of conduct such as this for our deliberations, then the consequences of 

any decisions that are made would not be the responsibilty of anybody in particular, least 

of all the Church leaders, so those in authority could concentrate on thinking about the 

kingdom and about love, rather than worrying about political fall-out and their own 


1:45 PM 

reputations. 

0 Comments: 


Of course, I could be wrong...: Here's an idea... 

BlogThis! 

Of course, I could be 

wrong... 

FREE YOUR MIND AND YOUR GOD WILL FOLLOW 

Save the SPCK! 



Lisa's post from Tuesday on MY MANNER OF LIFE, has shot round Christian Blogging Land 

with a bigger WHOOSH-AND-CRACK than it seems she thought would happen. Those who 

felt her pain before the posting, feel even more of her pain now. Those who hate queers still 

hate queers. It is as it always is, but at least she's given us who support her more resolve to go 

on fighting, and I'm sorry my nice friends, it is a fight. 

I am often asked if I am in favour of women priests and women bishops. I never answer this 

question. You see, I don't think I have any right, whatsoever, to have an opinion on such 

http://revjph.blogspot.com/2006/08/heres-idea.html (1 of 4) [8/17/2006 11:27:03 PM]


matters - I mean, I'm not a woman. It really is the businesss of women as to whether or not 

they want to be ordained to the various orders of the Church. I think the same goes for gays 

and lesbians and any other group who do not cause harm to people. So, what the Church 

should do is let our gay friends decide for themselves and then the Church should go with their 

decision. Of course, many people in the Church will disagree with the decision, whichever way 

it goes. But then their position becomes the same as the gay position insomuch as it's nobody 

else's business but their's as to how they react. Both gay Christians and those who don't 

accept them should be given as much information as possible about the inevitable 

consequences of their decisions and then they must decide FOR THEMSELVES. 

This is idealistic and would probably result in anarchy, but, at the least, any decision that the 

Church makes should be "biased towards the poor" so to speak. It should not be up to women 

and gays to prove their worth in the eyes of God, it should be up to their detractors to prove 

that God sees them as second class Christians, if Christians at all. 

If we had a rule of conduct such as this for our deliberations, then the consequences of any 

decisions that are made would not be the responsibilty of anybody in particular, least of all the 

Church leaders, so those in authority could concentrate on thinking about the kingdom and 

about love, rather than worrying about political fall-out and their own reputations. 

"Hang on a minute," 

said Jesus. 

"Let's ask her what 

she thinks about it." 

posted by MadPriest @ 5:29 PM 

1 Comments: 

● At 11 August, 2006 19:48, Toewalker said… 

Brilliant, and utterly Christ-like. 





Create a Link 



Musings of a Toe-Walker: A Child Is Listening . . . 


BlogThis! 






In the comments replying to Lisa's essay, 

Whoosh and Crack 

, 

over on Father Jake's page 

, I came across the following. Its a powerful reminder of how we can easily and unknowingly do 

violence to others with our selfish and prejudiced words, actions, or -- especially -- our 

inactions. 


"Because of my own lack of knowledge, I became dependent upon people in the Clergy. 

When the Clergy condemns a homosexual person to Hell and eternal damnation, we, the 

congregation, echo 'Amen'. I deeply regret my lack of knowledge concerning gay and 

lesbian people. Had I allowed myself to investigate what I now see as Bible bigotry and 

diabolical dehumanizing slander against our fellow human beings, I would not be looking 

back with regret for having relinquished my ability to think and reason with other 

people...people I trust for truth and guidance in my life and in the life of our gay son. 

"God did not heal or cure Bobby as he, our family and Clergy believed He should. It is 

obvious to us now why He did not. God has never been encumbered by His child's 

genetically-determined sexual orientation. God is pleased that Bobby has a kind and loving 

heart. In God's eyes, kindness and love are what life is about. I did not know that each 

time I echoed 'Amen' to the eternal damnation, referring to Bobby as sick, perverted and a 

danger to our children that his spirit was broken until he could no longer rise above the 

injustice of it all. Bobby ended his life at age twenty. 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/child-is-listening.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 11:27:50 PM]


"It was not God's will that Bobby jump over the side of a freeway overpass into the path of 

an eighteen-wheel truck, killing him instantly. Bobby's death was the direct result of his 

parent's ignorance and fear of the word gay. 

"An injustice has been done not only to Bobby but to his family as well. God knows it isn't 

right that Bobby is not here with loved ones. Correct education about homosexuality 

would have prevented this tragedy. There are no words to express the pain and emptiness 

remaining in the hearts of Bobby's family members, relatives, and friends. We miss Bobby's 

kind and gentle ways, his fun-loving spirit, his laughter. Bobby's hopes and dreams should 

not have been taken from him, but they were. We can't have Bobby back; if we could we 

would say to him, as I say to all gay and lesbian people around the world, these 

benevolent words of Leo Buscaglia: 

'Love yourself -- accept yourself -- forgive yourself -- and be good to yourself, because 

without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things.' 

"There are children like Bobby sitting in our congregations. Unknown to you, they will be 

listening to your 'Amens' as they silently cry out to God in their hearts. Their cries will go 

unnoticed for they cannot be heard above your 'Amens'. Your fear and ignorance of the 

word gay will soon silence their cries. Before you echo 'Amen' in your home or place of 


8:47 AM 

worship, think and remember...a child is listening." 

Mary A. Griffith 

Bobby Griffith lived June 24, 1963 - August 27, 1983 

0 Comments: 



About Me 

Name: 


Location: 




http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/child-is-listening.html (3 of 3) [8/17/2006 11:27:50 PM]

My Manner of Life: That "Whoosh-and-Crack" of the Belt 


BlogThis! 



That "Whoosh-and-Crack" of the Belt 

I had an “interesting” experience several years ago. It haunts me so much that it’s still vivid and visceral in my 

memory. 

I had a very dear friend, with whom I had established a deep emotional connection. One day, after work, I went 

over to her house to visit and talk. Because we had both just gotten off work, we were both in our professional 

clothes. After we had greeted and talked and visited for a while, she stood up, and was about to make her way to 

her bedroom to change into cooler and looser clothes. But while we were still talking, and before she moved to 

her bedroom to change, she unbuckled her belt from her slacks and whipped it off. 

You know that sound that a belt makes when you grab the buckle and snap it fast out of its belt loops? It makes 

a distinctive whoosh and crack! Like a whip cracking. That’s the sound hers made. 

I froze. Paralyzed. Chill bumps all over. And a part of my 40-something self became a child again in that split- 

second before I could get a grip again. 

For I had heard that sound before. Too often before. I had heard it all through my childhood, in fact. 

I had heard that sound when my father came home, and – either because of some minor infraction I had 

committed, or because he had a bad day – he led me into our back room, and I would hear that same whoosh 

and crack! as he whipped his belt out of his belt-loops to give me the beating I seemed to deserve. Then I 

would be leaned over the bed, and would feel the full force of that whoosh and crack! on my very small body. 

I was his oldest, and his favorite. He was delighted when I would receive those belt-whippings without crying. It 

made him proud of me when I did not cry. Later, he would praise me – and sing my praises to others – for not 

crying. 

Then … forty years later … there I was, visiting with a dear friend who nonchalantly whipped her belt out of her 

khaki belt loops, and I cringed and broke out into cold sweats. I knew we had a good, caring relationship. But 

http://my-manner-of-life.blogspot.com/2006/08/that-whoosh-and-crack-of-belt.html (1 of 6) [8/17/2006 11:28:05 PM]


that whoosh and crack! hit me even before I could think about it, much less analyze it for what it was. 

Why am I bothering to relate this story here? 

Because many, many people have asked me why I reacted so strongly to GC06’s adoption of Resolution B033. 

The simple answer? It was that same whoosh and crack! Plenty of supportive, liberal Deputies & Bishops have 

tried to tell me that “manner of life” isn’t a slam. They insist it is not a betrayal. They assure me it is not a 

weapon. 

But if you grew up in this culture, knowing that you were gay, you learn to recognize the insidious sound of the 

whoosh and crack! You recognize that sound even when it’s not a prelude to a beating. Because the sound still 

echoes in your psyche. The sound the belt made just before you were beaten still echoes in the deepest parts of 

your psyche. 

Worse yet, there are some in my beloved Church who are expressing gratitude that I endured that whoosh and 

crack! of B033 without crying. They try to tell me that it shows “character” that I continue to support my 

Episcopal parish, despite that whoosh and crack! that was B033. Yes, here I remain in The Episcopal Church. 

Doing my bit in all my roles. Giving my offering. Giving my service. Giving my devotion. But feeling, too, that 

when another sacrificial offering needs to be made, the Anglican Communion, The Episcopal Church, my 

Bishop, and my Deputies won’t very much mind if they have to do the whoosh and crack! routine once more 

on the backs of the gay and lesbian members of the Body of Christ. They already did it in Columbus. I hear it 

gets easier with practice. 


16 Comments: 


I got the same chills when I read this, Lisa. I know the whoosh and crack! that you mean, and that's what B033 did to me and my partner 

too.Too many previous whoosh's and crack!'s came pouring back out of our respective childhoods.But they're wrong. It does not get easier 

with time. It gets harder. 

8/08/2006 8:05 PM 


I need to add a footnote to my previous comment.It does not get easier for us with time, but it most certainly gets easier for the abuser 

with time. Each successive beating comes easier (and faster) than the last.How quickly will the beating that is to follow B033 come? And 

how much harder will the blows be?And how much more self-satisfied will the abusers be when they find how easily they get away with it? 

8/08/2006 8:50 PM 

Lisa said... 



Thank you, ToeWalker, and I'm sorry my conclusion wasn't clearer. Yes, you've caught my meaning entirely. The first time the abuser beats 

the abused, it's probably difficult, even for the abuser. The 2nd time, the abuser finds it a bit less difficult. It gets easier for the abuser 

each time. Some of our Bishops and Deputies profess that voting for B033 was painful for them. But they found it acceptable -- nay, 

needful. That was their first "whoosh-and-crack" on our backs. I just hope that, in retrospect, enough of them are disgusted by their actions 

that they will not find it easy to do it again the next time they meet for GC, or their provincial meetings, or Lambeth, ... or wherever. I 

hope they will see what cost was extracted in their actions in GC06. 

8/08/2006 9:11 PM 

Elizabeth Kaeton said... 

What a courageous piece of writing, Lisa. There's a saying in pastoral care that "pain touches pain." I have found that to be true. I pray that 

others who read this will understand that dynamic and stop claiming that some of us are "over reacting" to B033. That simply makes it hurt 

all the more.May you be blessed again for the blessing this writing will be to so man. 

8/09/2006 6:24 AM 

Flutegirl said... 

Thank you, Elizabeth. I have been bothered by the squeamish reactions on some blogs to your piece "After Columbus" and had been 

pondering a response. Better that it came from you. Bravo, both of you. 

8/09/2006 8:58 AM 

UnSaintly Pat said... 

Lisa, I only hope this will reach some beaters, both the physical abusers and the spiritual and emotional abusers.I'm thinking of the littlegirl 

Lisa right now, though. The Lisa who felt so wretched, lost and alone, and maybe even thought she must have done something to 

deserve this. Something inside her probably died a bit with each beating.I wrap my arms around this little girl and tell her she will endure, 

and Christ is there with her, and will remain with her, giving her strength not just to endure, but to triumph over this, and blessing her and 

endowing her with the ability to expose this evil to the light. She is given new life daily through Christ, and she continues to heal. God bless 

you, Lisa. Thank you for having the courage to share this with us. 

8/09/2006 9:46 AM 

Share Cropper said... 

Lisa, My trigger is any noise that might wake Daddy. The vote in Columbus was such a noise in my life. Although my partner doesn't know 

the persecution that can come from being gay, I do. I first came out in 1964 and lost two jobs, many friends, and an apartment. I married 

twice just to avoid the pain of being gay. Now I'm 60 and I don't much care what people think. But, I do care what my church practices. 

When will we begin praying, "Thank God that I'm not gay"? 

8/09/2006 11:07 AM 

revsusan said... 

Abuse is abuse is abuse.Period.Excusing it as "the best we can do at this time" is not the best we can do as a church.Period.Thank you for 

your witness! 

8/09/2006 12:14 PM 

Guidonia said... 

Lisa et al.,I think my partner sees and feels this much the same way you do. I'm ambivalent. At first I felt as you do; now I'm trying, with 

some success, to see it from the point of view of those that thought it was "the best we could do right now." I've tried to understand where 

this group comes from because it includes many gay and lesbian people I know, very active lay people and clergy. It includes the priest who 



led me into TEC more than a decade ago, who performed our blessing cermony, and who has devoted her life to making the church 

inclusive (some of you probably know her, in fact..). She was an alternate delegate and, I think, would have voted for it. I've tried to 

understand because I admire her so much. I know you've heard all the arguments, but the one that speaks to me most how important the 

Anglican communion is to many folks. Since I've had some time to step back from it, I see their POV more clearly. They thought that not 

passing B033 would have meant the end of the TEC's Anglican communion "membership," or whatever you call it, and for some, it was too 

soon for that. They didn't want to give it up without a fight, without futher reflection, and without trying for a little while to work for 

reconcilation. I think that with all that has happened in the weeks following GC, people have started to realize that they made that 

sacrifice for an outcome that doesn't look so promising, especially with the ABC's response (which came rather quickly), and that the most 

strident voices of the "global south" are likely to keep calling the shots. But they wanted to be able to say they gave it a chance to work. 

Someone characterized the senitment that many felt at the B022 vote as "this is more than we should have to give and we won't do it 

again." Still...I do wish that more so-called moderates would acknowledge that price has been very, very high, not just for us GLBT TECers, 

who felt it as a slap in the face, but for the moral standing of the church. The so-called "pastoral" letter from our bishop here in Colorado 

did not even acknowledge that.I'm trying to move on and take a long view, seeing this as a typical step back after the huge steps forward 

our Church took in 2003. Let's look toward being in a better place in the future. 

8/09/2006 11:37 PM 

UnSaintly Pat said... 

I was uncomfortable with it at the time, and I did a lot of reflecting after B033. That and other issues convinced me that staying in the 

Anglican Communion shouldn't be our paramount concern. I think the Episcopal Church should be there, if possible, to provide our witness. 

It's not worth devaluing or abusing anyone, being forced to make a confessional oath someone has written for us, or sign our names in 

blood.When it comes down to it, maintaining membership in a group -- even the Anglican Communion -- is a preoccupation with earthly 

things, and we're to be in the world, but not of the world.Maybe something good will come out of B033 in the long run -- if nothing else, 

that we won't do that again. I hope so. I would guess Schori thinks so, and she won't let herself be pushed into anything like that in the 

future. 

8/10/2006 4:55 PM 

Alex Kim said... 


8/10/2006 8:55 PM 

Alex Kim said... 

Lisa - The comment I deleted from your blog can be found at Father Jake's here.Jake took a piece of your post but didn't make it clear that 

you were referring to your experiences of abuse - so I assumed that the symbolic connection was to an actual whip.I should've read your 

actual post more carefully before making my comments...Still, I think it's important to point out that "whoosh and crack!" to me is a direct 

reference to slavery and racism, not child abuse, and so the comparison might be a bit hard to swallow for some - especially for people of 

color like myself.Thanks. 

8/10/2006 9:03 PM 

Lisa said... 

UnSaintly Pat, your comment makes me remember something of my RC education, which still endures. They say that prayer works outside 

of time. Who's to say that your prayers today aren't the ones that made me survive those hard times 4 decades ago? I'm touched by this. 

Thank you. More than I can convey. 

8/10/2006 11:11 PM 

Lisa said... 

ShareCropper, your note broke my heart! May we all heal together. I think B033 broke somthing loose for many of us -- something that 



needs healing. 

8/10/2006 11:13 PM 

Lisa said... 

Guidonia, I just dont get all those arguments. And if you didn't get my point here, then please look at this follow-up. Then tell me what 

your questions are. 

8/10/2006 11:21 PM 

Lisa said... 

UnSaintly Pat, I'm responding to your 2nd comment -- about TEC remaining in the AC. Yes, I hope, and hope desperately, that we will 

remain in TAC. But I think B033 was the work of Satan. There! I've finally said it! I believe B033 was evil -- plain and simple. For my other, 

more recent explanation about my reaction, see my "Codicil & Amplification" at my website. 

8/10/2006 11:30 PM 



Create a Link 


● Bottom Feeders 

● Rising to the Bait 

● Sartorial Considerations 

● I must be doing something right! 

● Unexpected Visitors 

● Nick Knisely Addresses "The Issue" 


Father Jake Stops the World 

BlogThis! 

Father Jake Stops the 

World 

...the musings of an eclectic and sometimes eccentric Episcopal priest 


B033 Still Stings 

From Lisa: 

...there are some in my 

beloved Church who are 

expressing gratitude that I 

endured that whoosh and 

crack! of B033 without crying. 

They try to tell me that it 

shows “character” that I 

continue to support my 

Episcopal parish, despite that 

whoosh and crack! that was 

http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2006/08/b033-still-stings.html (1 of 12) [8/17/2006 11:28:17 PM]


B033. Yes, here I remain in 

The Episcopal Church. Doing 

my bit in all my roles. Giving 

my offering. Giving my 

service. Giving my devotion. 

But feeling, too, that when 

another sacrificial offering 

needs to be made, the 

Anglican Communion, The 

Episcopal Church, my Bishop, 

and my Deputies won’t very 

much mind if they have to do 

the whoosh and crack! routine 

once more on the backs of the 

gay and lesbian members of 

the Body of Christ. They 

already did it in Columbus. I 

hear it gets easier with 

practice. 

As one commenter put it, "Abuse is abuse is 

abuse. Period." 

There are those who are calling for us to 

move on. And, yes, eventually we will need 

to do that. But let us never forget the pain 

caused by the actions of GC2006. Never 

again. 

J. 

UPDATE First of all, please read Lisa's 

complete post before responding. She has 

now offered an update. 

And finally, if you want an even larger 

context from which to understand the 

strong feelings surrounding this most 

unfortunate resolution, consider the history 

Previous Entries 

http://frjakestopstheworld.blogspot.com/2006/08/b033-still-stings.html (2 of 12) [8/17/2006 11:28:17 PM] 

The Windsor Report 

● The Windsor Report 

● Bishops Speak 

● Primates' Communique 

● Bishops Spar, Adopt Statement 

● Showdown at Nottingham 

● Anglican Covenant? 

● Anglicans Bow to Primates 

● Communion: Does it Matter? 

● Update: ACC 

● Toward Columbus 

● Amend Commission's Resolutions 

● What Should GC Do? 

● N. Americans; 2nd Class? 

● What Witness Will We Make? 

● Saving Anglicanism 

● TEC Bows to Idol of Communion


of horrors that preceded it. 

posted at 8/10/2006 03:57:00 PM (permalink) 

by Jake 

| 

● A Crisis of Trust 

● From Canterbury 

● Setting the Record Straight 

Network/AAC/IRD 

● Questionable Virtue 

● The Network: Divisive Organization 

● Just Because You're Paranoid 

● AAC Prepares to Abandon Ship 

● Who Should Resign? 

● Deceptive Tactics 

● The Attempted Coup 

● Spread of Theocracy 

● Connecticut Martyr 

● Les Fairfield's Rant 

● AAC: Network's Covert Operatives 

● Extremists: Windsor is Law 

● War Against Mainlines 

● Washington Follows the Money 

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● Don't Call Them Conservatives 

● Walking Apart 

Global South 

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● Parishes Exit, Join Uganda 

● Clash of Cultures 


● Table Fellowship as New Weapon 

● CAPAC: Criminal Actions 

● Akinolas Zealous Pronouncements 

● Akinola: Gays Produce Hooligans 

● Akinola Becomes Indignant, Again 

● News from Changing Attitudes 

● From the Global south 

● Why Listen? Incarcerate!


● Nigeria Today: Right of Tomorrow? 

● Pillagers in Purple 

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● Rwanda crosses Border 

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● ...even at the grave... 

● What Do You Want? 

● Repentance 

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Musings of a Toe-Walker: Timeline: A Profile in Politicizing Terror 


BlogThis! 







from 

The Stakeholder 

Posted by jesselee 

Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 8:09 PM 

Wednesday: 

Days after the White House learns that the London terror plot will be uncovered, Cheney says 

Lamont victory will encourage "al Qaeda types." 

The White House announces that the threat level has been raised to ‘Red.’ 

10:54 a.m. (CDT): 

The President announces, on his way to a Wisconsin fundraiser for congressional candidate John 

Gard, that the arrests in London are “a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic 

fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation.” 

12:26 p.m.: 

The RNC sends out a fundraising email penned by Rudy Giuliani saying “In the middle of a war 

on terror, we need to remain focused on furthering Republican ideas more than ever before… 

Please make your commitment felt with a financial contribution for $500, $250, $100, $50, $35 

or $25 to the Republican National Committee today.” 

2:53 p.m.: 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/timeline-profile-in-politicizing.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 11:33:49 PM]


Bush official celebrates the terror plot. The AFP reports, "‘Weeks before September 11th, this is 

going to play big,’ said another White House official, who also spoke on condition of not being 

named, adding that some Democratic candidates won't ‘look as appealing’ under the 

circumstances.” 

4:22 p.m.: 

The RNC follows with a statement attempting to elevate the war on terror above those who 

would crassly use it for politics sake: "On a day when American authorities are working with our 

allies to stop a global terror plot, instead of focusing on political attacks, we should focus on 

the fact that we are at war and need every tool to win the War on Terror.” 

John Avarosis asks: 

"So, will anyone in the media find out if anyone at the White House told anyone at the 

RNC about the terror threat before the rest of us knew? We already know the White 

House will give away national security secrets for partisan politics. And, we know that 

Karl Rove, who outed an undercover CIA agent, still has a top job and top security 

clearance. The media who cover the White House also know that the White House does 

this. Many of them have printed the White House leaks. And, they've let the White House 

get away with talking tough on terror while simultaneously undermining national security 


8:33 PM 

for political reasons." 

0 Comments: 



Name: 


Location: 




http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/timeline-profile-in-politicizing.html (3 of 3) [8/17/2006 11:33:49 PM]

Musings of a Toe-Walker: APA Slams NARTH and Conversion Therapy 


BlogThis! 







In response to Friday's picket of the American Psychological Association's annual convention by 

the conversion therapy group NARTH, the APA today released the following statement obtained 

by 


: 

"For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that 

homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure. The APA's concern 

about the positions espoused by NARTH and so-called conversation therapy is that they are 

not supported by the science. There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence 

that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused 

by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and 

discrimination can flourish." 

"Truth Wins Out applauds the APA for taking a strong stand against quack science and not 

buckling to a transparent PR campaign designed to politically pressure the APA into abandoning 

sound science," said TWO's Executive Director Wayne Besen. 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/apa-slams-narth-and-conversion-therapy.html (1 of 3) [8/17/2006 11:34:13 PM]


Wayne Besen is an author, activist, columnist and public speaker. 

He is the author of a book nominated this year for two Lambda 

Literary Awards, "Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and 

Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth". 

Besen made international news when he photographed "ex-gay" 

poster boy John Paulk cruising in a gay bar in Washington, D.C. 

Besen is a former spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, the 

nation's largest gay and lesbian advocacy group. He has appeared as 

a guest on leading news and political talk shows including: the NBC 

Nightly News, The Roseanne Show, CNN's Talk Back Live and The Point, Fox's O'Reilly Factor and 

Hannity and Colmes, Hard Copy, MSNBC News and PAX's Faith Under Fire. Wayne has also 

spoken at many leading universities, including Vanderbilt, Harvard Law School, John Hopkins, 

and the University of Florida. 

Prior to working at HRC, Besen worked in corporate communications for Edelman Public 

Relations Worldwide and as a press secretary for democratic Maine State Senator Sean 

Faircloth's bid for the U.S. Senate. 

In 1992 Besen co-founded Sons & Daughters of America (SDA), a gay and lesbian public 

awareness campaign based in Fort Lauderdale. He currently serves as the Executive Director of 

Truth Wins OUT, an organization to founded to combat the 'ex-gay' myth and right wing 

propaganda. 

Besen graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in broadcast journalism in 1993. He 

is a native of Fort Lauderdale, but has also lived in Houston, Washington DC, New York and 

graduated from Kaiser High School in Honolulu. His hobbies include playing and watching 


6:06 AM 

basketball, traveling, reading and writing. 

0 Comments: 


http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/apa-slams-narth-and-conversion-therapy.html (2 of 3) [8/17/2006 11:34:13 PM] 

0 comments



TRUTH WINS OUT 

Truth Wins OUT (TWO) is a non-profit think tank 

and educational organization that counters right wing 

disinformation campaigns, debunks the ex-gay myth, and 

provides accurate information about the lives of GLBT 

people. TWO’s mission is to: 

■ Provide opposition research on the ex-gay 

industry 

■ Discredit right wing propaganda 

■ Educate America about the GLBT community 

LATEST NEWS 

'EX-GAY' PICKET FLOPS 

The "ex-gay" picket of the American Psychological 

Association's annual convention today was a total flop. It 

received a chilly reception from mainstream 

psychologists in New Orleans and their press conference 

had to be cancelled because there was virtually no press. 

Indeed, there was only one local camera, News Channel 

6, and they interviewed me, ensuring that the prevailing 

mainstream viewpoint was represented. 

After bussing in about 50 professional "ex-gay" lobbyists 

and likely spending thousands of dollars, one could only 

describe this as a total bust. If I were Dr. Nicolosi of the 

National Association of Research and Therapy of 

Homosexuality (NARTH), I'd be depressed by the 

results. The high-priced event consisted of so-called "exgays" 

walking aimlessly in circles and shouting slogans 

to themselves. 

On the other hand, Truth Wins Out had a very successful 

day. Joined by the APA's Clinton Anderson and Greater 

New Orleans MCC pastor Rev. Dexter Brecht, TWO was 

on-site and prepared to counter the ex-gay myth. This 

morning, TWO also obtained a new and devastating 

statement from the APA repudiating the ex-gay hoax. 

Additionally, the APA's rejection of conversion therapy 

is now being reported in publications such as Planet Out, 

The Advocate and 365Gay.com. 

APA SLAMS NARTH AND CONVERSION 

THERAPY 

In response to Friday's picket of the American 

Psychological Association's annual convention by the 

conversion therapy group NARTH, the APA today 

released the following statement obtained by Truth Wins 

Out: 

http://www.truthwinsout.org/ (1 of 5) [8/17/2006 11:34:38 PM]


"For over three decades the consensus of the mental 

health community has been that homosexuality is not an 

illness and therefore not in need of a cure. The APA's 

concern about the positions espoused by NARTH and socalled 

conversation therapy is that they are not supported 

by the science. There is simply no sufficiently 

scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can 

be changed. Our further concern is that the positions 

espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an 

environment in which prejudice and discrimination can 

flourish." 

"Truth Wins Out applauds the APA for taking a strong 

stand against quack science and not buckling to a 

transparent PR campaign designed to politically pressure 

the APA into abandoning sound science," said TWO's 

Executive Director Wayne Besen. 

TRUTH WINS OUT TO COUNTER ANTI-GAY 

COALITION’S SUBVERSION OF SCIENCE AT 

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION’S 

CONVENTION 

Religion-Based Bigots Cloak Scripture in the Guise of 

Science, Says TWO 

WHAT: Truth Wins Out will hold a press conference to 

counter a right wing attempt to bully the American 

Psychological Association into re-labeling 

homosexuality a mental illness. The anti-gay coalition is 

staging a politically-motivated “protest” at the New 

Orleans convention center on Friday. These groups 

believe that homosexuality is sinful, and therefore they 

are attempting to pressure the APA into twisting science 

so it will correspond to the coalition’s fundamentalist 

beliefs. The main tactic the coalition is using to 

manipulate the APA is the exploitation of so-called “exgays,” 

which are recloseted homosexuals who say they 

have prayed away the gay. 

“This is the subversion of science and a religious racket 

designed to con Americans into believing that 

homosexuality is a mental illness,” said Truth Wins Out 

Executive Director Wayne Besen. “This coalition is 

trying to kill the APA messenger because they don’t like 

their science-based message. These ex-gay groups keep 

no statistics, they produce no peer reviewed studies, most 

of their top leaders have reverted back to homosexuality 

and they conveniently disregard scientific evidence that 

does not conform to their political agenda.” 

WHO: Wayne Besen, Executive Director, Truth Wins 

Out 



Other Speakers TBA 

WHEN: Friday, August 11 at 11 a.m. 

WHERE: Outside the Ernest N. Morial Convention TWO VIDEOS 

Center 

Watch the Truth Wins OUT Press Club slide show (click screen to go 

BACKGROUND: In 1974, the American Psychological through slides) 

Association deleted homosexuality from its list of mental 

disorders. It did so, because it was determined that 

prejudice instead of proof was responsible for the 

original diagnosis. There was no evidence to support the 

notion that gay people were psychologically different 

Watch 'Ex-Gay' therapist Richard Cohen claim to be able to turn gay 

from anyone else in society. 

men straight through "reparative therapy". Paula Zahn interviewed 

him for CNN in May 2006. 

Unfortunately, the right wing has launched an unethical 

and scientifically bankrupt campaign to politically 

pressure the APA into overruling its respected research. 

TWO PHOTOS 

Ironically, the groups that are criticizing the APA use 

bizarre techniques to “cure” homosexuals. Some of their TWO Launch - National Press Club - June 7, 2006 

methods include exorcisms, repossessing a client’s 

Calvin Klein underwear because it is deemed “too gay,” 

taking Prozac and drinking Gatorade in an effort to make Exodus Protest - Indiana Wesleyan University - June 27, 2006 

men more masculine. 

“If the quack science is examined, it is clear that 

conversion therapy is a cruel hoax that is destroying lives 

and shattering families,” said Besen. “ The goal of this 

right wing coalition is to fool voters into thinking 

homosexuality is mutable, because polls show that when 

Americans believe people are 

born gay, they are more likely to vote in favor of 

equality.” 

Truth Wins OUT (TWO) is a non-profit think tank and 

educational organization that counters right wing 

disinformation campaigns, debunks the ex-gay myth, and 

provides accurate information about the lives of GLBT 

people. 

"REPARATIVE THERAPY " REPRESSES 

Even an exorcism couldn't scare the gay out of Peterson 

Toscano. 

But that is the lengths he went to because his evangelical 

Christian church brainwashed him into thinking he was 

abnormal. 

Toscano, 41, said he spent $30,000 over 17 years, 

traveling to three continents, chasing one treatment 

program after the next. 

In the end, he came to a healthy conclusion: Gay people 

http://www.truthwinsout.org/ (3 of 5) [8/17/2006 11:34:38 PM] 

TWO PODCASTS 

Radio Gay Interview - June 15, 2006 

Segment 1, 1MB 



Segment 4, 1MB


can't change any more than a heterosexual person can. 

Nor should they need to. They are God's children, perfect 

the way they are. 

Read More 

RADIO SHOW INCITES HATRED BY FALSELY 

CLAIMING GAYS HAVE SEX WITH INFANTS 

AND ANIMALS 

Miami Beach, FLA. – Truth Wins Out today called on 

Renew America’s Chairman Alan Keyes to dismiss Guy 

Adams, the group’s Deputy National Grassroots 

Director, after he made hateful and defamatory remarks 

against the gay and lesbian community on an Internet 

radio show. Adams’ comments linking homosexuality 

with infant pedophilia reached “a deplorable new low in 

gay bashing,” said TWO’s executive director Wayne 

Besen. 

On August 2, Adams appeared on “The Right View,” an 

Internet radio show hosted by Neo-Puritan operative 

Stacy L. Harp. While discussing the recent Gay Games, a 

sporting event for the GLBT community that recently 

took place in Chicago, Adams made his outlandish 

comments: 

Read More 

"The newest thing in Chicago, it's 

becoming a trend, and you're gonna find 

this hard to believe… sex with infants,” 

Adams said, without offering evidence to 

back his preposterous and offensive claim. 

“It's not enough that they have… you 

know when you engage in perversion, and 

homosexuality is perversion, we don't hate 

the gays mind you, we don't hate them, we 

hate what they're doing… pretty soon that 

perversion is like addiction, it's not 

enough, so you need to graduate to 

something else. You need to move on. 

So now they're having sex with animals, a 

small group that's getting bigger, sex with 

infants, sex in the street in Chicago out in 

the open, it's just getting more and more 

perverted." 

DID PORTLAND FELLOWSHIP'S EX-GAY 

LEADER NEARLY CAUSE SUICIDE? 

The Advocate had a revealing article by David Luc 

Nguyen who had suffered through Portland Fellowship, 



an "ex-gay" ministry in Oregon. He says that the 

victimizing experience nearly made him commit suicide. 

Read More 

"I remember staring at my reflection in the 

bathroom mirror six years ago. The hot 

water was running. I had a razor blade in 

my hand, and I was prepared to do the 

unthinkable. I couldn't deal with the war 

raging inside me any longer. For as long as 

I could remember I had struggled with the 

shame and guilt instilled in me by my 

Christian upbringing." 

FOCUS SPOKESPERSON A FORMER 

PROSTITUTE 

I have long complained that it is nearly impossible to 

find recloseted homosexuals ("ex-gays") with normal or 

successful backgrounds. In my book, Anything But 

Straight, I call these people "the formers" because they 

are all former drug addicts, prostitutes, sex addicts or 

people who likely suffer from mental illnesses. Instead 

of taking personal responsibility for their own poor 

choices and failures, they conveniently blame their 

sexual orientation. 

It turns out that Focus on the Family's Mike Haley fits 

the description of a "former." Denver Post columnist 

Cindy Rodriguez has revealed that before Haley was a 

holy-roller, he was a hooker: 

Read More 

Copyright © 2006 Truth Wins OUT. All rights reserved. Web Presence by Philter Media, Inc. 

'Ex-Gay' History Reparative Therapy History 'Ex-Gay' Scandals and Defections 10 Wacky 'Ex-Gay' Ideas Loving 'Ex-Gay' Quotes 

What Does 'Ex-Gay' Actually Mean? What Mental Health And Medical Experts Say About “Curing” Gays The Victims Speak 

Biological Research Attack On Public Schools 


Musings of a Toe-Walker: 'Scuse me while I yawn 


BlogThis! 





'Scuse me while I yawn 

'Nuff Said. Its roughly 90 days to the next election, one that looks to be a referendum on the 

Bush administration failures. The base is crumbling, Lieberman, a Democrat in name only, was 

defeated this week, the Middle East is a bigger mess than I've seen in my lifetime, soaring fuel 

costs are driving up costs all over, and our moonbat Congress thinks that the biggest priorities 

we have to deal with are same-sex marriage, use of the word "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, 

and flag burning. 

Who didn't see a terror alert coming? 

The sad thing is that its likely that this is the real deal, yet people are so sick of being 

manipulated by this sorry excuse for a President and his administration that we have come to 

doubt first and only accept something if a LOT of independent verification is provided. Perhaps 

equally bad or worse is that we apply the truth filter to Britain because of the unholy 

collaboration between Bush and Blair. 

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false face for the urge to rule it." 

~ H.L. Mencken 

(hat tip to 

Opinionated Old Fart 

for the graphic.) 

...and a BIG KISS to the folks over at the Midwest Conservative Journal who can't seem to stop 

loading this page. Apparently they've even e-mailed the link around. Ah well, they've got to 

have a hobby, I guess. 

http://toewalker.blogspot.com/2006/08/scuse-me-while-i-yawn.html (1 of 4) [8/17/2006 11:36:47 PM]



9:49 AM 

4 Comments: 

At 

Thu Aug 10, 05:06:13 PM CDT 

, Anonymous said... 

4 comments 

Uh, shouldn't that have to come BEFORE the Connecticut primary, moonbat? As as conspiracy 

theorist you kind of suck. 

At 

Thu Aug 10, 05:35:38 PM CDT 

, 


said... 


At 

Thu Aug 10, 05:42:27 PM CDT 

, 


said... 

Heard elsewhere on this same topic:August 10:Mr. Chertoff said that “some threads had been 

pursued for some time” by investigators in Britain, but that in the last two weeks or less 

evidence had arisen suggesting that the plotters were taking aim at American 

carriers.[snip]The White House spokesman, Tony Snow, said today that Mr. Bush had been 

briefed extensively over the last few days...August 9:CHENEY ON LIEBERMAN LOSS: He 

(Cheney) cast Mr. Lieberman’s loss in ominous terms, suggesting that it would hearten 



American terrorist enemies. Terrorists, he said, are “betting on the proposition that 

ultimately they can break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the 

fight and complete the task.TONY SNOW ON LIEBERMAN LOSS: Key leaders in the National 

Democratic Party have made it clear -- no, let me back up -- this is a defining moment, in 

some ways, for the Democratic Party. I know a lot of people have tried to make this a 

referendum on the president. I would flip it. I think instead, it's a defining moment for the 

Democratic Party, whose national leaders now have made it clear that if you disagree with the 

extreme left in their party, they're going to come after you. And it is probably worth trying to 

trace through some of the implications of that position, because it is clearly going to be one of 

the central issues as we get ready for the election campaign this year, that is, the midterm 

elections.First, let's think about Iraq. One of the positions is that we need to leave Iraq. We 

need to do it on a timetable, and we need to do it soon. It's worth walking through the 

consequences of that position.First, simply to walk away on a timetable without examining the 

conditions on the ground and without making sure that you have the ability for the Iraqis to 

stand up and also assert sovereignty over their territory and have a freestanding democracy 

would create a power vacuum and encourage terrorists not only Iraq but throughout the region 

and throughout the world.KEN MEHLMAN ON LIEBERMAN LOSS: It is also a sign of what the 

Democratic Party is has become in the 21st century. It reflects an unfortunate embrace of 

isolationism, defeatism, and a 'blame America first' attitude by national Democratic leaders at 

a time when retreating from the world is particularly dangerous.* * * * *So in other words, they 

knew about the British investigation, knew it would be announced, and through a 

COORDINATED EFFORT politicized it using the smoke-screen of sorrow at Lieberman's loss.Rove 

does it again. 

At 

Thu Aug 10, 07:20:07 PM CDT 

, 

Lisa 

said... 

Thank God!!! I'm not the only one who heard this news with some skeptism! One day after Joe 

Lieberman lost his should've-been-easy-for-an-incumbent primary to a man who thinks the Iraq 

war is immoral ... all of a sudden Blair & Bush discover and unmask a major terrorist plot? It's 

just way too convenient! Thanks for your nerve, ToeWalker!

Musings of a Toe-Walker - PFLAG of Bergen County, New Jersey

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