The Knoxville Sentinel announced the availability of same sex blessings at local Episcopal churches yesterday.
Bishop George Young's letter regarding this can be found here.
In it he says some things that reminded me of the actions of our Bishop Waldo. Specifically Bishop Young says,
Bishop Young's task force has already found Gomorrah and he has concluded,
Update, E. Tenn stats point to a fig tree that is not bearing fruit.
Bishop George Young's letter regarding this can be found here.
In it he says some things that reminded me of the actions of our Bishop Waldo. Specifically Bishop Young says,
"Over the past year I have talked a great deal about how I wanted the diocese, in the context of our upcoming February 2013 diocesan convention, to have some input as to how we will live into this new aspect of our life together as Episcopalians in East Tennessee. My desire has been for us to corporately move forward.Task Force huh, doesn't that sound familiar? We have our own Task Force 10 to Gomorrah thanks to our Bishop Waldo.
I appointed a 'Task Force For Same Sex Blessings' earlier this autumn, and their task has been to advise and guide me as to how we will continue..."
Bishop Young's task force has already found Gomorrah and he has concluded,
"Therefore, after extensive prayer, conversation, and with hope for the future, I approve the provisional use of The Witness and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant in the Diocese of East Tennessee after the 2013 Diocesan Convention under the following basic conditions..."I believe that Bishop Waldo's letter informing our Diocese of the results of his task force will be similar to the one presented to the Tenneseeans yesterday.
Update, E. Tenn stats point to a fig tree that is not bearing fruit.
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Is there a chart for reasons for the decline in membership? I haven't looked for it but I'd be interested to see the reasons given. Our congregation has grown by 25% in the past 12 months, but we're an aging congregation.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to understand the reasons for both decline and growth and to always be mindful of the Great Commission in Matthew 28 and where we have fallen short in our lives,
ReplyDelete“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Rev'd Dr. Leander Harding had this to say,
"To take up these issues is to take up the question of the mission of the church and the mission of the church will always need innovators and pioneers and leaders who by God’s grace become especially effective at reaching new people and new generations. But these innovators are living the missionary life and the missionary life is a life of sacrifice which can only be sustained especially in its try, fail, try again, fail, try again routine by a deep consecration to the Son of God sustained by constant resort to and love for the scriptures and the great teaching tradition of the church, what the church calls her doctrine and dogma. Without a renewal of personal devotion, scriptural knowledge and apostolic doctrine the persevering love which discovers effective missionary strategy cannot be sustained."
It looks, from that chart, as though the people who wanted to leave are leaving while the ones remaining are more than making up for it pledge-wise. Cutting some of the dead weight. Or am I reading that chart wrong?
ReplyDeleteJay Bee,
DeleteYou might find this SF post on "Why Pledges Increase as Membership and Attendance Figures Decrease" of interest.