In the course of my travels, both in-person and cyber-based, I am hearing a recurring criticism from Episcopalians, particularly those who are elderly, shut-in, or isolated. That criticism, and it is deeply concerning, is that the church is ignoring them during the pandemic; that they feel ignored, brushed off, and irrelevant. I don’t have hard numbers, but I… Read More »
Many Episcopal churches have begun streaming services in response to the pandemic. And while this may be a short-term solution that protects church members and the public, the long-term consequences likely will prove lethal for many churches. Say what? Won’t being online help broaden one’s reach and help spread the Good News? The short answer is that while… Read More »
Reports coming out of Truro Anglican, one of the parishes at the center of the property dispute with the Episcopal Church, indicate that the church is again embroiled in scandal following the resignation of Tim Mayfield, the interim rector. According to various sources, Mayfield was asked to resign by the church’s senior warden following reports he inappropriately touched… Read More »
Not long ago, the Episcopal church launched an audit of race and racial reconciliation in the church. The resulting report was damning, utterly expected, and something the church desperately needed to hear. And while the church, in true TEC fashion, lumbers along in sharing the remarkably unremarkable results, it misses the larger points. These include: The fact that… Read More »
One of the problems facing many Episcopal churches, dioceses, and the national church itself is a lack of willingness to look the truth in the eye. That’s especially true when it comes to finances. Fortunately, small glimmers of hope come from the tiny diocese of Vermont, which recently announced that it faces a looming financial catastrophe and is… Read More »
Title IV is the canonical framework for clergy discipline in the Episcopal Church. And while it’s constantly being tweaked and re-tweaked, there is a fundamental problem with Title IV. Simply put, the problem is that it does not fully appreciate the importance of disclosure and truth-telling, and leaves victims of clergy abuse open to retaliation. That is the… Read More »
The Episcopal Church, like most mainline denominations, is shedding members fast and furious, with experts predicting a dire future for the denomination. And while members wail and wring their hands — or clutch their pearls — they’re doing damned little about it. As a result, the Episcopal Church has reached a point where it needs to grow, or… Read More »
The following is reprinted with permission from my dear friend Dee Parsons’ blog, The Wartburg Watch. The piece was written by Wade Burleson and can be found here. As someone who experienced firsthand an effort by the Episcopal Church to get me to sign an NDA, the article is spot on. Any church that requests one is morally bankrupt, and… Read More »
Several days ago, I read an article in Episcopal Cafe about the Alabama Cathedral. The article was enough to make my head explode, and it’s no surprise that my comments didn’t pass muster with the site’s censors. The story was about how the Cathedral has now agreed to use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and financially support the diocese.… Read More »
The Episcopal Diocese of Washington (EDOW), led by Bishop Mariann Budde, has launched an innovative program to strengthen or otherwise address issues involving struggling parishes. The program, “Tending our Soil,” involves a holistic look at parish finances, membership, governance, attendance, dynamics, leadership and more. In cases where it is warranted, the diocese can extend financial, consulting, and other… Read More »