[Episcopal News Service] Diocese of Los Angeles Bishop Suffragan-elect Mary Douglas Glasspool has received the required number of consents from diocesan standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction to her ordination and consecration, the presiding bishop's office has confirmed.
Glasspool, 56, was elected bishop suffragan on Dec. 5. Her consecration is set for May 15.

Glasspool is the second openly gay partnered priest to be elected a bishop in the Episcopal Church.

An ENS story will follow.

Following are statements from Bishop J. Jon Bruno, and Bishops Suffragan-elect Diane Jardine Bruce and Mary Douglas Glasspool:

From the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bishop Bruno “I give thanks for the Standing Committees and Bishops who have consented to the elections of Diane Jardine Bruce and Mary Douglas Glasspool as bishops suffragan in the Diocese of Los Angeles. “The committee members and bishops have offered their consents in prayerful discernment and by doing so have joined the Diocese of Los Angeles in recognizing and affirming the many gifts and skills of these highly qualified and experienced clerics. “Both Bishops-elect Bruce and Glasspool have been clear in stating that their new ministries will be focused on the work of the Diocese of Los Angeles as a priority, and the clergy and laity of this Diocese are eager to begin new collaboration with them. “These historic elections bring the first women to the episcopate in the Diocese of Los Angeles. I give thanks for this, and that the Standing Committees and Bishops have demonstrated through their consents that the Episcopal Church, by canon, creates no barrier for ministry on the basis of gender and sexual orientation, among other factors.” From Bishop-elect Diane Jardine Bruce “I am excited about working with both Bishop Jon and Mary as we move forward in mission and ministry in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Receiving the consents from the Bishops and Standing Committees has been, again, humbling for me. As we begin with this new team, I am encouraged by the support I have received from Bishop Jon and Mary and from clergy and laity throughout the Diocese. Rooted in prayer, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I pray we all grow and flourish in Christ’s love.”

From Bishop-elect Mary Douglas Glasspool “It is a privilege to serve in a Church gathered around the life, ministry, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our Church takes seriously its leadership, and so engages in a process whereby the lay and clerical members of Standing Committees of The Episcopal Church, as well as bishops from each of its dioceses, have the opportunity through prayer and discernment, to confirm the appropriateness of the election to leadership of each bishop. Thus, I am overjoyed that a majority of Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction have given their consent to the elections of both Bishops Suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles. “I am profoundly grateful for the many people -- in Los Angeles, in Maryland, and around the world -- who have given their prayers, love, and support during this time of discernment. I am also aware that not everyone rejoices in this election and consent, and will work, pray, and continue to extend my own hands and heart to bridge those gaps, and strengthen the bonds of affection among all people, in the Name of Jesus Christ. I am so very blessed to be working with Bishop Jon, Bishop-elect Diane, and the incredible people of the Diocese of Los Angeles; and I offer deep gratitude, as well, to Bishops Chester Talton and Sergio Carranza, whose Christ-centered leadership have moved the Church closer to God’s Reign on earth.”

Winfred Clark Chamberlain III, a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister who held some of the highest offices in the denomination, has been removed from ordained office by the Presbytery of New Covenant. Chamberlain appealed the presbytery’s disciplinary action to his former employer, the Synod of the Sun, but his appeal was dismissed on Jan. 15, 2010.

New Covenant revoked Chamberlain’s ordination on Nov. 18, 2009, after several years in which he was embroiled in legal troubles, placed on probation and incarcerated. In 2007, the same year he was appointed parliamentarian for the Presbytery of New Covenant, he was found guilty of unlawful, serious injury to a child with criminal negligence. His punishment was five years of probation, which included sex offender counseling and the requirement he have no contact with children. He was later jailed for violating that probation.

The 62-year-old Houston attorney was ordained in 1972, according to PCUSA records, and he was declared “honorably retired” in 2002. Prior to retirement, he pastored two churches in Louisiana and served various roles in the PCUSA bureaucracy, including the position of Stated Clerk for the Synod of the Sun, one of the denomination’s largest middle governing bodies, and membership on the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC), the denomination’s highest court.

In 1992, two Chamberlain related events shocked and confused the PCUSA public. At the 204th General Assembly, Chamberlain unexpectedly defeated incumbent James Andrews in the assembly’s election of Stated Clerk, the denomination’s highest elected office. But within 24 hours of his election, and before the service of installation was conducted, Chamberlain announced his resignation.

“For reasons which are weighty, personal to me, and, I think, redound to the honor of the church, I am unable to go forward and accept your election,” he said, according to the July/August 1992 edition of The Layman.

Chamberlain told The Associated Press that he had been accused of sexual harassment at a previous GA meeting, and “could not have functioned as head of the church under a cloud of suspicion by millions of people.”

Chamberlain’s concern for “the honor of the church,” however, did not extend to his acceptance of other denominational posts. He served as Stated Clerk of the Synod of the Sun from 1983 to 2002, according to GA minutes. And he served as a member of the GAPJC for a six-year term beginning in 1995, during which time he cast the only dissenting vote in a highly publicized case that prevented lesbian activist Jane Spahr from being installed as minister of the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Rochester, N.Y. Chamberlain ran again for stated clerk in 1996, finishing second in the voting to the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick.

One important difference, however, is that the GOP congressional leaders of 1994 had much higher profiles than John Boehner and Mitch McConnell, though it’s not clear what that means for this year: Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole had been national figures for years, but their prominence was a mixed blessing at best. Gingrich was great at inspiring the Republican grassroots. He was also becoming a bogeyman in Democratic fundraising letters. Dole lent the party gravitas without giving it an appealing face. When Dole delivered the GOP response to Clinton’s 1994 State of the Union, journalist Lloyd Grove observed his “Mister Rogers–meets–Freddy Krueger smile.” The GOP’s current state of “leaderlessness” is not necessarily a bad thing. Today, Democrats want a punching bag, but so far, they’re mostly swinging at the air.

In 1994, House Republicans had been in the minority for 40 years, so they did not have to worry about bad memories from their last time at the helm. This time, Democrats will remind voters of the various scandals and policy failures that helped end GOP control just four years ago. GOP majorities have tarnished the party’s reputation for spending restraint among its fiscal-conservative base (though last week’s votes to abandon all earmarks will surely help in that regard). According to the Pew Research Center, 63 percent of respondents had a favorable image of the GOP in 1994, compared with only 46 percent today. That’s the bad news for Republicans. The good news is that Democrats have suffered a similar drop.

The most important differences between the two years stem from the depths of the country’s problems. In 1994, the deficit was 2.9 percent of gross domestic product. In 2010, it’s 9.2 percent, and the Baby Boom generation stands 16 years closer to busting Social Security and Medicare. Back then, the Cold War had recently ended and the scope of terrorism was not yet clear. Now the threats are painfully obvious.

One officer said: 'Most of us are fully aware of how to treat people from different cultural backgrounds, but being told we can't even ask what their Christian name is just plain ridiculous.

'That is what we are brought up with - Christian name and surname - and to be honest if you had an officer ask for your personal name and family name it's just going to confuse people.

'It's just the latest in a long line of annoying PC-related nonsense that we keep getting shoved down our throats.'

It follows a raft of PC directives from other forces.

Last year officers in Warwickshire were told not to say 'Evenin' all' - a phrase made famous by classic police drama Dixon of Dock Green - because times of day could meant different things to various cultures.

Scotland Yard recently instructed officers not to use the phrase 'gang rape', because the term was considered too emotive.

Instead they were told to refer to the crime as 'multi-perpetrator rapes'.

A Freedom of Information request to police forces and fire services has also revealed that a number of organisations, including Essex Police and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, instruct staff to avoid the words 'child, youth or youngster'.

Addressing someone as a 'girl' or a 'boy' could have 'connotations of inexperience, impetuosity and unreliability, or even dishonesty', according to official guidance.

The same guide also warns against the phrases 'manning the phones', 'layman's terms' and 'the tax man', for 'making women invisible'.

Yesterday Marie Clair, of the Plain English Campaign, said: 'It's so sad that rather than using common sense, we are taking away all sense of respect from the way police deal with the public.

'If people can't be asked for their Christian name as a matter of common courtesy- something we all identify with- then where are we?

Officials there altered the Briton’s birth certificate to include the new no-gender classification after doctors were apparently unable to determine the sex of the expat’s body.

May-Welby said: “The concepts of man or woman don’t fit me. The simplest solution is not to have any sex identification.”

The UK’s Gender Trust welcomed the case. A spokesman said: “Many people like the idea of being genderless.”

I didn’t get to pick the preacher as many do today. I didn’t think at the time it was all that good of a sermon. I still don’t. But the preacher said something that stuck with me because it seemed to me at the time so trite. He said, “Don’t be a grumpy priest. Don’t forget to smile.” Now at 56, and two and a half decades after my ordination, it doesn’t seem so trite a charge. So facetious a warning. It is a constant with me—I have to watch out for grumpiness. It would be the gravest mistake if we who profess and call ourselves Christians allow our difficulties, struggles, and spiritual battles to cause us to lose our joy. G. K. Chesterton called joy, “the gigantic secret of the Christian.” Well why not. The Gospel begins with joy and ends with joy.

I was hiking one day on Mt. Desert Isand in Maine when I came across a Ladyslipper on the side of the trail. I knelt down to study it. I thought, “What a beautifully formed wildflower.” It brought me joy. And when I got up to hike there was a new lilt in my step. But it was a serendipitous, happenstance joy. Too many Christians seem to think that this is how our joy should be, just something we come across as we go through life. But Christian joy is a cultivated flower, planted, nurtured and water in cooperation with God’s grace. So I remind you of the joy of Christmas, even on this morning in September. “Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior who is Christ the Lord.” Read next the resurrection appearances and you’ll see this same joy everywhere between the lines of the narrative. The Road to Emmaus disciples run back to Jerusalem and discover Peter too has seen the Lord. They all share their stories and Luke writes, “While they disbelieved for joy….”

One of the staggering things, though, about John’s Gospel is that the closer Jesus gets to the cross the more he talks to his disciples about his joy. “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” He prays to his Father, “But I am coming to thee; and these things I spoke in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” Then to his disciples again, “I will see you again and your hearts shall rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you…ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

The French spiritual writer, Louis Evely has written, “Our sadness measures exactly our attachment to ourselves. The place we give to joy is the place we give to God. We believe no more in him than in joy.” Is our religion only a religion of the cross? Of sacrifice? Of denial? Of spiritual battles? Is there no place for the empty tomb, the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore, a charcoal fire, and the risen Christ with fish on the shoreline in the morning mist as the sun rises above the Galilean hills—and a voice calls out, “Children have you caught any fish?” “No.” “Cast the net on the right side of the boat….” (He wasn’t talking politics when he said “right side.” Nothing here about theology). No maybe I’d better put it… “starboard side of the boat and you’ll get a catch.” Joy you see runs right through the gospels from beginning to end.

As I travel around the Diocese, there are several questions that people ask me on a regular basis. The first has to do with the length of time our search process is taking as we seek a new Diocesan Bishop. Naturally I share that concern. But I have become convinced that the time has been necessary to assess accurately the state of the Diocese, to listen as widely as possible, and to gather an adequate amount of information about possible candidates. (Selfishly, however, the longer it takes the more joy I have in serving you.)

They often ask me, too, about the pending lawsuit concerning St. Francis on the Hill in El Paso. St. Paul speaks about the scandal of Christians battling fellow Christians in the courts. (I Cor. 6) I couldn’t agree more. It is scandalous, but I am reminded that the suit was initiated by our brothers and sisters who left the Episcopal Church, and the first we heard about that action was when we were served papers during last year’s Convocation. The issue involves resources for future mission opportunities in El Paso. Once the courts get involved there seems to be no stopping the train. To change the metaphor, it’s one of the wounds we bear. Paul also addresses that. (II Cor. 4)

What about St. Mark’s on-the-Mesa? Plans to separate from the Episcopal Church had been made well over a year ago. As a result, we were saddened but not surprised when so many people left. However, our ministry there as well as at the Church of our Savior continues intact. I’ve had the pleasure of serving at St. Mark’s during the month of October.

With the election of the Reverend Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian, as a Bishop in Los Angeles in The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion reaches another decisive moment. It is now absolutely clear to all that the national Church itself has formally committed itself to a pattern of life which is contrary to Scripture. The election of Bishop Robinson in 2003 was not an aberration to be corrected in due course. It was a true indication of the heart of the Church and the direction of its affairs.

There have been various responses to the actions of TEC over the years. Some have been dramatic and decisive, such as the creation of the Anglican Church of North America, an ecclesiastical body recognized by the GAFCON Primates as genuinely Anglican. For others, however, the counsels of patience have prevailed and they have sought a change of heart and waited patiently for it to occur. Those who have sought a middle course may be found both inside and outside the American Church.

This is a decisive moment for this ‘middle’ group. Their patience has been gentle and praiseworthy. But to wait longer would not be patience – it would be obstinacy or even an unworthy anxiety. Two things need to be made clear. First, that they are unambiguously opposed to a development which sanctifies sin and which is an abrogation of the word of the living God. Second, that they will take sufficient action to distance themselves from those who have chosen to walk in the path of disobedience.

Peter F. Jensen,
Archbishop of Sydney

When benefits claimant Chris Jarvis was asked to put down his hood in a Jobcentre, he said he was entitled to wear it because of his Jedi 'faith'.

When he continued to wear the cowl despite repeated warnings, he was escorted from the premises by security guards.

Yet in a case which sums up the march of political correctness in the public sector, he has now received a grovelling apology saying that the government agency 'embraces diversity and respects a customer's religion'. 'Jediism' was made up for the Star Wars films.

'I was told by security staff to remove my hood. I was told, not asked. I said, "It's my religion, I'm a Jedi Knight",' said Mr Jarvis, 31.

Since the Archbishop of Canterbury said this choice raises “very serious questions…for the Episcopal Church and its place in the Anglican Communion” one would have hoped that at least the bishops would have waited until they were gathered at their upcoming House of Bishops meeting to discern prayerfully their response together. They instead sought to embrace a way of life which the church through the Bible has always understood to be forbidden. Therefore the tragic damage the Episcopal Church has recently caused the third largest Christian family in the world will continue in the future, hurting our collective witness and grieving the heart of God.

“Glasspool’s election is the next step in the Episcopal Church’s liberalizing trajectory. After revoking a moratorium on the consecration of non-celibate homosexual bishops during its July General Convention, the denomination made clear that it was going to proceed on this route, despite protests from other Anglicans.

“Consent to Glasspool’s election by the Episcopal Church shows how little the U.S.-based denomination cares about what other parts of the global Anglican Communion believe.

“The majority of the Episcopal Church is increasingly practicing a separate faith than what most worldwide Anglicans practice.

“The leadership of The Episcopal Church continues to demonstrate its disregard for the authority of Scripture. This action does not merely defy those within the wider Anglican Communion, it also contradicts basic Christian theology on marriage and human sexuality by promoting a pattern of life which is contrary to Scripture. Furthermore, the actions of The Episcopal Church are sanctifying sin and distorting the truth of the Gospel,” said CANA Missionary Bishop Martyn Minns.

“The good news of Jesus is about God’s radical inclusion that profoundly transforms every aspect of our being. This is the gospel for which Christians around the world are giving their lives in the face of ongoing persecution,” Minns continued.

“CANA and the Anglican Church in North America will continue to stand firm for the truth of the Word of God and the historic teachings of the church and continue to provide a gracious welcome for all God’s people,” Minns concluded.

What this means is the majority of The Episcopal Church's leaders - down to the diocesan level throughout America - are exercising no restraint as requested by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the primates of the Anglican Communion. Despite pleas to the contrary, they have given their consent for a partnered lesbian to become a bishop, not just for Los Angeles, but for the whole church.

...more

Recently my colleague Jay Nordlinger wrote about a new edition of the Federalist Papers that comes equipped with a disclaimer for unwary readers:

This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today. Parents might wish to discuss with their children how views on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and interpersonal relations have changed since this book was written before allowing them to read this classic work.

As the reader who tipped Jay off writes, “I will be rereading this work very carefully — it seems that the first few times through I’ve completely missed the sex!” To be sure, the Federalist Papers were written in the 1780s and embody the customs and beliefs of the times. “Man” is used generically to mean “person,” and the existence of slavery, while not endorsed, is accepted as a given (among other things, slavery was still legal in New York, whose citizens the papers were addressed to). If that bothers you, and your kids are sensitive and easily influenced, it might be a good idea to explain these points beforehand — subtly stressing the “sexuality” part if you want them to pay close attention.

Yet the warning is not as overblown as it seems, because the Federalist Papers do, in fact, contain messages that, if taken seriously by impressionable youths, could upset the very basis on which our society is founded. Consider, for example, this passage from the 23rd Federalist about the role of the federal government:

The principal purposes to be answered by union are these — the common defence of the members; the preservation of the public peace, as well against internal convulsions as external attacks; the regulation of commerce with other nations and between the States; the superintendence of our intercourse, political and commercial, with foreign countries.

Nothing in there about redistribution of wealth, insulating houses, selling insurance, running car companies, or making kids eat their vegetables. Imagine the mischief this antiquated line of thought could inspire!

Then there are these extracts, from the 32nd . . .

As the plan of the convention aims only at a partial union or consolidation, the State governments would clearly retain all the rights of sovereignty which they before had, and which were not, by that act, exclusively delegated to the United States.

The World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides hosted a no-adults-welcome panel at the United Nations this week where Planned Parenthood was allowed to distribute a brochure entitled “Healthy, Happy and Hot.” The event was part of the annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which concludes this week.

The brochure, aimed at young people living with HIV, contains explicit and graphic details on sex, as well as the promotion of casual sex in many forms. The brochure claims, “Many people think sex is just about vaginal or anal intercourse… But, there are lots of different ways to have sex and lots of different types of sex. There is no right or wrong way to have sex. Just have fun, explore and be yourself!” The brochure goes on to encourage young people to “Improve your sex life by getting to know your own body. Play with yourself! Masturbation is a great way to find out more about your body and what you find sexually stimulating. Mix things up by using different kinds of touch from very soft to hard. Talk about or act out your fantasies. Talk dirty to them.”

The brochure also tells students that national laws requiring HIV-positive people to reveal their status to their partner(s) “violate the rights of people living with HIV” and calls for advocacy to “change laws that violate your rights.” It explains, “There are many reasons that people do not share their HIV status. … They may worry that people will find out something else they have kept secret, like they are using injecting drugs, having sex outside of a marriage or having sex with people of the same gender.”

The Girl Scouts, along with the YCMA have been co-moderating a young women’s caucus that included an “Intergenerational Conversation” side event on “universal access” and “reproductive health.” One recent Girl Scout project “aims at securing the right of women, men and adolescents aged between ten and twenty-five, to better reproductive and sexual health.”



We aim to affirm the Anglican Covenant as the basis in intensifying the ecclesial life between churches in the Communion, and explore ways churches should stand firm side by side in one spirit and with one mind for the faith of the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ. The Steering Committeee emphasised that provincial and invited participants should be unequivocally committed to uphold the spirit and intent of the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10 and the proposed Anglican Covenant (full Ridley Draft).

Participation will be on provincial basis. Provinces and Primates have earlier been informed of the 4th Encounter will now be sent more detailed information on the nature of their provincial participation. Associate participants from non-Global South Anglican provinces/dioceses will be on an invitational basis. In addition, key ecumenical partners will also be invited as observers. As in previous conferences, the 4th Encounter seeks to be a self-financed gathering.

Sampras, Agassi needed a timeout, jokes Federer March 15, 2010
Roger Federer admits that it got uncomfortable on court during the Hit for Haiti when Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras traded ill-conceived impersonations and appeared to get angry at each other.

The Swiss said his hands were largely tied, though he tried to lighten the atmosphere. “I don't think it was that crazy bad, but it was a bit awkward because you didn't know, was it just fun, was it not fun? What was it?” Federer commented after navigating through his opening match at Indian Wells.

“Sure, you try to loosen up the moment, because for us to play tennis with microphones on is not something we're used to. I mean, I couldn't even talk to Pete after that because we were having the microphones on. The whole time to have the microphone right there it's kind of tricky and dangerous at times, I think as we saw the other night. But I tried to help with the situation. And now being a father, I thought maybe we have to give both guys like a timeout or something. We didn't have to go that far.”

American Andy Roddick, who has played Davis Cup with both Sampras and Agassi, heard about the controversy and decided to watch it on YouTube.

“I think they would probably both tell you it got away from them a little bit there,” Roddick said. “I think all the years of kind of intense competition might have come out a little bit there. With any great rivalry where you play that long there's going to be a boiling point. Unfortunately, I think we might have seen that the other night.”

The latest episode contains an interview with yours truly! Had a great time with the boys talking about all manner of stuff including, of course, a lot of Stand Firm!

Here's the episode (or download here):

And, as a bonus, my daughter Charis came in at the end and helped them sing Happy Birthday (file):

Enjoy.

Going to be a great week of engaging the working community of central Perth with the question of why we are so reluctant to talk about Jesus.

Major events that I'd covet your prayers for are:

Tuesday 23rd March, 12:30-1:30pm

The Great Debate, 'People should keep their religion to themselves '



Wednesday 24th March, 12:30-1:00pm

A Public Forum, 'Religion just leads to violence '



Thursday 25th March, 12:30-1:00pm

A Public Forum, 'God is a matter of personal opinion '

If you're in Perth would love to see you there. Grab all the information from the website. Postcard invitations available here [pdf].

1. TRUST IS EVERYTHING.

Tell the truth, be honest, and practice what you preach. Too many people in my industry are just in it for the money. When you're in business, you should have only one thing on your mind, and that is helping the customer.

2. ANYTHING SUCCESSFUL TAKES A LOT OF WORK.

You can't believe what I went through in starting my business. In 1936, when I opened my first gym in Oakland, I had doctors telling people, "If you start working out with Jack LaLanne, the women will start looking like men, and the old guys will die of heart attacks." They thought I was just a dumb, musclebound guy. Now every doctor wants you to exercise and eat more fruits and vegetables.