Last night, Keke lost another tooth. She put it under her pillow, and the tooth fairy brought her fifty cents. Unbeknownst to me, she brought that money to school and made a purchase. What did she buy?
Candy.
Candy.
It's been a strange week. The Episcopal House of Bishops met this week in New Orleans to "craft a response" to the demands of the Primates of the Anglican Communion who met in Dar es Salaam in March. Basically the primates said, "Say you won't have any more gay bishops, or we'll kick you out of our club. Oh, and while we're at it, we want to have the final word over what you do." Fortunately to the latter request, the executive council of the Episcopal Church said at their meeting in June, "Uh...no. We will not have a group of primates peeking over Katherine's shoulder at every turn."
Some background: At General Convention in 2006, on the last day, in an attempt to make some sort of response as requested by the Windsor Report, the Presiding Bishop and the PB-elect went before the deputies and asked for their support on resolution B033. B033 says :
On one hand, some say that it means that standing committees and bishops will not consent to the election of a gay or lesbian person as bishop.
On the other hand, some say that it is up to the standing committees and bishops to discern for themselves, mentioning the "exercise restraint" wording as being flexible.
On the third hand, some question what exactly is meant by "manner of life presents a challenge".
So, at the Primate's meeting in Dar es Salaam they decided to ask the bishops for clarification. Then there was the implied threat. I guess it wasn't so implied. Here's what was asked for(read the whole document here):
Some background: At General Convention in 2006, on the last day, in an attempt to make some sort of response as requested by the Windsor Report, the Presiding Bishop and the PB-elect went before the deputies and asked for their support on resolution B033. B033 says :
"...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."There was some fierce debate, but also a sense of urgency to make some sort of statement before the close of convention. Ultimately, the resolution was approved (Lay: 72 yes, 21 no, 7 divided; Clerical: 75 yes, 24 no, 4 divided). Since then there has been some debate about what B033 actually says.
On one hand, some say that it means that standing committees and bishops will not consent to the election of a gay or lesbian person as bishop.
On the other hand, some say that it is up to the standing committees and bishops to discern for themselves, mentioning the "exercise restraint" wording as being flexible.
On the third hand, some question what exactly is meant by "manner of life presents a challenge".
So, at the Primate's meeting in Dar es Salaam they decided to ask the bishops for clarification. Then there was the implied threat. I guess it wasn't so implied. Here's what was asked for(read the whole document here):
In particular, the Primates request, through the Presiding Bishop, that the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church
1. make an unequivocal common covenant that the bishops will not authorise any Rite of Blessing for same-sex unions in their dioceses or through General Convention (cf TWR, §143, 144); and
2. confirm that the passing of Resolution B033 of the 75th General Convention means that a candidate for episcopal orders living in a same-sex union shall not receive the necessary consent (cf TWR, §134);
unless some new consensus on these matters emerges across the Communion (cf TWR, §134).The Primates request that the answer of the House of Bishops is conveyed to the Primates by the Presiding Bishop by 30th September 2007.
If the reassurances requested of the House of Bishops cannot in good conscience be given, the relationship between The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as a whole remains damaged at best, and this has consequences for the full participation of the Church in the life of the Communion.
So, that's where we stood going into this week.
And, here's what came out of this week (full text here):
We reconfirm that resolution B033 of General Convention 2006 (The Election Of Bishops) calls upon bishops with jurisdiction and Standing Committees "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." (...The House acknowledges that non-celibate gay and lesbian persons are included among those to whom B033 pertains.)
We pledge as a body not to authorize public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions.
and then, a couple of paragraphs later:
We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God's children, including gay and lesbian persons, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ's Church.
So, which is it? Full and equal, or not?
I'm not really sure where that leaves us. I guess Susan Russell said it best:
...while they[the bishops] "stood firm" against turning the clock back they utterly failed to move the church forward.
But, then (and in keeping with the Susan Russell references), I cried to read these comments.
I guess I was hoping for a strong statement, and I didn't get it. This is causing a sense of turmoil inside me. Saturday Mark will be at our Mission Summit, and hopefully he will have a chance to address some of these issues. He will also be doing an episcopal visit at our parish on Sunday, so again there's the chance to hear what he has to say.
After B033 passed, I felt the same way I do now, perhaps not as strongly. Mark was able to address the issues around its passage and I was able to trust in the process again. I hope that he can do the same this time, although I'm beginning to believe that General Convention may have to step in and take the bold move on these issues. We'll see.
Why am I so worked up about this? My friend Tracey is one of the candidates to be the next Bishop of Chicago. She is actively gay and partnered and very open about her sexuality. She is also a tremendous leader. The church will be worse off if she is not elected bishop (whether or not Chicago is the best fit, I don't know, but she should be a bishop somewhere).
Now Tracey is faced with a dilemma. The bishops have all but stated outright that if you are gay or lesbian, and you are elected bishop, we will not consent to your election. Assuming that Chicago elects Tracey, it would appear that she wouldn't receive consent, thus making her a scapegoat to the demands of the overseas bishops. If she withdraws her name, she capitulates voluntarily to those demands, and admits defeat. If she remains in the process, she risks accusations of "shoving it in the face" of the House of Bishops. And her election is too far away from GC2009 to have the convention consent. It seems like a no win situation.
But, if it's a no-win situation for Tracey, it's even more of a no-win for the Church. And I think that is what has me more upset than anything.
Ahoy, me scurvy dogs! Here be more treasure pilfered from the good ship Internet.
Pirate Joke:
Wil Wheaton be in the piratin' spirit here.
When ye be havin' 'nuff o'the seas, an' be lookin' for a way to be refreshed (arr... not like that...of the spirit'l type) get yer mates together and cel'brate wi' th' Pirate Eucharist.
All ye scurvy dogs be known that Scowlin' Seamus Jones be me new pirate name. You be findin' your'n here.
Until the next time we be seein' ye on the high seas, be keepin' yer hat on, yer hook sharrrp, and yer leg free o' the termites.
Scowlin' Seamus Jones
Pirate Joke:
A pirate walks into a bar wearing a paper towel on his head. He sits down at the bar and orders some dirty rum.
The bartender asks, "Why are you wearing a paper towel?"
"Arrr..." says the pirate. "I've got a bounty on me head!"
Wil Wheaton be in the piratin' spirit here.
When ye be havin' 'nuff o'the seas, an' be lookin' for a way to be refreshed (arr... not like that...of the spirit'l type) get yer mates together and cel'brate wi' th' Pirate Eucharist.
All ye scurvy dogs be known that Scowlin' Seamus Jones be me new pirate name. You be findin' your'n here.
Until the next time we be seein' ye on the high seas, be keepin' yer hat on, yer hook sharrrp, and yer leg free o' the termites.
Scowlin' Seamus Jones
Avast, today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day. We be celebratin' every September 19th. So, grab your grog an' your favorite wench, an' party wi' all the lubbers that be in your sights.
That be an order, from Cap'n Bill.
That be an order, from Cap'n Bill.
Our local Giant Eagle is now carrying Dunkin' Donuts coffee!!! There is no better coffee, and we look forward to our trip east each year if for no other reason than Dunkin' Donuts coffee.
Thank you Giant Eagle, thank you!!!!
It's the first day of school. Beenie and Keke are at school. Munchkin is napping. Stewie wants me to play house.
My first assignment - pretend clean.
Great. Like I don't have to do that in real life.
My first assignment - pretend clean.
Great. Like I don't have to do that in real life.
We went to the mall today. So, I present, for your viewing enjoyment, Robin Sparkles!!!
We (Ellen, Bubba, the kids, and me) went to the Main Street Creamery tonight after dinner. Everyone got a cone of their favorite flavor (or at least their favorite today). Keke’s raspberry sherbet fell off of her cone right after she got outside to sit down. She got a replacement, but the original was still sitting on the bricks by the leg of the table, melting. She decided that it looked like a little brain that was lying on the ground with blood dripping off of it. Nice.
While we were sitting there, a fire truck went by and stopped in front of the seed company. It didn’t have its lights and sirens on, didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry, and after a while it rumbled on down the street. We didn’t think much of it, finished our ice creams and started to make our way back to Granny’s house.
As we approached her house, we could see the fire truck down at the end of the street. At first it seemed like nothing, but then we noticed a cadre of firefighters, in gear, walking around the truck as it was slowly backing up the street. As one of them passed by he told us that they were checking the pressure on the hydrants. There is a hydrant in the yard next to Granny’s house, so we stopped to watch them work. I had my camera with me, so I started taking pictures. As I was shooting, one of the firefighters came over and told me that in addition to checking pressures, they also had to check volumes.
The firefighters hooked a hose up from the hydrant to the truck, and then another from the truck that just pointed down the street. They attached a nozzle to the end of that one. When they were ready they turned on the hydrant and the first hose sprang to life. Then they allowed the water to continue on into the second hose. There were two firefighters holding the end with the nozzle and what amazed me was how fast the water filled the hose (instantaneously, it seemed), and how much pressure there must have been. The rapidly filling hose knocked both firefighters forward half a step. One of the other firefighters told me that the pressure in the hydrant was 125psi.
The nozzle was opened and water sprayed down the street in front of Granny’s house. The three older kids ran down to a tree right where the water was being sprayed so they could see better. One firefighter asked me if they should try to spray them, and I said to go for it. Unfortunately, the kids came back just at that point. So, instead, the firefighter asked me if I wanted to take a picture of the kids on the hose line!
Beenie went first and was absolutely thrilled with getting to hold the hose while it was turned on. He commented that he didn’t realize how heavy the hose actually is. Keke and Stewie didn’t want to get in there, but we finally coaxed them into at least having their pictures taken with the firefighters. When we were done, Beenie asked if they would show him how to turn the hose on. He jumped back in and the Lieutenant guided him as Beenie turned the firehose on and then off!
Beenie announced that he now wants to be a firefighter in addition to all the other things he wants to be when he grows up. Great-grandma will be happy to hear that. As the firefighters were packing up the truck, the Lieutenant brought over beenie babies for each of the kids (including Munchkin), so they all have a souvenir to go along with an amazing memory.
While we were sitting there, a fire truck went by and stopped in front of the seed company. It didn’t have its lights and sirens on, didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry, and after a while it rumbled on down the street. We didn’t think much of it, finished our ice creams and started to make our way back to Granny’s house.
As we approached her house, we could see the fire truck down at the end of the street. At first it seemed like nothing, but then we noticed a cadre of firefighters, in gear, walking around the truck as it was slowly backing up the street. As one of them passed by he told us that they were checking the pressure on the hydrants. There is a hydrant in the yard next to Granny’s house, so we stopped to watch them work. I had my camera with me, so I started taking pictures. As I was shooting, one of the firefighters came over and told me that in addition to checking pressures, they also had to check volumes.
The firefighters hooked a hose up from the hydrant to the truck, and then another from the truck that just pointed down the street. They attached a nozzle to the end of that one. When they were ready they turned on the hydrant and the first hose sprang to life. Then they allowed the water to continue on into the second hose. There were two firefighters holding the end with the nozzle and what amazed me was how fast the water filled the hose (instantaneously, it seemed), and how much pressure there must have been. The rapidly filling hose knocked both firefighters forward half a step. One of the other firefighters told me that the pressure in the hydrant was 125psi.
The nozzle was opened and water sprayed down the street in front of Granny’s house. The three older kids ran down to a tree right where the water was being sprayed so they could see better. One firefighter asked me if they should try to spray them, and I said to go for it. Unfortunately, the kids came back just at that point. So, instead, the firefighter asked me if I wanted to take a picture of the kids on the hose line!
Beenie went first and was absolutely thrilled with getting to hold the hose while it was turned on. He commented that he didn’t realize how heavy the hose actually is. Keke and Stewie didn’t want to get in there, but we finally coaxed them into at least having their pictures taken with the firefighters. When we were done, Beenie asked if they would show him how to turn the hose on. He jumped back in and the Lieutenant guided him as Beenie turned the firehose on and then off!
Beenie announced that he now wants to be a firefighter in addition to all the other things he wants to be when he grows up. Great-grandma will be happy to hear that. As the firefighters were packing up the truck, the Lieutenant brought over beenie babies for each of the kids (including Munchkin), so they all have a souvenir to go along with an amazing memory.
It was hard shopping in all the cool clothing and gift stores with all four kids along for the ride, so last night after dinner Ellen and I went back to Hyannis. It was a lot more crowded on the streets than I was expecting, and there were way more families with kids in strollers than I thought there would be. It did, however, remind me of being back in the city and that was nice. I miss the city.
Anyway, we ended up at Seventh Heaven where Ellen bought a really cool skirt. It wraps, sari-style, and kind of shimmers back and forth between red and green. It was really difficult to find a top to go with it, due to that color shift, but she did. We also went to Tibetan Mandala where I bought another shirt to go with the ones I bought last year. And I bought another set of prayer beads - rudrashka beads.
We also had to go to the joke shop. Beenie bought a joy buzzer at another store, but it was a cheap plastic one that broke before we got home. We decided to replace it for him. We found a nice metal one that should last a little longer. Keke also wanted to buy some plastic dog poop, but when we were looking for it earlier in the day she couldn't find just what she was looking for. We found her a nice looking one (is that the right way to describe it?), and picked that up for her. Stewie was having a great time looking around, and couldn't settle on anything he wanted, so we got him a couple of little plastic rats that he had been showing me earlier in the day.
The kids aren't up yet, but I hope they will enjoy them. And Ellen and I had a nice time wandering around the street of Hyannis, just the two of us.
Anyway, we ended up at Seventh Heaven where Ellen bought a really cool skirt. It wraps, sari-style, and kind of shimmers back and forth between red and green. It was really difficult to find a top to go with it, due to that color shift, but she did. We also went to Tibetan Mandala where I bought another shirt to go with the ones I bought last year. And I bought another set of prayer beads - rudrashka beads.
We also had to go to the joke shop. Beenie bought a joy buzzer at another store, but it was a cheap plastic one that broke before we got home. We decided to replace it for him. We found a nice metal one that should last a little longer. Keke also wanted to buy some plastic dog poop, but when we were looking for it earlier in the day she couldn't find just what she was looking for. We found her a nice looking one (is that the right way to describe it?), and picked that up for her. Stewie was having a great time looking around, and couldn't settle on anything he wanted, so we got him a couple of little plastic rats that he had been showing me earlier in the day.
The kids aren't up yet, but I hope they will enjoy them. And Ellen and I had a nice time wandering around the street of Hyannis, just the two of us.
Be Like a Duck
7:15 AM
by bill
Another good day of fun yesterday. Granny took all of us on a Duckmobile ride in Hyannis. The premise is simple:
It was a great time! My favorite story was when we passed St. Francis Xavier Church - "the Kennedy Family Church" - we were told it was a "no quack" zone. Apparently, they were going by one day and decided to quack at what they thought was a wedding. Turned out to be a funeral. Whoops. The church asked them to refrain from quacking in the future. I don't know if the story is true or not, but it sounds plausible, and it one of those stories that I want to be true.
At the end of the ride, Auntie Marilyn bought all the kids "duck whistles". When you blow on them they make a quacking noise. For the rest of the day, that's all you could hear from the kids. We did have to set two rules:
Beenie is becoming quite the prankster. He used invisible tape to tape open the sprayer attached to the sink, so when you turned the water on you got sprayed. Caught Auntie Marilyn. Great fun was had by all!
- climb aboard a Vietnam-era amphibious vehicle (painted blue and yellow)
- ride around the streets of Hyannis quacking at people (let's practice - "QUACK. QUACK. QUACK." Very good.)
- drive into Hyannis Harbor and motor around looking at the ginormous boats, and houses that back up on the water (I'm soooo jealous.)
- listen to the tour guide point out (a few) interesting places and facts, but mostly just go through her goofy patter.
It was a great time! My favorite story was when we passed St. Francis Xavier Church - "the Kennedy Family Church" - we were told it was a "no quack" zone. Apparently, they were going by one day and decided to quack at what they thought was a wedding. Turned out to be a funeral. Whoops. The church asked them to refrain from quacking in the future. I don't know if the story is true or not, but it sounds plausible, and it one of those stories that I want to be true.
At the end of the ride, Auntie Marilyn bought all the kids "duck whistles". When you blow on them they make a quacking noise. For the rest of the day, that's all you could hear from the kids. We did have to set two rules:
- No quacking in stores (except maybe the joke shop)
- No quacking if the car is moving.
Beenie is becoming quite the prankster. He used invisible tape to tape open the sprayer attached to the sink, so when you turned the water on you got sprayed. Caught Auntie Marilyn. Great fun was had by all!
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