Updated again Friday evening
First, there was the invitation to Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church to give the formal invocation at Barack Obama’s inauguration. There was a lot of negative reaction to this, but more recently Mr Warren added his own Anglican angle, as reported by Christianity Today in Displaced Anglicans Offered Refuge on Saddleback Campus.
Wednesday evening update That article was removed, as explained here. The original text can still be found here.
Second, there is the news report that the Rev. Sharon E. Watkins of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is to deliver the sermon at the national prayer service that is held the day after the inauguration. The Anglican angle is that this service is being held at the Washington National Cathedral.
Third, there is the announcement that Bishop of New Hampshire Gene Robinson is to offer prayers at the Lincoln Memorial concert two days before the inauguration. See also the ENS report: New Hampshire bishop invited to offer prayers at inaugural kickoff event. And there are many links to other reports here.
British reporting of this: Guardian, Times, Telegraph.
Wednesday morning updates
Episcopal News Service has more on the Rick Warren story, at ‘Purpose-Driven’ pastor offers space to dissident Episcopalians.
And Max Blumenthal has written about Rick Warren’s Africa Problem.
National Public Radio has a 5 minute radio interview with Bishop Robinson at Robinson ‘Delighted’ To Be Part Of Inauguration.
Wednesday evening update
A fourth Anglican angle on the inauguration can be found in the Washington Post which reports that Historic Church Will Host President-Elect on Big Day. This refers to St John’s Church Lafayette Square.
Friday evening update
More Anglican angles on the Washington Cathedral service, which will involve both the Bishop of Washington and the Presiding Bishop.
Even more detail on all the participants in that service is provided by ENS here.
I wonder how “Pastor Rick” would feel if the local Episcopal diocese started sticking its nose into his internal affairs?
I’m sure Pastor Rick is just doing what he thinks the Lord has called him to even if it does fly in the face of the Gospel. Homophobia and the ignorance that accompanies it is just astounding.
Another Rick Warren
Inviting Gene Robinson is a reassuring bit of even-handedness, and a welcome tribute to a man of great courage and evangelical candor.
Rick Warren´s got it, many active alcoholics have it, smart people try and avoid it, Christians find it dangerous and spiritually unhealthy…it´s name: selfwill run riot!
Considering Sidney Blumenthal’s article the other day on Rick Warrens goings on and associates in Uganda & c. (his so called AIDS work) probably that would be a good thing.
Link: http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/rick-warrens-africa-problem
“We stand in solidarity with them, and with all orthodox, evangelical Anglicans. I offer the campus of Saddleback Church to any Anglican congregation who need a place to meet, or if you want to plant a new congregation in south Orange County.” – Saddleback Campus invitation – Soemone only today was asking me what the term ‘Poison Chalice’ meant. I guess this invitation to disssident TEC parishes could fill the bill. I note that Pastor Rick is only interested in ‘Evangelical parishes’ accepting his invitation to share premises. That might not fit too well with the Anglo-Catholics among the dissidents.… Read more »
An endorsement from Rick Warren? Gee, how much more proof do we need that the Right is wrong?
This isn’t Pastor Rick’s first partnership with the schismatics–he spoke at the 2005 Anglican Communion Network convention, was originally listed as a member of the Common Cause Partnership (until too many bloggers started asking how a Southern Baptist could also be an Anglican, at which point Saddleback suddenly disappeared from the roster), and wrote that embarrassingly sycophantic Akinola profile in Time.
“originally listed as a member of the Common Cause Partnership (until too many bloggers started asking how a Southern Baptist could also be an Anglican, at which point Saddleback suddenly disappeared from the roster)”
See, this is the kind of schemery that we should be publishing abroad. If more people could see the blatant dishonesty of things like the Common Cause, they wouldn’t have the currency they do. I wonder how many people who basically side with the Conservatives/Common Cause/GAFCONites would drop it like a wet mitt if they were made aware how dishonest these self appointed “orthodox” actually are.
Wow thanks lots for the link to Max’s blog. I commend his carefulness in supporting documentation, instead of just talking about the admittedly alarming features of Rick W’s supposedly generous and high-minded AIDS work in Africa. I am still left musing on how difficult it seems it is for followers of Jesus of Nazareth to engage with anything newly corrective and empirical, since Galileo et al. onwards. Somehow the early church could work through the gospel going to the Gentiles, and the whole raft of vexed hot buttons that went with that change – most alarmingly in Jewish Christian Jerusalem… Read more »
Bishop Gene Robinson’s invitation to lead the Prayers at the Inaugural Concert is at least a sign of the Administration’s willingness to accept the authenticity of Gene’s position as a Bishop of the Church in TEC. For this we should at least be thankful! It demonstrates that the incoming President of the USA is aware of the situation vis-a-vis the position of the Church and it’s acceptance of the LBGT Community.
Goran, Max Blumenthal. Not Sidney. Max is Sidney’s son, though, so you have the bloodline right.
“Bishop Gene Robinson’s invitation to lead the Prayers at the Inaugural Concert is at least a sign of the Administration’s willingness to accept the authenticity of Gene’s position as a Bishop of the Church in TEC.” Excuse me, but who gives a damn about the Administration’s opinion as to the authenticity of Bishop Robinson (are “progressives” on a first name with *everybody* they approve of? hmph!) or any other Bishop of the Episcopal Church? This is the United States we’re talking about – the Administration doesn’t get a say in the matter. (The Internal Revenue Service does, but that’s beside… Read more »
Did the Bishop say this or is this satire? I do not trust the media.:
Bishop Robinson said he had been reading inaugural prayers through history and was horrified at how specifically and aggressively Christian they were.
I am very clear, he said, that this will not be a Christian prayer, and I won’t be quoting Scripture or anything like that. Bishop Robinson said he might address the prayer to “the God of our many understandings,” language that he said he learned from the 12-step program he attended for his alcohol addiction.
Sorry about mixing them up!
BillyD
“Excuse me, but who gives a damn about the Administration’s opinion as to the authenticity of Bishop Robinson”
I would have thought in a country where the evangelical right has a lot of political power, this is an important political message.
Josh:
And if he did say that, what’s the issue? He’ll be giving an invocation at an event sure to be attended by a wide variety of people of all religions (and possibly none at all). Why can’t he call upon God without making references that are specifically Christian?
“this will not be a Christian prayer”
Lord Jesus BLESS +Gene for saying that! 😀
[As both a Christian and a 12-Stepper myself, I sometimes wonder if an acceptance of “the **God-in-Christ** of our MANY understandings” might go some way towards PEACE in Anglican-Land. ;-/]
“Rev. Runnion-Bareford wrote, “Your decision, to invite Bishop Gene Robinson to provide public leadership at the Sunday celebration of your inauguration is offensive and disappointing to many of us in Christian leadership who seek to be supportive of your presidency. In contrast to your other choices for religious leadership during this historic occasion, Robinson is a schismatic figure who has intentionally caused deep hurt and division in the Christian church.” – Virtue-on-line blog – The above extract from the message sent to President-Elect by the leader of the so-called ‘Mainline (Churches) Renewal’ movement in the USA, posted by David Virtue,… Read more »
“Excuse me, but who gives a damn about the Administration’s opinion as to the authenticity of Bishop Robinson”
{clears throat, a little nervously}
Perhaps the occupant of Lambeth Palace?
I would argue (here’s the “There, I said it” part) that the ABC’s rudeness to +New Hampshire stems, in no small part—and purely politically—from the *blackness* of +Gene’s detractors (i.e., the African Primates).
Now, here is the *most important black man on the planet* giving +Gene an endorsement.
No, from an Anglican standpoint, it shouldn’t matter.
But to Rowan Cantuar, it might. (OCICBW)
“I would argue (here’s the “There, I said it” part) that the ABC’s rudeness to +New Hampshire stems, in no small part—and purely politically—from the *blackness* of +Gene’s detractors (i.e., the African Primates).” I disagree. There have been some statements, like those made by Spong at Lambeth ’98 that indicate this attitude is indeed held by some, but it always seemed to me to be fringe rather than central. I see racism, or perhaps anti-colonialism, in the actions of these African leaders. It’s pretty obvious in their not too subtly stated contention that homosexuality is some Western vice, introduced to… Read more »
I’m not sure you get my meaning, Ford. I’m saying, that I think that Rowan Cantuar is (*perhaps*) denying his own well-thought out convictions (see re “The Body’s Grace”, and the old letter published last summer) because he *may feel intimidated* in challenging the (equally strong, for WHATEVER reason!) convictions of the African primates. It’s not about why the African primates feel the way they do, but only in Rowan’s (*possible*!) post-colonial guilt in challenging it. Anyway, so here’s Barack Obama, a son of Africa: not only can he show +Gene Robinson simple courtesy (something the ABC failed at so… Read more »
To put it more simply: if Lambeth were occurring on the Summer of 2009, rather than 2008, I think it quite possible that one more (indisputably-canonical) Anglican bishop might have been invited. ;-/
[Knowing probably no one will read this post—I hope there’s another chance to post the following]
While Rowan Cantuar ordered +Gene Robinson be arrested on sight, Someone Else seems to enjoy having him around:
http://tiny.cc/WJRL7
(With +Gene and Someone Else, is Gene’s daughter, Ella. Gene’s partner Mark took the picture)
And especially for Baby Blue (Mary Ailes)!
http://tiny.cc/szUVN
(With +Gene, Mark and Ella, a Certain Irish Performer/Humanitarian that BabyBlue is fond of. Gene reports having a very friendly conversation about his Inaugural prayer, with the interested Performer/Humanitarian. See http://canterburytalesfromthefringe.blogspot.com/)
“To put it more simply: if Lambeth were occurring on the Summer of 2009, rather than 2008, I think it quite possible that one more (indisputably-canonical) Anglican bishop might have been invited. ;-/”
I would hope not! Whatever the rightness or wrongness of his position, it is highly inappropriate for any bishop in the Church to take his cues from any secular leader. We’ve had enough of that in the past 1700 years. It’s what gotten us in the mess we’re in.
Ford
But the decision not to invite him to Lambeth was made on purely (secular) political grounds and had nothing to do with theology.
“purely (secular) political grounds and had nothing to do with theology.” I think the GAFCON types are motivated far more by homophobia, anti-colonialist bigotry, and a fear of change that borders on paranoia than they are by concern for the Gospel. I think their actions and statements make that pretty clear. But their arguments against +Gene are theologically based, having to do with how we recognize sin, various understandings of Scriptural authority, and what we do about it, so their arguments, regardless of the motivation, are theological and need to be dealt with as such. +Rowan’s decision not to invite… Read more »