Tacoma To Host SP Trifecta

"Trifecta. Get it? Made you laugh."


Alexander Ring has left a new comment on your post "Otten To Speak at Concordia, Mequon.UOJ Champions ...":

The free conference with Presidents Harrison, Schroeder and Moldstad will not be in Portland, but Tacoma, WA at Parkland Ev. Lutheran Church May 5 & 6 2011.

Civic Center: Bishop Arrested by Homeland Security.This 2006 Post Says a Lot About the San Fran Clergy

Civic Center: Bishop Arrested by Homeland Security

The long-standing cleric who actually runs Grace Cathedral, Dean Alan Jones (on the left, above, standing next to Bishop Andrus) "disagreed on tactics" with his new Bishop and offered the crowd of 200 a prayer on the front steps of the church but politely declined to be involved in the protest.



Bishop Andrus then offered a lovely speech about a bishop he had known who was one of the most adamant opponents of women being ordained in the church, but who eventually officiated personally over the ordination of his daughter. "Have you changed your mind, bishop?" he was asked, and in reply he said, "No, but I am acting from my heart."



Talking to Episcopalians on the route down the hill over the controversy, there were a variety of reactions to this rift, ranging from "it's good to be part of a church that allows for these kinds of disagreements" to "Dean Jones has always been a horse's ass."



The sight of an Episcopalian bishop with staff and full regalia marching through the Tenderloin was oddly surreal and wonderful.



The diocese had obtained a permit for use of the Federal Building plaza for the early afternoon...



...and the crowd was charming as it shivered slightly in the shaded expanse.



There was quite a bit of media there, including Steve Rubenstein of "The Chronicle" (on the right above, click herefor his truncated story) and Jan Adams of the indispensable "happening-here" photoblog (on the left above, click here for her brilliant account of the event).



There were also lots of law enforcement men standing around...



...led by a Homeland Security guy puffing away on a cigarette the whole time who looked almost comically evil, as if he'd been hired to play the bad guy in a Steven Seagal movie.



The government also had undercover photographers taking pictures of every individual in the crowd, and they were not even remotely subtle in their subterfuge.



Bishop Marc, as he likes to be called, gave a short, sweet sermon that involved another disagreement with a more conservative colleague who had somehow mixed up the Old Testament of Vengeance with the New Testament of Mercy.



This was followed by a Eucharist conducted with army surplus canteens, which was a brilliant touch.



Markley Morris, the Quaker organizer of the weekly vigil on Thursdays in front of the Federal Building, gave a short speech on his horror at the entire phony "War on Terror" in the United States before receiving the host.



He then went to one of the doorways of the Federal Building and laid down on the ground, wrapping himself in a sheet as if it were a shroud.



He was soon joined by Bishop Andrus himself, who adjusted the cross around his neck so it wasn't splayed across the sidewalk.



Bishop Andrus soon decided that he was more comfortable sitting rather than laying, and he was joined individually by people who decided they had the courage to be arrested.



As a young man standing besides me stated, "I would love to join them but I can't. I'm in the Coast Guard and they'd kick me out."



This was an extraordinary act of courage by the new Bishop, one that should be emulated by the leaders of American clergy of all faiths everywhere, because unfortunately the newly elected Democratic majority in Washington, D.C. is just as much the War Party as their Republican counterparts.



If that seems hyperbolic, read the recent interview with Dennis Kucinich (click here) about how the Democratic caucus wants to throw even more money at a military solution to the Iraq War.



It's amazing that the majority of the American population, even after five years of steady propaganda by the elites running the current United States Empire, don't support the current Iraq Occupation on any level.



A polling organization called World Public Opinion has just released some startling findings which should light a fire under the backsides of a few politicians (click here for their site):

"A new poll by WorldPublicOpinion.org finds that three out of four Americans believe that in order to stabilize Iraq the United States should enter into talks with Iran and Syria, and eight in ten support an international conference on Iraq. A majority also opposes keeping U.S. forces in Iraq indefinitely and instead supports committing to a timetable for their withdrawal within two years or less."

Thank you, Bishop Andrus, for your leadership and welcome to San Francisco.

Labels: peaceniks, politics

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In full regalia, Anglican bishops go to Union Station seeking parishioners - Posted Toronto

In full regalia, Anglican bishops go to Union Station seeking parishioners - Posted Toronto

 

By Matthew Coutts, National Post

A sight more commonly saved for Sunday, or not at all, greeted commuters leaving Union Station this morning: Anglican bishops in their ecclesiastical vestments welcoming them with a smile.

Wearing the white pointed hats, or mitres, and flowing gowns reserved for the leaders in the Anglican community, several area bishops gathered to invite passerby back to church.

Four bishops, including the Bishop of Toronto Colin Johnson, and several volunteers, canvassed Union Station as part of an international Christian initiative that designated September 27 as “Back to Church Sunday.”

“People have been falling out of the habit of going to their churches or places of worship,” said Bishop Philip Poole, area bishop for York-Credit Valley as he handed out simple cards inviting the recipient to be a guest at their local church.

“This isn’t about Anglican proselytization, this is about promoting a return to your place of worship.”

Bishop Poole said while most people will rush past to get to work, many people stop for a brief chat. Some of the most receptive were people from other religions, he said, who were open to discussing their connection to the their faith.

Dressed in a flowing baby blue gown, known as copes, Bishop Poole caught the eyes of a number of pedestrians as Bishop Linda Nicholls chatted with a young man while wearing a similar white and red outfit nearby.

Churches across the country have suffered from declining attendance in recent years. Judging from the reaction of many early-morning commuters, it will take more than one friendly handshake to fill church pews again.

The scowls and bleary eyes often associated with the morning rush hour were prevalent in the commuter crowd Thursday morning. One woman, having spotted the bishops upon injecting herself into the sunlight from Union Station, muttered a bewildered, “What the Hell?”

“One person asked, ‘are you real popes?’” said Bishop Nichols, adding that while it was not to right denomination, it was at least a start.

In one half-hour period, about a dozen people stopped to greet the two bishops stationed at the main entrance, with more accepting the invitations as they passed.

Paul Mitchell, an active Anglican, recognized Bishop Poole as he passed on his way to work.

“They need to do this more often,” he said, suggesting other denominations are much more active in pamphleteering. “It’s an outreach program, I think it will really help.”

Mr. Mitchell said he frequently volunteers at his local church, in downtown Toronto, and often bribes his friends with a Sunday brunch if they attend with him.

“When you get up to go to work in the morning, you feel a little down. But when I get up on Sunday to go to church, I’m excited. It’s a great feeling.”

The Anglican bishops were in mixed company outside Union Station, as half a dozen young women in kilted dresses handed out birthday cards for Alexander Keith’s.

At least one passerby briefly thought the two groups were together before having the confusion sorted out. 

However, the Anglican Church and Alexander Keith’s do share one thing: those who like it, like it a lot.

Colin Johnson, Anglican Bishop of Toronto, hands out '‘back to church'’ invitations outside Union Station this morning. Photo by Aaron Lynett, National Post

Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/09/24/sleepy-commuters-meet-anglican-bishops-bishops-meet-commuters.aspx#ixzz1Ah4mNjaB

Otten To Speak at Concordia, Mequon.UOJ Champions To Meet at Free Conference

Pastor and Mrs. Herman Otten.
Grace is from Mankato, Minnesota.

High Profile Figure in the Lutheran Church to Speak and Answer Questions During Upcoming Visit

Thursday, January 6, 2011
On February 3, 2011 Concordia University Wisconsin will host Rev. Herman Otten who will speak and answer questions on contemporary issues facing the Lutheran Church. The event will take place on Concordia’s campus at its new Center for Environmental Stewardship beginning at 7 p.m.

Rev. Otten is a Lutheran pastor and editor-publisher of the weekly Christian News of New Haven, Missouri. He is considered, by some, to be one of the most powerful and controversial figures within The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) in the last 50 years. His commentary has been often labeled as provocative.
“Concordia is a place where dialog, discussion, and debate are encouraged,” said President of Concordia University Wisconsin, Rev. Dr. Patrick T. Ferry. “We look forward to an opportunity to hear from Rev. Otten and to engage him on topics of mutual interest and concern.”

A panel, made up of CUW faculty, staff, and board members, will have the opportunity, as well as audience members, to ask Rev. Otten questions. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information on this event, contact Dr. James Burkee, associate professor of History and Economics at 262-243-4463 or James.Burkee@cuw.edu.

Founded in 1881, Concordia University Wisconsin's main campus is located on approximately 200 acres of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline at 12800 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon. The university and its 17 Concordia centers and classroom locations are home to 7,178 undergraduate and graduate, traditional, as well as non-traditional students from 44 states and 26 foreign countries. The university offers 60 undergraduate majors, 14 master's degree programs, doctoral degrees in Pharmacy, Physical Therapy and Nursing Practice. There are also a variety of adult learning opportunities.

The university is affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and is a member of the Concordia University System, a nationwide network of colleges and universities. For more information on Concordia University Wisconsin, contact the university at 262-243-4300 or visit their web site at www.cuw.edu.

***

GJ - The too-tight underwear crowd looks for hidden meaning in my format changes. I highlighted Otten's name so people would notice it when speed-reading. The original headline suggests that the college crowd does not know the history of the Missouri split. That is a fair assumption.

Otten promoted Concordia, Mequon in a recent issue of Christian News. Mark and Avoid Jeske is one of the confessional Lutherans who has spoken at that school.

I noticed that Mrs. Ichabod, LI, and I were pictured in the new issue of CN. Otten is one of many conservative Lutherans who put me in the deep freeze, without warning or explanation. I know the Trinity, Bridgeton congregation withheld funds because Otten still published my articles. The Trinity members and pastors were ga-ga over UOJ.

However, CN still sells Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant. Every so often I appear again. I seem to be the only Lutheran writer who does not practice Pietistic shunning.

I have had several experiences where I said hello to people who know me very well. They pretended not to know me and to see right through me. I made a point of shaking their hands and forcing the issue. They survived, but I wonder if they needed a ritual bath afterward, so the Sadducees and Pharisees would know they were clean again.

The UOJ Stormtroopers were furious that I began exposing their Pietistic Enthusiasm. Like the Intrepids, they refused to engage the issues.

Also -

"Presidents Harrison, Schroeder, and Molstad have all committed to attend. This will be historic as it will be the first time all three of the Presidents of these synods will be attending a public church meeting together (Snowbird was private, I think, wasn’t it?) since the break-up of the old synodical conference.

Supposed to be in Portland, OR, the first week in May, 2011. I don’t know the precise location – whether a church or more “neutral” site. Maybe various cities even competed for the honor!"

Jackson Library Liquidation Sale - Starting Now

"No, we do not have any Church Growth books.
Calvin's Institutes were sold two years ago."

I am compiling the list on Excel at the moment, having a few Frodo moments - "I cannot do this thing."

The books include:

• Lutheran doctrinal and historical works.
• Biblical scholarship, lexica.
• English, Medieval, and world history.
• English and world literature.
• Children's literature in special editions.

More later today.