FOUR June 17, 2006 Issue Five Here, Kitty, Kitty! By Susan Fawcett Center Aisle is an opinion journal offered by the Diocese of Virginia as a gift to General Convention. The nominees for presiding bishop may not be proud owner of three dogs. Griffin, undoubtedly make Quiera a We offer analysis and opinions from a variety of granting interviews this week. But that didn’t stop a yellow Lab, is 12 years old, and worthy companion for a bishop. sources that reflect the transformational center of Center Aisle. We began to think creatively about stays youthful with the help of Though she has had many our church. how to get to know them better. The answer was Annie, a 3-year-old chocolate household pets over the years, as clear as Fido’s gaze at dinnertime: Ask them Lab. Sauls’ family also has Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori about their favorite animals. Read on. adopted his late mother’s of Nevada made a point of Bishop Henry Parsley of Alabama considers beloved rat terrier, Dottie. telling Center Aisle about her experience ‘The middle is not the midpoint on a line between two extremes. In the life of faith, the great bulk of people are at the center, and that center is faith in the Risen Christ.’ himself a dog person, especially after owning Despite her small stature, the bishop reports with goat herding. “We kept goats for The Pastoral Address to the 210th Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia, 2005, the Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee two springer spaniels – St. George I and St. that Dottie keeps the two larger dogs in line. better than 20 years in Oregon,” she said. Goats George II. After sharing his home with Flannery, Additionally, Dottie’s name evidently derives evidently helped Jefferts-Schori cut down on Perspective Editorial a 3-year-old Maine coon cat, however, Parsley from her spotted coat, and not from her lawn mowing. Though a few particular goats has seen the virtue of owning (or being owned intellectual capacity. were given Christian names, the bishop noted One Man’s Inclusion, Another Man’s Exclusion Can We Talk? by) cats. “This cat thinks she’s a dog,” Parsley Bishop Neil Alexander of Atlanta is also that they were most often called “Stew,” “Roast,” By The Rev. John Ohmer says. “She gets us up every day at 4:30 a.m., a Labrador owner: He is blessed to live with and “Chop.” Don’t worry about getting lost in those mind- which is good for our prayer life.” Chelsea, an 8-year-old black Lab. Alexander Bishop Edwin Gulick of Kentucky also has I sat down this week with the bishops of New momentum is too great. boggling debates over Church and Communion Bishop Charles Jenkins of Louisiana shares reports that Chelsea is half-American and experience with livestock: In 1963 his Black Hampshire and Pittsburgh. The separate For example, guess which bishop said structure. There’s good news about Windsor: his home with Lucy, a mixed-breed dog known to half-Kenyan, a fact that may point to a deep Angus steer earned championship status. interviews challenged three widely held this to me: “In the very public role I’m playing, it It’s really about relationships, conversations be partial to the diocesan camps. Jenkins also commitment to international awareness on the Since his cattle days, however, he has enjoyed assumptions in our church. would be easy to fall into my own agenda rather and process – in other words, about how we has a keen sense of pastoral care for pets and part of the bishop, especially if he had any hand domestic animals as well. Notable among them Assumption Number One: Bishops Robinson than God’s agenda, and both those who support Anglicans talk to one another. their owners. Recently, he performed the burial in helping Chelsea’s parents make the long trek was Ashley, a cat of 19 years whose unique and Duncan represent the extremes of the gay me and those who oppose me try to put me in That’s the essence of much of what the office for Baines, a yellow Labrador retriever and necessary for their courtship. charm has thus far proved to be irreplaceable for rights/homosexuality issue, with strident gay that position.” Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, has longtime companion of Bishop Rayford High Jr. Bishop Francisco Duque-Gomez received the Gulick family. activism on one side and stubborn conservative And which one said: “I ask the Lord Jesus said in conversations following his testimony to of Texas. “I didn’t know the dog was Episcopalian his dog, Quiera, five years ago as a gift. Just Will any of this information about the entrenchment on the other. that he would keep me faithful and loving in all I Committee 26 this week. until I saw how much he paid for the funeral,” a puppy then, Quiera has grown to be a large nominees and their pets influence your vote? Both bishops were gracious in responding to do, no matter the cost”? How does the archbishop rate our says Jenkins. “Baines was a very high-church – very large – Belgian shepherd. Guardians Perhaps that depends on whether you think the my interview requests. Each of them sat with me Don’t know? I’ll tell you, but first: consultation with the Communion on Gene retriever. That’s unusual for Texas dogs.” of the flock, Belgian shepherds are known for new presiding bishop should be most adept at for nearly a half-hour and thoughtfully answered Assumption Number Two: It is important to Robinson? Weak. He’s right. We regret that and Bishop Stacy Sauls of Lexington is the their watchfulness and diligence – qualities that training dogs or herding cats. • all my questions. Both of them not only traded cell get beyond this issue in order to focus on mission. need to do better. And we will, thanks to the phone numbers with me, but worked the interview I started out my interviews by asking the Communion listening process that’s about to get into their hectic meeting and travel schedules. exact same question: “What do you think it under way. Local conversations throughout the Bienvenido! That’s the first thing to say because one of would take to get through this time of intense 38 Provinces will be monitored and shared. Nisterio Hispanic La Iglesia Episcopal sponsored a band to welcome those attending General Worship is central to our week together the greatest sins in this whole sexuality debate is disagreement to a point where we can focus But don’t expect a summing up next week Convention on Tuesday morning. Led by Sandra Montes, a veteran performer at EYE and other at General Convention. Center Aisle will how dehumanized and caricatured these two men on mission?” – or next year. Talk continued on TWO Episcopal events, the five-person band offered rumba and Caribbean-flavored music to those share snippets of sermons, hymns and have become. When you ask Bishop Robinson that passing by the front of the Hyatt Regency Columbus. According to reports they plan to welcome prayers from those services. We’ve fallen into a habit of projecting question, he challenges the underlying Episcopal Conventioneers each morning throughout Convention. We don’t know where, but odds everything we don’t like about conservatives onto assumption. The issues surround his consecration Editorial are you’ll hear them. “I’ve been noticing all our baggage– Bishop Duncan and everything we don’t like about are about mission, he says, because “this is about backpacks, totes, roller carts, full of liberals onto Bishop Robinson. But the reality of God’s love for all his children and that is a part of A Date with the our binders, papers…symbols of our the two men – at least as I experienced them in the message we are called to spread.” hopes, spilling out from our hearts. We’re my interviews – is far more nuanced When you ask Bishop Duncan that question, Methodists carrying the overflow of our hopes around and complicated. he also challenges the assumption and says on our backs while we’re here, and when In talking to both men, you get the feeling that the consecration issues are about mission, Everywhere you turn at General Convention, you we’re done, they’ll flow with us back out that they feel trapped and typecast in roles they because they present the Episcopal Church with bump into another metaphor for marriage. There into the world to bring our dreams to would just as soon break out – but cannot. The a clear Perspective continued on THREE are, of course, the “broken vows” between the fruition.” Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. JENNIFER BASKERVILLE-BURROWS, For additional and expanded analysis and “ Where can I find the Center Aisle?” But now, finally, there’s a romantic metaphor that CHAPLAIN TO THE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES opinions, visit us at www.centeraisle.net. Or By about 6:45 each morning, you can find it on really hits the mark. the General Convention info desk in the lobby of NOONDAY PRAYERS, JUNE 15, 2006 subscribe to our daily e-mail push at http://www. The proposed interim agreement on centeraisle.net/listserv.html. We’ll send out a your hotel. You also can find it in the Convention notice each night when the next day’s content is Center on the desk near the volunteer kiosk Eucharistic sharing with the United Methodist ready for viewing. by the main escalators. And of course, we’re Church would not really be a marriage, argued distributing by hand each morning around town Paul Carmona one bishop this week. It’s more like a first date. and outside the Convention Center. Methodists continued on THREE TWO THREE

Letter to the Editor Church Hears Young Adults We’re interested in our opinions—and yours! down the security barrier without explicitly content and at peace in my parish with those who By The Rev. Holly Antolini E-mail your comments, analyses and reactions asking the Palestinians to stop the terror attacks wouldn’t support such an action. I never thought to [email protected] or bring them to that prompted its construction. of creating or joining an alternate authority if They hailed from Los Angeles to Maine. One the majority of the testimony focused on the congregations and the tendency to compete our offices in Room 30 on the third floor of the This is exactly what the initial draft of A012 Bishop Robinson or someone else like him hadn’t teaches physics; others are heading to seminary. Millennium Development Goals. “When the world anxiously for members and resources. “We’ve got Columbus Renaissance Hotel. does and yet it escaped the notice of Bishop Riah. ever been consecrated. I was joyful in fellowship But the racially diverse group was resoundingly looks at us, they’re going to see our passionate to figure out a way for small congregations to get Candor is welcome. So is brevity. Shoot for 80 Hopefully the General Convention will wake of those with whom I disagreed on this issue and one in saying that General Convention is concern for justice and the poor and living Jesus’ outside the walls of their buildings – and outside words or less. up before it is too late and correct this error. with those in agreement. addressing their concerns – pointing them toward mission in the world. This is the witness of the the attitudinal walls those buildings erect in the st DEXTER VAN ZILE Sadly, after Bishop Robinson’s consecration, a vision for the Episcopal Church, despite barriers church in the 21 century.” minds of the worshippers – and find new ways to Oppose Israel/Palestine Resolutions CHRISTIAN MEDIA ANALYST, CAMERA people on both sides of the aisle left due to the to full inclusion. Barriers at the parish level were share mission!” said Sanborn. “It’s the work for I sincerely hope that all of Virginia’s deputies strident actions of those in opposition. I relish Late one evening this week, Center Aisle acknowledged. Some spoke of congregations that justice that needs our energy!” to the General Convention will oppose pending Windsor: No Moratorium theological debates and continue to conduct gathered in a circle with 17 young adults attending offer needed sacramental life, but fall short on the Many in the group nodded in agreement resolutions relating to Israel and Palestine A moratorium will not give us extra time. It will be them via e-mail with a former parishioner who left Convention. Here’s some of what we heard: kind of koinonia young adults seek. Kate Ketchum, when Molly Harrington of Atlanta attested to unless they are significantly modified to bring three years until the next General Convention, because he said he didn’t want people like me to Becky Gettel, who heads Children’s and active in the college chaplaincy and the Episcopal the ongoing pain and challenge of claiming her more balance. no matter what. There is a false dichotomy being have to leave their beloved parish. Youth Ministries at St. John’s Episcopal Church Peace Fellowship at Washington University in identity as an Asian woman in a congregation It is not enough, in the words of A011, to bruited about: either we continue to do justice to I wonder if Mr. Sulik strongly supports in the Diocese of Rhode Island, broke the ice. “I St. Louis, described one way to meet that need. with no other Asians. “And even in the anti-racism call for “the end of all violence and its crippling God’s gay and lesbian children or we do mission adherence to the sections of the Windsor Report was an observer in Denver at the 73rd General “We’ve been connecting online and across training I attended!” she cried, “When I spoke up impact on Israeli and Palestinian societies,” and and ministry. that ask bishops to respect demarcation lines as Convention. This time, in spite of all the worry congregational and denominational boundaries about being the minority minority, no-one seemed “the eradication of the sin of anti-Semitism,” while Right now, and since the Episcopal Church much as he seems to support the sections with about the Anglican Communion, it feels like as young adults – if by ‘young adult’ you mean to hear me! I’ve got to find a way to claim my demanding the dismantlement of the wall Israel is first affirmed the worth of gay and lesbian people which he otherwise advocates strong agreement? there’s a spirit of calm at the center. It feels good!” people younger than 45 and hungry for a space to identity, so that you can claim yours!” building to separate itself from the West Bank and over 30 year ago in General Convention, we If Mr. Sulik was my fellow parishioner, I “It’s early yet, but I’m incredibly encouraged,” ask theological and spiritual questions. We meet Despite the challenges, the group was eager the dismantlement of all Israeli settlements. have been doing mission and ministry, both would relish time with him to discuss and debate, said the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, Minister of outside church,” she said. for more discussion about the positive message To be really balanced, the resolutions as the general church and here at home. Our and to spend time discerning our Lord’s Word Radical Welcome at St. Paul’s Cathedral in The Rev. Calvin Sanborn from Hallowell, and mission from this Convention. • would also demand, at the least: an end to diocese has been planting churches, giving together in a place where neither one of us feels Boston. She observed that at the Program, Maine, and the Rev. Adam Trambley from Warren, Palestinian terrorism, which is the root cause of Mustard Seed grants, sending newly confirmed compelled to leave. Budget and Finance hearing the day before, Pa., shared concerns about their small, rural violence in the region; Palestinian recognition of young people on short-term missions, sending BILL MEHR Israel, rather than simply endorsing the “rightful Lauren Stanley to Sudan, working with the FREDERICKSBURG, VA. existence of the State of Israel”; and an end to Diocese of Renk. That’s only the short list. I fail Methodists continued Perspective continued How do you reconcile two points of view Palestinian educational materials that promote to see how working honestly and progressively And goodness knows, we trust each other to choice between: (a) being a church “which is when one man’s inclusiveness is another man’s such libelous forgeries as the Protocols of with issues around human sexuality precludes Talk continued behave ourselves by maintaining appropriate progressive in relationship to a culture in which exclusion – when the movement of non-celibate the Elders of Zion, and their replacement with mission and ministry. On one topic before the Communion, a proposed boundaries. there is love without truth,” or (b) coming back gays into all levels of ministry is seen, by definition, textbooks that speak to the Holocaust of the Oh, I forget, there are those who ceased Anglican Covenant, the secretary general of the Resolution A055 proposes that we stay to its senses and “re-entering the boundaries of as either a move toward, or away from, its Jews and the legitimacy of Israel. supporting the work of the church financially Anglican Consultative Council has predicted that in the conversation with the Methodists by catholic/evangelical faith.” gospel center? The Episcopal Church brings no credit upon over these issues. But that’s not the gay and discussions could go on for six to eight years. spending more time together in worship and In other words, to both bishops, this issue is “You do not hear gays and lesbians say, ‘get itself by promoting one-sided, simplistic solutions lesbian members of the church, is it? Too long? Not when the conversation is as prayer. Neither vows nor concessions (liturgical not a distraction from our mission, it is part and out of my church,’” Bishop Robinson told me. to what is a complicated situation in which both CYNTHIA GILLIATT rich as we expect it to be. • or otherwise) would be involved. parcel of our mission. To misunderstand that is to “I want Peter Akinola in my church; the problem is, sides must be expected to make concessions in HARRISONBURG Let’s make room for the Holy Spirit to move sell both sides short. Peter Akinola does not want me in his church.” the interests of a lasting peace. OffCenter between Episcopalians and Methodists by Assumption Number Three: Reconciliation is “Our manner of speech says, ‘include CLEVE CORLETT Windsor: Relish Discussion continuing the conversation. We’ll find out later if possible if we just keep at it. everyone,’” Bishop Duncan told me, “but our GRAce Church, Alexandria This is in loving response to William Sulik of any wedding bells are in our future. • There’s an assumption that seems to manner of action is to force you to do it the Springfield, who feels those on one side of the underlie most of the preaching and legislative majority way. In 1997, it became mandatory in all CAMERA Responds current controversy want to “drive out” those who Committee Hearings: June 17 process out here: that reconciliation is possible if dioceses to include women clergy. That change One question that Center Aisle left unasked in its disagree with them. Structure: 7:30 a.m., Franklin AB, deliberations, we just keep trying. had been made just 30 years before. What kind interview with Bishop Riah is if it is appropriate Although I supported the consecration A107,A135,A154,D059,D060 I’m not sure I’m ready to give up on that of ‘inclusive’ church is that? It is inclusive of those for the Episcopal Church to ask Israel to take of Bishop Robinson, prior to that action I was Nat./Int.: 7 a.m., Delaware A, deliberations, assumption myself: that if we just keep talking … who hold the new view.” A130,B012,B015,B022,D024; 8 a.m., Delaware A, OH, if we all just keep coming to the altar together … It is Gene Robinson who prays not to fall into A130,B012,B015,B022,D024, Reg. 30 min. prior if we all just focus on the bigger picture or focus his own agenda rather than God’s agenda, and Social & Urban: 7:30 a.m., Delaware BC, OH, D046, D047. Reg. 15 min. prior on what we have in common … then things it is Bishop Duncan who prays that he be kept P,B & F: 7:30 a.m., Conv. Ctr., Exec. Sess., D 233 eventually will work out. faithful and loving in all he does. Bishop Lee Jones Ohmer Stanley Antolini Fawcett Kerr Getlein Special Committee: 7:30 a.m., Hayes, OH, A168,A1 But what begins to emerge as you listen, And so perhaps the last assumption that Center Aisle: Published by The Diocese of Virginia; The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, Bishop 69,B031,D017,D029,D032,D044,D050,D051,D052,D0 really listen, to Bishops Duncan and Robinson is needs to fall is that God can’t encourage both their Editor: Ed Jones; Lead Writers: The Rev. John Ohmer, The Rev. Lauren R. Stanley; Staff Writers: The Rev. Holly Antolini, 54,D064,D066,D072,D081. Reg. 30 min. prior that they are not using different language to talk efforts, and answer both their prayers, at the Susan Daughtry Fawcett Contributor: Mike Kerr; Coordinator: Patrick Getlein; Print Production: John Dixon; For the List of today’s hearings/current status of about the same church. They are talking about same time. • Web Production: Leo Campos, The Rev. Michael Pipkin Distribution: The Rev. Percy Grant, Ben Bradshaw, Thomas Eaves, legislation: www.GC2006.org under “Legislation.” Abraham Thomas different churches. www.centeraisle.net