tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post1159437248536168173..comments2023-12-17T16:13:06.670-05:00Comments on In a Godward direction: One WordTobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-61712256504538043942009-05-09T17:55:00.000-05:002009-05-09T17:55:00.000-05:00See, ¨reaching out¨ works...thank you Fr. Tobias, ...See, ¨reaching out¨ works...thank you Fr. Tobias, you´ve put the pieces together for me...actually, there was only one missing...it wasn´t a piece it was a CHUNK!<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />Leonardo RicardoLeonardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16667415590825321701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-60133375616991341232009-05-09T15:49:00.000-05:002009-05-09T15:49:00.000-05:00Dear friend Leonardo,
You are putting a finger on ...Dear friend Leonardo,<br />You are putting a finger on one of the chief pulse indicators of the distress in our communion: the loss of trust. Part of it comes from different expectations. And as I've said before, I think it all goes back to Lambeth 1.10.<br /><br />I say that having just read the final report of the Windsor Continuation Group. What emerges there is the clear belief that the Instruments of Communion have the right -- even the responsibility -- to make binding decisions governing the lives of the various churches. We Americans never looked to Lambeth, or Canterbury, in this light. Yet this is what -- in their own minds -- they seem to think they have become. We trusted Lambeth to be a non-legislative body where matters could be discussed, but where differences and even divergences of opinion would be respected; and at the very least the canons of the churches would be obeyed. (Though lip-service to this is still being given, the WCG continues to ask TEC to ignore or even to violate its own laws concerning property and ordination and the authorization of liturgies.)<br /><br />On the other side, because in part of their shift in attitude (shown at Lambeth 1998 with its high-handed innovation of making doctrinal statements) they clearly feel that they cannot trust us. <br /><br />They ask us to defer to them so that they can trust us once more. But what about our trusting them? What can the Primates do to renew our trust in them? It seems to me that as long as they continue in the attitude of power, the idea that they are in control, they cannot be trusted. It is a wholesale violation of subsidiarity -- the cornerstone of what it means to be a communion of autonomous churches -- that is the problem.<br /><br />Until the desire to rule over, rather than to live with, is embraced at the level of the Primates, trust is broken. Gene Robinson's not being seated at Lambeth -- a giving in to the fears and distrust of those who were angry at his election -- that profound failure of respect in order to preserve a false peace, was an error of judgment on the part of the Archbishop. He will have to go very far to reclaim any level of trust.<br /><br />Will he be wise and humble enough to do so? Or will his desire for a more closely bound communion ironically divide it even more. He has much to do if he is to allow us to trust him.Tobias Stanislas Haller BSGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08047429477181560685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-90719632115141490362009-05-09T15:32:00.000-05:002009-05-09T15:32:00.000-05:00Earlier today I commented at another site about th...Earlier today I commented at another site about the news, networking and sharing relationships I have developed with NEW and interesting LGBT friends in Africa via blogs. <br /><br />I never had known Africans in Africa (although Archbishop Tutu is my all-time favorite clergyperson and I had a coworker at work from Ethopia years ago).<br /><br />I´ve known, loved and been friends with African Americans and African Puerto Rican Americans, Dominicans and Haitians...but, knowing and listening to Africans in Africa is turning out to be a different friendship experience and mind expanding association entirely...I I´m learning so much from these NEW Christian and Muslim friends.<br /><br />I wonder if the underlying key to the fact that we are ¨getting-along¨ so well, and so naturally, has to do with basic trust? You see we are all LGBT people, we KNOW oneanother and accept oneanother quite easily (after we feel secure). We are NOT of the same race, religion and/or color. <br /><br />When considering the size of our extended families and circles of heterosexual and LGBTI friends that TOTAL number of people makes us quite a HUGE international community.<br /><br />I´m reaching for something here.<br /><br />Although we, as LGBT citizens of different countries and different and different religions and different ethnic backgrounds WE CAN SHARE COMFORTABLY and I think we even amuse one another with our similarities! We have a common denominator of wishing the best for one another and we support one another in the face of some very nasty realities that are often directed against people like us.<br /><br />I think we are inclined to be true brothers and sisters (and that would include our heterosexual loved ones and friends) because we feel a basic instinct of TRUST! <br /><br />We are an enormous group of people worldwide and we TRUST one another (and mostly always have) and exchange everyday ideas (and survival suggestions/dilemmas too). <br /><br />We, LGBTI people, our friends and our families may be a very strong element of helpful interconnectedness that may help resolve social and religious problems...we may be a great HELP when finally appreciated for the authentic people that we ARE and intend keep ¨being.¨<br /><br />Relationships, ubuntu, will work better when we are ALL fully present, equal and participating with a clearer and more sincere understanding of Trust.<br /><br />Trust is essential and I don´t even trust the Archbishop of Canterbury.Leonardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16667415590825321701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786565.post-77088210214783380032009-05-08T03:01:00.000-05:002009-05-08T03:01:00.000-05:00I am reminded of my wise rector's comment:
"The ...I am reminded of my wise rector's comment: <br /><br />"The only thing a Christian can do all ALONE is to be damned!"John-Julian, OJNnoreply@blogger.com