Various Voices on the Primates' Meeting

Links to most of the press coverage can be found at Thinking Anglicans.

John offers some thoughtful suggestions to the Presiding Bishop regarding how to present our perspective to the Communion.

Mumcat points us to this interesting viewpoint from the Bishop of Cork;

Request from Primates' Meeting is not an enforceable decision

Susan Russell highlights a rather ironic news item;

Britain to Allow Legal Civil Unions for Same-Sex Couples

This comment was made; "About two years ago I watched on C-SPAN as HRM Elizabeth II opened her Parliament. She rattled off a list of "to do" projects ... which included: "I ask my Parliament to extend to my gay subjects the right of civil union," or something like that." Does anyone else recall this? I'd love to have the direct quotation. Google couldn't find it.

Mark Harris reflects on the implications of the "victory celebration" following the Primates meeting, hosted by Akinola and paid for by the Americans;

Dinner at the Doomsday Cafe
Dinner at the Doomsday Cafe, Part 2

In the comments of Part 2, Christina Brennan offer this little ditty;

Ode to the Doomsday Cafe

The roast is cold
The bread is old
The Bishops seem a bit groggy
As they cheer with delight
At ECUSA's poor plight
Their grand Christian Witness seems foggy.

But let's not complain
Nor give back the same
Let's remember the other Great Table
Where the least were made best
And the best were the least
And know that with love we are able

To warm up the roast
And the bread we can toast
And invite whomever we please
To our banquet with friends
Where we gather to send
The hope of God's love and God's peace.

Moving on in that vein, The Topmost Apple offers some thoughts that I found extremely helpful in sorting out the complex emotions that are bombarding me at the moment;

...So all manner of thing shall be well - in Communion or out, ostracized or not. Today I am fasting till nighfall, as part of my observance of Lent. I said prayers this morning, and I will say them tonight; tomorrow I'll go to Lauds to sing Psalms, and then to Eucharist. And as I saw somebody do elsewhere today, even though it is Lent, I sing my song: Alleluia, alleluia.

Tomorrow, when I gather with the members of the parish, there is another perspective that needs to be honored; a perspective presented well at Shield the Joyous;

...While the discussion is going on, and the guys in purple try to decide what to do with the "problem children," the conflict and controversy isn't going to mean much for the lay-folks in the pews. Being "church" will go on as normal in worship, prayer, and service. However, once the discussions are over and the decision is finalized, whatever it is will sweep over the Communion like a sonic boom, knocking us off our feet...

What have you found in your wanderings?

Gracious God, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.

J.