Churchly Quality Control XII 1/2: Liberal Church Leaders revisited
I saw this excellent quote this morning that is all too relevant to my December 30th post. (Thanks to VirtueOnline.) And I just can’t let it pass by.
We never doubted that the unorthodox opinions were honestly held: what we complain of is your continuing your ministry after you have come to hold them. We always knew that a man who makes his living as a paid agent of the Conservative party may honestly change his views and honestly become a Communist. What we deny is that he can honestly continue to be a Conservative agent and to receive money from one party while he supports the policy of another."
C.S. Lewis on Apologetics, 1945
That very well expresses what has been my gut thinking for a long time. I don’t begrudge people having unorthodox opinions (as much as I may let myself be provoked by the opinions). I’d lose a lot of friends and alienate myself from my family if I did. What I do find unacceptable are those who hold unorthodox views – and really unchristian views if we’re to be blunt – holding church offices.
I could say (rant) more about how utterly absurd and, yes, evil that is. It has certainly provoked me almost as long as I’ve been a Christian. But I’d rather you have Lewis’s wonderfully succinct statement in your mind than Mark having a conniption.
Friday, January 07, 2005
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Blame the Fundamentalists!
All civilized people know that everything that is wrong with the world can be blamed on the Fundamentalists.
Your guy didn’t get elected? Blame the Fundamentalists!
People actually wish you Merry Christmas? Blame the Fundamentalists!
There is hate in the world? Blame the Fundamentalists!
Some church people have the temerity to insist on orthodoxy? Blame the Fundamentalists!
Your multimillion blockbuster epic movie flops? Blame the Fundamentalists!
All civilized people know that everything that is wrong with the world can be blamed on the Fundamentalists.
Your guy didn’t get elected? Blame the Fundamentalists!
People actually wish you Merry Christmas? Blame the Fundamentalists!
There is hate in the world? Blame the Fundamentalists!
Some church people have the temerity to insist on orthodoxy? Blame the Fundamentalists!
Your multimillion blockbuster epic movie flops? Blame the Fundamentalists!
Review: Carols From King’s DVD
Yes, I know the Christmas season is ending, even for us Anglicans. But I just got this DVD. And there’s been a request for guidance on Anglican music. So on to the DVD, Carols From King’s.
What can one say? -- this is the Choir of King’s College Cambridge performing their renowned Christmas offering, Nine Lessons and Carols.
But avid listeners to the Christmas Eve radio broadcast of Nine Lessons and Carols may be disappointed on a few counts. Much of the 2000 service on the DVD comes across more like a performance made for BBC television (which I think it is) than as a service. As such, it at times lacks the emotion of the live radio broadcast.
Poems and such are often read, replacing some of the traditional scripture readings. I find that a travesty. And, unlike the radio broadcast, we aren’t treated to a boy chorister reading the first scripture lesson. Not having a very British, very earnest boyish reading of the first scripture lesson takes away an important part of the Nine Lessons experience. You might as well have Kid Rock sing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City.
The camera work is often mechanical focusing on the same choristers over and over again, while neglecting others.
And it ends badly with the ending organ voluntary truncated.
The music is still wonderful, of course, with excellent sound, rising above the aforementioned shortcomings. Those with good surround sound especially rave about the sound quality. My speakers and surround sound are both a bit dated, but I was still impressed myself.
And, a nice touch, the chapel slowly darkens during the performance as it does on Christmas Eve.
A special historic treat on the DVD is the first ever television recording of the Nine Lessons service from 1954. Of course, the sound and picture are not up to 21st Century standards. But this recording retains much of the gravity, emotion, and realness of the service that today’s television productions can squeeze out. The historic nature of this recording alone makes this DVD worthwhile.
The conversation between the last three directors of the King’s College Choir is also of interest to any fan of the choir.
Although the 2000 production should stick more closely to the wonderful traditional Christmas Eve service, this is still an excellent DVD. I played it for hours and hours as soon as I got it.
Yes, I know the Christmas season is ending, even for us Anglicans. But I just got this DVD. And there’s been a request for guidance on Anglican music. So on to the DVD, Carols From King’s.
What can one say? -- this is the Choir of King’s College Cambridge performing their renowned Christmas offering, Nine Lessons and Carols.
But avid listeners to the Christmas Eve radio broadcast of Nine Lessons and Carols may be disappointed on a few counts. Much of the 2000 service on the DVD comes across more like a performance made for BBC television (which I think it is) than as a service. As such, it at times lacks the emotion of the live radio broadcast.
Poems and such are often read, replacing some of the traditional scripture readings. I find that a travesty. And, unlike the radio broadcast, we aren’t treated to a boy chorister reading the first scripture lesson. Not having a very British, very earnest boyish reading of the first scripture lesson takes away an important part of the Nine Lessons experience. You might as well have Kid Rock sing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City.
The camera work is often mechanical focusing on the same choristers over and over again, while neglecting others.
And it ends badly with the ending organ voluntary truncated.
The music is still wonderful, of course, with excellent sound, rising above the aforementioned shortcomings. Those with good surround sound especially rave about the sound quality. My speakers and surround sound are both a bit dated, but I was still impressed myself.
And, a nice touch, the chapel slowly darkens during the performance as it does on Christmas Eve.
A special historic treat on the DVD is the first ever television recording of the Nine Lessons service from 1954. Of course, the sound and picture are not up to 21st Century standards. But this recording retains much of the gravity, emotion, and realness of the service that today’s television productions can squeeze out. The historic nature of this recording alone makes this DVD worthwhile.
The conversation between the last three directors of the King’s College Choir is also of interest to any fan of the choir.
Although the 2000 production should stick more closely to the wonderful traditional Christmas Eve service, this is still an excellent DVD. I played it for hours and hours as soon as I got it.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Bishop Howe writes his fellow bishops (in vain).
The Bishop of Central Florida John W. Howe, in a letter to his fellow bishops, has spelled out quite well the bare minimum the ECUSA House of Bishops must do in responding to the Windsor Report.
But they will instead do what he warns against. They will try to “buy time” with calls for “study” and “dialogue” no doubt.
That’s the M. O. of liberal mainline leaders – when they’re not crushing the orthodox, of course. Yes, when opportunity arises, crush the orthodox with all undue haste (e.g. General Convention 2003 and its aftermath), then stall any attempts to undo the damage with calls for “study” and “dialogue.”
It’s my prayer the Primates won’t play that game.
The Bishop of Central Florida John W. Howe, in a letter to his fellow bishops, has spelled out quite well the bare minimum the ECUSA House of Bishops must do in responding to the Windsor Report.
But they will instead do what he warns against. They will try to “buy time” with calls for “study” and “dialogue” no doubt.
That’s the M. O. of liberal mainline leaders – when they’re not crushing the orthodox, of course. Yes, when opportunity arises, crush the orthodox with all undue haste (e.g. General Convention 2003 and its aftermath), then stall any attempts to undo the damage with calls for “study” and “dialogue.”
It’s my prayer the Primates won’t play that game.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Boomer church and Gen-X church and “small groups”
I came across an interesting article on how young evangelicals are doing church differently than Baby Boom evangelicals. Being the misfit that I am, I was born somewhat in between the two generations although most pop demography puts me at the tail end of the baby boom. And my ideas are somewhat between the two generations at times. For example, I reject, for the most part, the post-modernism common among young evangelicals. (Sorry, no time to address that at this time.)
On the other hand, I’m not a big fan of how the Boomers do church. Now I didn’t realize it might be a generational thing until recently. But, say, the program-orientation and hyper-professional staff of the big boomer mega-churches is a turn off for me.
Boomer church obsession with small groups is another turn off. A couple paragraphs from the article really hit home:
Boomers and Xers may use the same words differently. Baby boomers who hear the word community often think in terms of programs, such as small-group ministries, which may mean a group of 10 or so random people who don't know each other -- meeting once a week, maybe, to sojourn through life together in two hours or less.
But for young evangelicals the word community reflects the need for deeper relationships. Many say that churches can't put random people together and expect honesty and transparency. Small groups are organic, emerging from relationships among people who spend time together -- almost like "family." "We are filling in a deficiency," Mr. Burmeister says. "The church has an opportunity to become a family to the family-less."
My previous two churches put a lot of emphasis on being in small groups. At least one staffer even found fault with me for not being in a small group at all times, though I frequently got into small groups during my time at both churches.
(Thankfully, most Denton Bible staff I was involved with were very flexible and let me do other things when there wasn’t a small group that worked for me.)
But I eventually saw that small group ministries are not a good fit for me. They took an evening a week from me, usually when I didn’t have many evenings to give up. Usually the leader let meetings go late, and I’m not a night person. Usually there was someone who dominated the group and pulled it in directions irrelevant to the stated purpose of the group, and usually the leader was too weak to gently stop that domination. And frankly when I’m tired at night, I don’t have the patience for that. By the time a small group was over, I was so worn out and/or fed up, I didn’t stay to socialize. Often, I didn’t feel that connected to most of the people there anyway. (And I freely admit I can be a square peg.) Not much “community” there.
Now not all small groups were so bad. A few were great and helped me grow and make good friends. And they are a good model for many. But overall, it’s just not a good model for me. And I’m certainly not alone in that. Given that their composition is somewhat “random” – whoever happened to sign up – it’s only by God grace if a small group does work well.
My current church, on the other hand, doesn’t have small groups that I have noticed. We’re so small, small groups might be redundant! But there is a very natural “organic” coming together of people. The rector invites people to his house for a BBQ. Or the single guys (without the help of a program – there is no “singles group”) decide after church to have a movie night.
And we know each other over the long haul, not just for the length of a small group program. And it does feel like family.
Granted, it easier for a small church to come together in such a natural ad hoc way than a large church.
We’re a very traditional church, but, perhaps without thinking about it, we’re doing some of the things the young evangelicals in the article are doing. And it works. Maybe it’s because it’s Biblical, organic, and real. It’s not overmanagement; it’s not trying to shoehorn people into a program.
I came across an interesting article on how young evangelicals are doing church differently than Baby Boom evangelicals. Being the misfit that I am, I was born somewhat in between the two generations although most pop demography puts me at the tail end of the baby boom. And my ideas are somewhat between the two generations at times. For example, I reject, for the most part, the post-modernism common among young evangelicals. (Sorry, no time to address that at this time.)
On the other hand, I’m not a big fan of how the Boomers do church. Now I didn’t realize it might be a generational thing until recently. But, say, the program-orientation and hyper-professional staff of the big boomer mega-churches is a turn off for me.
Boomer church obsession with small groups is another turn off. A couple paragraphs from the article really hit home:
Boomers and Xers may use the same words differently. Baby boomers who hear the word community often think in terms of programs, such as small-group ministries, which may mean a group of 10 or so random people who don't know each other -- meeting once a week, maybe, to sojourn through life together in two hours or less.
But for young evangelicals the word community reflects the need for deeper relationships. Many say that churches can't put random people together and expect honesty and transparency. Small groups are organic, emerging from relationships among people who spend time together -- almost like "family." "We are filling in a deficiency," Mr. Burmeister says. "The church has an opportunity to become a family to the family-less."
My previous two churches put a lot of emphasis on being in small groups. At least one staffer even found fault with me for not being in a small group at all times, though I frequently got into small groups during my time at both churches.
(Thankfully, most Denton Bible staff I was involved with were very flexible and let me do other things when there wasn’t a small group that worked for me.)
But I eventually saw that small group ministries are not a good fit for me. They took an evening a week from me, usually when I didn’t have many evenings to give up. Usually the leader let meetings go late, and I’m not a night person. Usually there was someone who dominated the group and pulled it in directions irrelevant to the stated purpose of the group, and usually the leader was too weak to gently stop that domination. And frankly when I’m tired at night, I don’t have the patience for that. By the time a small group was over, I was so worn out and/or fed up, I didn’t stay to socialize. Often, I didn’t feel that connected to most of the people there anyway. (And I freely admit I can be a square peg.) Not much “community” there.
Now not all small groups were so bad. A few were great and helped me grow and make good friends. And they are a good model for many. But overall, it’s just not a good model for me. And I’m certainly not alone in that. Given that their composition is somewhat “random” – whoever happened to sign up – it’s only by God grace if a small group does work well.
My current church, on the other hand, doesn’t have small groups that I have noticed. We’re so small, small groups might be redundant! But there is a very natural “organic” coming together of people. The rector invites people to his house for a BBQ. Or the single guys (without the help of a program – there is no “singles group”) decide after church to have a movie night.
And we know each other over the long haul, not just for the length of a small group program. And it does feel like family.
Granted, it easier for a small church to come together in such a natural ad hoc way than a large church.
We’re a very traditional church, but, perhaps without thinking about it, we’re doing some of the things the young evangelicals in the article are doing. And it works. Maybe it’s because it’s Biblical, organic, and real. It’s not overmanagement; it’s not trying to shoehorn people into a program.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Christmas ain’t over until God says it’s over!
I’ve discovered that one of the benefits of being Anglican is that the Christmas season isn’t over until God says it’s over (on January 6th, Epiphany, of course ;) ).
I’m very glad of that because yesterday’s service at St. David’s was wonderful and Christmasy. There was a little nativity scene by the steps to the altar. There were enough candles to make an Anglo-Catholic blush. There were plenty of favorite Christmas carols, including Nowell.
And, most importantly, so much of the service pointed to various aspects of God’s grace in the Incarnation that I had to pray “such things are too wonderful for me.” And, yes, I got a bit teary eyed.
Wow, what a special service for me. That I didn’t make it to a Christmas weekend service for various reasons made yesterday’s service that much more special. I’m so thankful I got to go to an excellent Christmas service after all.
Dang, if I’m not careful, I’m going to tear up again.
I’ve discovered that one of the benefits of being Anglican is that the Christmas season isn’t over until God says it’s over (on January 6th, Epiphany, of course ;) ).
I’m very glad of that because yesterday’s service at St. David’s was wonderful and Christmasy. There was a little nativity scene by the steps to the altar. There were enough candles to make an Anglo-Catholic blush. There were plenty of favorite Christmas carols, including Nowell.
And, most importantly, so much of the service pointed to various aspects of God’s grace in the Incarnation that I had to pray “such things are too wonderful for me.” And, yes, I got a bit teary eyed.
Wow, what a special service for me. That I didn’t make it to a Christmas weekend service for various reasons made yesterday’s service that much more special. I’m so thankful I got to go to an excellent Christmas service after all.
Dang, if I’m not careful, I’m going to tear up again.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
Where I’ll probably be next Saturday morning…
Church this morning at St. David’s here in Denton was wonderful. I might post on that tomorrow.
But there I found out about a special meeting of Anglicans in Dallas this coming Saturday. It will be a time of praise and of praying for Anglicans around the world. It will also be a time of learning with Canon Bill Atwood of Ekklesia speaking. I suspect the Windsor Report and the Anglican Communion's response to it will be at least a subject of his talk.
The time and place: January 8th 10am to noon at Trinity Episcopal Church, 12727 Hillcrest Road in Dallas. I will probably be there. (If there’s name tags, I’ll be Mark and will try to put “WannabeAnglican” somewhere on there.)
I haven’t found a handy link about the meeting. If anyone has one, feel free to post it in the comments.
Church this morning at St. David’s here in Denton was wonderful. I might post on that tomorrow.
But there I found out about a special meeting of Anglicans in Dallas this coming Saturday. It will be a time of praise and of praying for Anglicans around the world. It will also be a time of learning with Canon Bill Atwood of Ekklesia speaking. I suspect the Windsor Report and the Anglican Communion's response to it will be at least a subject of his talk.
The time and place: January 8th 10am to noon at Trinity Episcopal Church, 12727 Hillcrest Road in Dallas. I will probably be there. (If there’s name tags, I’ll be Mark and will try to put “WannabeAnglican” somewhere on there.)
I haven’t found a handy link about the meeting. If anyone has one, feel free to post it in the comments.
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