Bp Shannon: I agree that it is certainly true that there are many arguments for and against whether or not we are putting canons in conflict with the prayer book and all of that, but I must suggest that we - I speak in favor of this motion. I must suggest that we cannot make the perfect the enemy of the good. Before I came to General Convention I wrote a very strongly worded letter to my diocese asserting my utter and absolute commitment to marriage equality and wanted to bring the fullest, strongest, statement for that, that we can provide. I think after many days of consultation this is the best we can do, and it’s something I can support. I came here with the sense that we couldn’t do this by a simply canonical route. That we needed to do something fuller that required a little more time and a two-reading sort of way, and I’m pleased with that. And I think we need to be careful that, however important they are, making idols out of our rules. And I’m reminded that our Lord said that humankind was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for humankind. We know that in Jesus’ day that would be akin to us saying that we repeal the Holy Communion. If we have to wait some time to sort out a conflict between canon and liturgy, rules and that sort of thing, I’d much rather it be a canon than a loving couple that wants to bring honor and glory and witness to God through the bond and covenant of marriage.
The Church of the Holy Comforter, Richmond Virginia, in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. The title of this blog comes from the book of the same name by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In Life Together, Bonhoeffer describes Christian community as a gift from God. Our church is a gift from God for those who take part in the life of our faith community and a gift to those we serve in Christ's name. This blog is about our life together as the members and friends of Holy Comforter.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Watch General Convention Live
The Media Hub
You can share in the worship and legislative sessions of both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops.
Holy Comforter is part of the Wider Church
The 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church
Our priest-in-charge, Hilary, is one of the Diocese of Virginia's deputies to General Convention. She is there working to pass legislation that will make the Church an even more inclusive and justice-oriented community of faith. Here is a picture of Hilary and the other members of the deputation on "Camp Day" when deputies wore T-shirts from their camp and conference centers...ours is Shrine Mont.
Friday, June 26, 2015
We Celebrate Marriage Equality
I write to you from the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church on the day that the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of love. Now the two couples married at our church in the last two months are able to go everywhere in the country and be protected under the law as married. We all have so much to celebrate and give thanks for today.
This legal ruling comes at a time when the Episcopal Church is seeking to equalize and normalize marriage for all couples in our church. There has been debate in the weeks leading up to Convention and since we arrived a few days ago, on how best to move forward liturgically and canonically. There is a sense that momentum is building to accomplish much at this meeting of General Convention with regard to full marriage equality for same-sex couples. We continue to pray for a good and faithful witness to all people that the Episcopal Church does in fact welcome all.
We want marriage equality in the Church for our members and so as to be a witness to the world that there are Christians who celebrate the ruling of the Supreme Court today. This is certainly true of Holy Comforter in Richmond Virginia.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
The Spiritually of Life
Sermon Preview for June 21, 2015
To be given by the Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith
What may seem like a given to many of us is still debated, and we hear that debate in the news: what is appropriate to discuss in church? In this sermon, through engaging the Gospel reading, Mark 4:35-41, I consider how all of life is spiritual and important to God and therefore important to be said in church. I will look at both the tragedy in Charleston and the teaching from Pope Francis on caring for the environment, and how we need to discuss these matters and how our theology helps us to do so.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Sermon Preview for June 7
Sermon Preview for tomorrow, June 7th, The Limits of Man-Made Systems of Governance. In this sermon I focus on the turning point in the life of God's people, when they ask the prophet Samuel to appoint a king for them, like other nations, 1 Samuel 8:4–15, 16–20, 11:14–15. And as we are two weeks away from the start of General Convention, yes, I get into that a bit too.
Peace,
Hilary+
Monday, June 1, 2015
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