wfn.org | [ELD] Communion process presents challenges for proposed province

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

>Episcopal Life Daily
>December 4, 2008

>Episcopal Life Online is available at
>http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.

>Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:

* TOP STORY - Communion process presents challenges for proposed
province
* WORLD REPORT - NIGERIA: Abuja diocese to host the first National Youth
Summit
* EDUCATION - CDSP's Epiphany West 2009 conference to focus on theology
of baptism
* FEATURE - Year's most challenging time: Addiction recovery at holidays
* OPINION - A remarkable gift: Take time for thanksgiving in -- and for
-- Advent
* DAYBOOK - December 5, 2008: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History
* CATALYST - Basic Christianity: 50th Anniversary Edition

>_____________________

>TOP STORIES

Communion process presents challenges for proposed province

Dissident Anglicans must conform to established guidelines for official
recognition, Lambeth says

>By Matthew Davies and Mary Frances Schjonberg

[Episcopal News Service] Despite claiming to have God and history on
their side, proponents of a new Anglican province in North America could
face a years-long process for gaining official recognition by the rest
of the Anglican Communion.

A statement from Lambeth Palace, the London office of Archbishop of
Canterbury Rowan Williams, responded to the Common Cause Partnership's
(CCP) December 3 proposal to form a new Anglican province in North
America. The statement said that there are legislative procedures to
follow in such instances.

"There are clear guidelines set out in the Anglican Consultative Council
Reports, notably ACC 10 in 1996 (resolution 12), detailing the steps
necessary for the amendments of existing provincial constitutions and
the creation of new provinces," the statement said. "Once begun, any of
these processes will take years to complete. In relation to the recent
announcement from the meeting of the Common Cause Partnership in
Chicago, the process has not yet begun."

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_103406_ENG_HTM.htm

More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife

>_____________________

>WORLD REPORT

NIGERIA: Abuja diocese to host the first National Youth Summit

[Church of Nigeria] The Church of Nigeria's first-ever "National Youth
Leadership Summit" will be held in Abuja beginning December 18 for all
the core leaders and clergy involved in youth work in the Anglican
Church nationwide. 

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_103390_ENG_HTM.htm

More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>EDUCATION

CDSP's Epiphany West 2009 conference to focus on theology of baptism

[CDSP] The Church Divinity School of the Pacific's Epiphany West 2009
conference will focus on the theme, Baptismal Water - Thicker Than
Blood. Conference classes will be held January 26-28, 2009 with
presentations January 28-30. The annual event will be held on the CDSP
campus in Berkeley, California, and is organized by the school's Center
for Anglican Learning & Leadership (CALL). The public is invited to
attend.

"At Epiphany West 2009, we will take a fresh look at a theology of the
church rooted in baptism. Conference presenters and participants will
engage the question, If we are united in baptism, what stands in the way
of our full communion with one another as Christians?" said Dr.
Elizabeth Drescher, newly-appointed director of CALL.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will preach at the conference
Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78650_103393_ENG_HTM.htm

More Education: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80263_93222_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>FEATURES

Year's most challenging time: Addiction recovery at holidays

>By Lisa B. Hamilton

[Episcopal Life] Every December, it began like a Norman Rockwell
painting. Sometimes, snow even fell outside the picture window as the
family gathered to decorate the Christmas tree. Mom and Dad lifted the
children to place ornaments on the upper branches, but when their hands
were free, they downed martinis. Soon, they would blame each other for
choosing a crooked tree and argue over getting lights placed correctly.
A few martinis later, the parents were throwing plates at the wall. By
then, the children were cowering. As they grew older, "the Christmas
tree fight" was embedded in their holiday memories.

At least one of the children, J.C., who asked that his full name be
withheld, grew up to be a successful businessman, dedicated parishioner
-- and alcoholic. The beers after choir practice became more important
than choir practice itself.

J.C.'s relationship with beer exemplifies addiction. "The object of
addiction becomes the primary relationship, distancing the addict from
one's self, others and God," said the Rev. Kevin M. Cross, transitional
deacon and board member of Recovery Ministries
(http://www.episcopalrecovery.org) of the Episcopal Church. According to
its website, Recovery Ministries is an "independent, nationwide network
of Episcopal laity and clergy, dioceses and parishes, schools, agencies
and other institutions -- all with a common commitment to address the
use and misuse of alcohol and other drugs in relation to the church's
mission."

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_103388_ENG_HTM.htm

More Features: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78936_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>OPINION

>A remarkable gift

Take time for thanksgiving in -- and for -- Advent

>By Katharine Jefferts Schori

[Episcopal Life] Advent is just beginning -- how and to what will you
dedicate your Advent time this year? In some years, the world around us
is full-bore into shopping, decorating and partying by now. Given the
world's financial crisis, this year just might be a bit more restrained.
Count that as a blessing, and make some conscious decisions about how to
spend your Advent time this year.

For some centuries, the church treated Advent as a mini-Lent, with great
focus on penance and contrition, purple vestments and a somber, even
dour, mood. In the last century, many parts of the church have returned
to a more joyful and expectant mood.
Some churches use Sarum blue vestments to mark that shift in an outward
way. (The blue used in Advent is called Sarum blue in reference to the
Sarum Rite dating from medieval England.) Most congregations still put
off the Christmas carols and decorations
until after the fourth Sunday of Advent. These four brief weeks are a
remarkable gift, if we engage them.

Find or make an Advent calendar, and use the little daily ritual of
marking another day as an invitation to consciousness, whether there is
a door to open or a verse to read, and give thanks. Give thanks for
breath, clean air, water to drink, food for energy and celebration, time
to spend with friends and strangers who might become friends. Let go of
the excess - business and busyness, too much rich food, mindless buying,
needless driving and thoughtless speech.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_103391_ENG_HTM.htm

More Opinion: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>DAYBOOK

On December 5, 2008, the church calendar remembers Clement of
Alexandria, priest (c.210).

* Today in Scripture: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm

* Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm

* Today in History: On December 5, 1902, Henry Stephen Cutler, Episcopal
chorister and composer, died.

>_____________________

>CATALYST

"Basic Christianity: 50th Anniversary Edition" from InterVarsity Press,
by John R. W. Stott, 174 pages, hardcover, c. 1958, 2008, $19

[InterVarsity Press] If Jesus is not who he said he was, and if he did
not do what he said he had come to do, the whole superstructure of
Christianity crumbles in ruins to the ground. Is it plausible that Jesus
was truly divine? And what might this mean for us?

John Stott's clear, classic statement examines the historical facts on
which Christianity stands. Here is a sound, sensible guide for all who
seek an intellectually satisfying explanation of the Christian faith.

To order: Episcopal Books and Resources, online at
http://www.episcopalbookstore.org, or call 800-903-5544 -- or visit your
local Episcopal bookseller, http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org

More Catalyst: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/83842_ENG_HTM.htm