So, why is it that this blogger the only one to catch irony winging its way towards us from Uganda? Bishop Guernsey's ordination, viewed by folks in the realignment / dissenter camp as an aid to refugees, took place in a setting where some of the speech making was done under cover of tent awnings. Here is a fine picture by Keven Kallsen, shamelessly copped for the occasion.
Notice the letters in the tent awning... UNHCR. It would seem that wrapping for something from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees made it into the celebration. Coincidence? Well, yes in this case. But fun.
The ministry to refugee Episcopalians who just can't stand it seems to have led to an outpouring of bishops all ready to lead them to stay just where they are, only change affiliations. When it is all over there will be enough bishops to start a new really really really orthodox really Anglican Province recognized by at least some of the other provinces of the Anglican Communion. It's all coming up at the Common Cause Partners meeting.
There are plenty of real refugees in the world, and some of them are indeed from The Episcopal Church to some other place, just as some are from other places to The Episocpal Church. But the UNHCR is about dealing with that other world of refugees who have no place to go and no welcome in.
In all of this perhaps it might be good for us all, rascals from every corner of the Anglican family, to meet under that tent - the tent of the UNHCR, and get serious about mission to people who don't actually care very much what we are up to otherwise, but who could use a tent to sleep in and bit of bread to eat and some hope for tomorrow. It doesn't take bishops for that, but they might be helpful. It takes us all.
Mark,
ReplyDeleteI noticed that. It actually seemed par for the course there -- reuse whatever you can. Though I do like the refugee irony observation.
That said, I just put a bit of a rant over on the InclusiveChurch blog. I'm tired of hearing the conservatives speak as if they are *actual* refugees, and victims in some sense. They might be inconvenienced by all the goings-on, but they are not refugees or victims in any conventional sense. The only actual victims in this are GLBT people, who risk life and limb just by being who they are.
Is anyone else tired of that victim-speak?
Peace,
Scott
Good point.I have always thought that the thing the Anglican factions should strive to DEFEAT each other is in service to the poor. (we can simply talk or disagree about the other stuff)
ReplyDeleteObadiah, you have a peck of surprises in your bag of Anglican comments. I'm with you all the way!
ReplyDeleteMe! I'm tired of the persecution, martyrdom, victim speak used by Minns, Duncan, etc. to characterize their "suffering".
ReplyDeleteWant suffering? Try the folks in Virginia who didn't vote to leave the Episcopal Church and are now re-building their church-lives because they want to be Episcopalians but their church families have been hijacked.
Yes, Scott, the portrayal by conservatives as self-conscious victims is a bit overpowering.
ReplyDeleteSingling out a particular group as the object of fear and hate almost always raises the specter of the next group to be targeted. This naturally makes people less open, less forthcoming even in church, and less ready to contribute all their gifts to the life of the parish. When we tell people that "they" are worth less than "us", then we admit the possibility that all of us can be ranked in God's sight.
This is precisely the message that the conservatives are sending, by consecrating bishops and inducing parishes to leave the Episcopal church: we hate and fear you so much that we will not be in the same room with you.
I would like to point out some additional victims that I see. The homeless men & women at the subway stop, the poor and hungry downtown, and everyone that we could serve with the energy we're wasting defending the church against bigotry and hypocrisy.
A big AMEN!
ReplyDeleteThe victim language of the "conservatives" approaches the bizarre.
ReplyDeleteAt Titus 1:9, Kendall Harmonn (sp), to his credit, condemned the language of the Nigerian bishop who claimed that homosexuals are unfit to live. Most of the posters (again, to their credit) concurred.
Then, towards the end of the thread, "Alice" claims that a North American who objects to homosexuality is at greater risk of being shot than a gay person in Nigeria.
That isn't just victim posturing. That is delusional paranoia.
You weren't the first. A commenter at Stand Firm in Faith noticed it as soon as the photos appeared. They appreciated the irony.
ReplyDeleteif you go through Elizabeth Kaeton's blog tellingsecrets.blogspot.com, you'll find stories of LGBT people who come as refugees to the US, and who seek asylum. some get it, and some do not - with asylum, there's enough unclarity in the law to offer a generous shelter to judges to show their prejudices.
ReplyDelete