Inclusive
Orthodoxy Newsletter
January,
2008
To
the saints of Cyberspace who are also faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Updates:
Whew!
I thought January would pass by before I could complete this newsletter! I have
been so busy this month with scholarship applications, picking classes for this
next semester here at seminary, filing my taxes, on top of the general busyness
of life in the California Bay Area. As most of you know, I am now in my second
year of studies at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific where I am
studying for my Master of Divinity as I pursue priesthood in the Episcopal
Church. One cool thing that happened this month was that my parents, Nancy
& Richard Cannon, were honored in this month's issue of Instinct Magazine
as ÒParents of the Month,Ó so be sure and check it out. In other news, I am
going to be working with the youth group at my sponsoring parish in Berkeley,
CA, so please be praying for me as that is an entirely new field of work for
me.
With
the dawning of this new year I want to thank all of you for your loving support
and prayers, and especially Don, who has supported Inclusive Orthodoxy in so
many ways, both financially and otherwise.
LGBT News:
1/31/08 ~ Deep spirituality
underlies gay Catholic's activism, http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=5060
1/30/08 ~ 12 Pittsburgh Clergy Disapprove
Quitting Episcopal Church
1/29/08
~
Bishops will bring partners to Lambeth conference
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6704.html
1/26/08 Gay pastor shares his
parenting experiences
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880124131
For
more LGBT Christian news visit http://religion.gaynewsblog.net
LGBT
Christian Book(s):
Seduced
by Grace: Contemporary spirituality, Gay experience and Christian faith
By
Michael Bernard Kelly
http://astore.amazon.com/truthsetsfree-20/detail/0980298326/103-2091752-0215806
In
these collected writings (essays, articles, letters, talks) Michael Kelly
invites us into an intimate exploration of the inner wisdom and radical
challenge of Christianity. In reflections that take us from the fields of
Nicaragua to the War on Terror, from the joy of erotic pleasure to the
challenge of rebuilding the church, Kelly gives voice to a spirituality of
desire, grounded in justice and love. This new book presents Michael Kelly's
collected writings and lectures, composed over a ten year period. Exploring
contemplative spirituality, erotic grace, prophetic activism, gay experience,
and the soulful challenges of contemporary living, this collection is a major
new contribution from the author of 'The Erotic Contemplative' lecture series.
For
more LGBT Christian books visit: http://www.Cross.2Freedom.com
Quote
for Reflection:
ÒAn
engineering professor is treating her husband, a loan officer, to dinner for
finally giving in to her pleas to shave off the scraggly beard he grew on
vacation. His favorite restaurant
is a casual place where they both feel comfortable in slacks and cotton/polyester-blend
golf shirts. But, as always, she
wears the gold and pearl pendant he gave her the day her divorce decree was
final. They're laughing over their
menus because they know he always ends up diving into a giant plate of ribs but
she won't be talked into anything more fattening than shrimp.
ÒQuiz: How many biblical prohibitions are they
violating? Well, wives are
supposed to be 'submissive' to their husbands (I Peter 3:1). And all women are forbidden to teach
men (I Timothy 2:12), wear gold or pearls (I Timothy 2:9) or dress in clothing
that 'pertains to a man' (Deuteronomy 22:5). Shellfish and pork are definitely out (Leviticus 11:7, 10)
as are usury (Deuteronomy 23:19), shaving (Leviticus 19:27) and clothes of more
than one fabric (Leviticus 19:19).
And since the Bible rarely recognizes divorce, they're committing
adultery, which carries the rather harsh penalty of death by stoning
(Deuteronomy 22:22).
ÒSo
why are they having such a good time?
Probably because they wouldn't think of worrying about rules that seem
absurd, anachronistic or - at best - unrealistic. Yet this same modern-day couple could easily be among the
millions of Americans who never hesitate to lean on the Bible to justify their
own anti-gay attitudes.Ó
The
above excerpt is taken from And Say Hi To Joyce by Deb Price.
Love
in Christ,
Justin
R. Cannon, Founder/Director