News & Views

An interesting article about a church that is trying to be more inclusive.

www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/06/spring_lakes_christ_community.html

 

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Daniel Gullotta is a theological student and candidate in the process toward ordination in the Episcopal Church in Australia.  He attended the Common Dreams conference in Melbourne and introduced himself by saying "Hey! We're friends on Facebook!" Which, of course, earned him an instant hug and instant camaraderie!  Daniel's review of my book, With or Without God, was posted on website of The Center for Progressive Christianity in the States.  Here, Daniel reflects on the closing service at the Common Dreams conference.

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" Seeking a healthy balance between self-care and care for others, we share time, energy, talents, wisdom, knowledge, skills, material goods, and our presence with one another in order that we may inspire, encourage, delight, comfort, and help one another."

In this section, we talk specifically of the balance between self-care and care for others. Where does that line get drawn for you and are you comfortable with where it is? Is there somewhere that it might be more healthy for you or helpful for others? If so, are there things you would consider doing in order to move the line closer to where you'd like it to be. 

 

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"We choose love as our supreme value." 

 What's  your definition of love?

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 The word "transcendent" has often been used to convey something beyond us which we cannot attain, maybe because we belong to the natural order and, since it was considered spiritual, we could never grasp it wholly.  If we believe the things we don't understand now, were we to come to understand them, would be found to be natural, too, what does "transcendent" mean? Can we attain it individually? As a community?

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There was some good initial discussion yesterday around unpacking the statement "Everything happens for a reason" and its implications.  Anything to add?  What does that statement mean to you?  Is it positive? Does it give you hope? Or does it infuriate you?

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"It is with a deep sense of awe and joy that we acknowledge the wonder of life in all its dimensions."

Religion is sometimes described as the institutionalization of what were profound and inspirational moments in the lives of individuals or groups.  In their efforts to share what they had come to know, they passed along their experiences with the implication that if you did what they described, you'd get the same experience.  It sometimes left people feeling inadequate if they didn't get that experience or the inspiration they'd been expecting.

Have you ever experienced wonder and been so blown away you just had to share it, but the person with whom you did so didn't have the same response? What was sacred for you was humdrum or insignificant for them? If so, how did that make you feel and did it make you feel differently about the person?

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While in Brisbane, I was honoured to give the homily and preside at the Eucharist at St. Mary's in Exile with rebel priest, Peter Kennedy.  Here, Peter Kirkwood of Eureka Street, posts his interview with Kennedy and a reflection on his first year outside the embrace of the Catholic church.

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Peter Kirkwood interviewed me while at the Common Dreams II conference and has posted his article and video here on Eureka Street, a Catholic On-line news forum.  Enjoy!

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Well, this began as an attempt to chronicle the time Scott and I had spent both in Brisbane and in Auckland, but the time flies by so rapidly and html is so my second language!  So it only reflects the time we spent in Brisbane.  See you all soon!

Australia IV

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