Posted on 05/20/2016 6:02:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Young protesters from the Baltimore uprising share their experience and hope to the Diocese of Maryland convention. Delegates began the work of what reparations for the sin of racism and slavery to determine what that might look like.
At its recent convention, the Diocese of Maryland took the first of what could be many small steps to engage the issue of reparations and set aside money to help heal the centuries-old wounds of slavery.
Though the resolution that anchored the conversation, known as “Reparations Investment,” was referred to Diocesan Council for further review, its appearance marked a beginning for the diocese. The eight sponsoring white clergy wrote in their explanation that the measure gave the diocese a chance “to set an example for the church at large and other congregations whose endowed wealth is tied to the institution of slavery.”
The resolution (on page 20 here) called for the diocese to give “at least 10 percent of the assets of its unrestricted investment funds to the diocesan chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians.” The final dollar amount could reach into the tens of thousands of dollars.
The Very Rev. Mike Kinman, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis, Missouri, noted in his addresses to the convention that the church and nation were in a “kairos” time ripe for discomforting yet potentially healing conversation.
“The nature of creation is change,” said Kinman. “The nature of Christ’s church is change and that can be uncomfortable.”
In the time since the Aug. 9, 2014, shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Kinman said he also has learned that “discomfort is a sacrament.” That shooting, those of Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and others, along with the death of Freddie Gray last year after his arrest by Baltimore police, have fueled protests and given birth to the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
Yet, discomfort around race is at such a high level that merely to say “Black Lives Matter” or put a sign with the slogan on church property can elicit angry responses and vandalism. A “Black Lives Matter” sign put up at St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church, Annapolis, Maryland, has been repeatedly torn down. Police have made an arrest in the most recent incident.
Kinman used the healing of Bartimaeus to describe the evolution of his thinking as well as that of many others in the St. Louis area. In the story (told in Mark 10:46-52) Bartimaeus cries out for help and release from his pain and misery, in much the same way the African-American community did after Brown’s death.
Rather than acknowledge the pain, the crowd tries to shut down Bartimaeus. Jesus responds by putting Bartimaeus in the center of things and letting him speak. This is what has happened in St. Louis, Baltimore, and other cities where communities have responded to the police killings of young black men, said Kinman. Those who had been pushed to the margins now stand at the center, giving voice to their anger and dictating the agenda.
“I heard these voices and I found myself becoming profoundly uncomfortable,” said Kinman, who had to confront his own notions of “white privilege” and how it influences his actions. “There was nothing tranquil about what was happening. “
The conversations and listening sessions that have resulted are attempts at destroying what Kinman called “the greatest heresy: The lie of us and them. It is the greatest barrier to God’s dream of the beloved community.”
During one panel discussion at the convention, Baltimore protesters and some members of the Slate Project, a post-denominational Christian community, encouraged everyone to see Christ in new ways and to sit with the discomfort these new relationships may bring.
This will require sincere and open conversations, a theme Maryland Assistant Bishop Chilton R. Knudsen noted in her sermon that opened the convention. The power of true and meaningful engagement across race, class and gender lines was embedded in the Pentecost story where, she said, the Holy Spirit gave us the power to speak to each other and be understood.
Maryland Bishop Eugene Taylor Sutton underscored his call to confront the “unholy trinity” of poverty, racism and violence. “What would it be like if the Diocese of Maryland was known as a community of love?” he asked, challenging congregations and members to “encounter Christ and engage God in the world around us.”
Pretty much the case. There is no Catholic Diocese of Virginia. In the Cath. Church, as far as I know, a city us named as the diocesan see, even if the diocese spans a state or even a whole country.
“pinching off” is making new welfare cases by copulation while I am paying for their free time to breed.
If you are on welfare you should not be allowed to breed until you work and contribute to society and teach your offspring to work for their living.
“Pinching off” then, according to your definition, is a new, contemptuous synonym for procreation?
I understand that at the present time, nearly 50 million Americans, of all races and for all kinds of reasons, are not participating in the labor force. Permit me to ask: are you in favor of mass involuntary sterilization of American people who are unemployed?
How about involuntary starvation of any able bodied adult who is not willing to work for a meal.
It may take a while. There’s a lot of avoirdupois out there.
>Permit me to ask: are you in favor of mass involuntary sterilization of American people who are unemployed?
Not exactly. I support sterilization of those brainwashed by islam, those that will never work for a living, those that will not teach their offspring to work for a living and finally, those that milk the teat of society.
I so do hope that is clear enough.
Lol....
“Baltimore uprising”
No need to read any further than that.
Oh, this us interesting.
Some of this seems to involve a prospective sorting which would necessarily involve guesswork: for instance, those who “will never” work for a living: how do we know they will “never” work? And does that include wealthy heirs and heiresses, “Trustafarians,” Kardashians perhaps, the idle rich and their children?
So, for the sake of clarity, am I to understand that you support the forced sterilization of, first of all, American Muslims, and also, anyone who receives a government benefit or is not in the labor force?
How about seasonal or part-time workers?
And should men and women be dragged out and restrained for these sterilizations? Or could it be done to them covertly, e.g. a “flu” vaccine that impairs fertility?
But of course, a big Public Health nudge would be all that’s needed. That’s pretty much the Global Warmunist program. Bill and Melinda Gates, Soros front organizations, the U.N. —— how thrilling, it’s already well underway.
So, is that the plan?
God may take a long time to respond to mockers, but respond He will.
When righties venture into lefty schemes, they are automatically excused.
My hope is in the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
Indeed so. These rage schemes get entirely too much oxygen on FR, unfortunately.
Glad to hear you say that, Brother Redneck. Lamentably,
Sanger does not lack followers here.
Sounds like they want white slaves as reparations.
I don’t see a Cotton Picker in that whole motley bunch.
They’ve had white slaves for fifty years now; they’re known as “taxpayers”...
DITTO.
Do you think that there is any black American who would rather still be living in Africa? If so, s/he is a sure candidate for the funny farm.
Africa is a PIT HOLE.
But, then, so is much of Asia and every country south of our border.
Amen.
A city is often a diocese. Some areas are so large that they are an "archdiocese." The bishop would therefore be an "archbishop."
There are only two categories of priesthood:
priest
bishop
The bishops USED to decide who the pope would be. But there came to be WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY too many bishops and election of a pope would have taken years.
SO, the rank of "cardinal" was developed so that a much smaller body of bishops could elect a pope. A cardinal represents MUCH larger groups of bishops.
The cardinals and the pope are simply bishops. And the pope is their leader. Any cardinal does NOT have to accept that leadership role and, as Pope Benedict did, MAY resign that role.
Priests and bishops. That's it.
There are also deacons but they are, in no way, priests. They MIGHT become priests, but that is their choice to go through the rigorous, expensive and LENGTHY process of priesthood. Priests CAN choose to go through the process of becoming a bishop but that is really for those who have the ambition, talent and brains. NOT an easy job in any form.
.
Any questions?
LOL! So true.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.