My parish celebrates Patriotic Sunday on the Sunday after July 4 and I wanted to know how common that is or what those services look like elsewhere.
To be honest, it’s a weird Sunday but we’re a deep purple congregation and stopping it would be contentious. I think a handful of the old folks appreciate it but it feels inauthentic to the younger, newer members.
Today was the consecration and installation of the 13th Bishop of Alabama, Richard Lawson, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. Good things ahead!
The short story: I was baptized Anglican (Episcopal), converted to Roman Catholicism in elementary school with my family, fell in love with the church and found a call to ordained ministry, stepped away from the church after coming out (no regret there), and rejoined the Episcopal Church as a young adult after years away from any form of Christianity.
The problem now is that I miss the Catholic Church. Given the name of this group, I’ll assume you grasp the complexity and depth of this feeling. The call to ministry feels stronger than ever as I get older but I’m afraid I feel the call outside of the Episcopal Church, which I have grown to love after relearning the Christian faith in it.
However, I joined this Episcopal parish believing that it allowed same sex marriages; I recently learned that it does not and is unlikely to start without an ugly fight. It feels ironic that I left Catholicism for an affirming tradition but realized I could in fact worship happily in a tradition that does not affirm same sex relationships. Send in the clowns! Now, I’m pretty much exhausted from years of wrestling with this internally and sniffing out which episcopal parish is affirming and holds a recognizable historic faith and liturgy. I also feel silly leaving the RCC over the marriage stance when I am single and have no desire to date.
When it comes to matters of sexuality, I’m more comfortable with the church’s stance now that I approach it as a stable and confident adult researching with my own will. I also feel no different than any heterosexual Catholic who has sex outside of marriage or sins in any other regard. Most of my pain around that subject comes from uncharitable discussions of it when I was very young. I believe the church is moving to a better understanding of human sexuality and will develop healthy ways of talking about homosexuality without changing the doctrine of marriage.
I have two modes of thinking: the first is that the color of marriage is mutual support and fidelity and should be open to all people, same sex couples included. The second mode is that while the first may be true civilly, the church has no compelling reason or has no ability to change the Christian understanding of marriage that a union should be mutually faithful and at least open to procreation. I fully support same sex marriage and relations; but I see the church’s role in defending the sacramental, complementarian view of marriage.
Do I leave the Episcopal Church that I love, where I am loved, where I grow in faith and charity, where I am beginning discernment discussions, and where there are inclusive orthodox members? Or, do I rejoin the RCC, where the congregation is very conservative, where it is highly unlikely an openly gay man could be considered for discernment, and where I know no one but where I accept the wider teachings?
Sorry for potentially starting a fire, but I think about it a lot. I’m applying the timeline loosely, pretending deceased characters are alive, and somewhat disregarding the finale. Here goes.
Bree
Never Trump conservative. She loved Jeb Bush and Rubio in the ‘16 primary and is now resigned from the party. She’s one of the Liz Cheney republicans, but I can’t see her voting blue ever. She’s too much based on Marc Cherry and his mother who both left the GOP because of Trump. Her friendship with Lynette is still strong.
Gaby & Carlos
I can kind of see them as Latinos for Trump, but their financial struggle/blindness era softened them a lot. Not to mention Gaby’s assault by her uncle. Possibly didn’t vote in 2016 and find politics annoying. I’m least sure about them.
Tom
Did his own research during covid and loves Joe Rogan and RFK jr. Voted Trump in 2020 and 2024. Not sure about 2016. He’s not hardline conservative, but feels emasculated by the #metoo movement and started seeking out alt news. Cared about the Epstein files in the run up to 2024 but downplays it now that Trump is implicated. He will never admit he was wrong about anything but would deny ever supporting him if the national mood changes or was with a liberal crowd. Lynette wouldn’t let him forget though.
Lynette
She could never vote Trump and fights with Tom about it a lot. I don’t think she loves any politician (except maybe Obama) but cares deeply about leftwing social issues. Statistically, one of her kids is LGBTQ (likely Parker) and she is very protective. Thinks the Clintons are crooks. Voted Biden Harris in 2020 and 2024 but critical of the DNC. Involved with Indivisible/No Kings as an outlet for her frustration but thinks they are controlled opposition. Still close with Bree and they sharpen each other.
Mike & Susan
Susan is a democrat and, if she voted in 2016, went for Clinton. Definitely voted Biden Harris in 2020 and 2024 at Julie’s insistence. Mike loves Joe Rogan and RFK jr but keeps his views concealed from Susan because she’s not paying much attention anyway. He hated lockdowns, all things trans (just not on his private browser), and helped a buddy guard his store during Fairview BLM rallies.
Edie
Loves Trump and wants everyone to know it. In this universe, she’s with a rich man now and they attend Mar-a-Lago fundraisers.
Paul & Mary Alice
Much like Bree, they loathed Trump and went for Marco Rubio or Jeb Bush in the primaries and likely protest voted for another conservative in the general in 2016. However, they were all in for Trump by 2020 and 2024.
Ida Greenberg & Karen McCluskey
Hate Trump. Planned Fairview’s No Kings rally with Lynette. Ida thinks Palestine is too divisive a topic but Karen is evolving from general apathy to pro-Palestine.
Bob & Lee
obsessed with Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris. Milquetoast liberals. They have signs that say “we’d be at brunch if Kamala won.” Stopped speaking to any trump supporting neighbors. Have attended Tel Aviv Pride.
Julie Mayer
Bernie lover in college but voted for Clinton in the general. She still loves Bernie and follows most of his stances. Pro-Palestine but not heated about it.
Does anyone have the PDF guides to the 1979 prayer book from the Nicholas Ferrar Society, or know what happened to that site? They encouraged congregational prayer of the Daily Office during the week and produced excellent guides to the lectionary, DO, and BCP. I used to give them out with pew BCPs to anyone who asked.
I followed the link from the Rev. Laura Peaches’ resource list but they are broken now and I can’t find the site anymore using google.
I am researching the HIV/AIDs epidemic in Tuscaloosa, especially during the 1980s. There is almost no online information that I can find. Does anyone have stories in this area or know of any historical resources? I am especially interested in finding local organizations that were especially supportive or harmful during this time.