Pray for Fr. Geoff

Fr. Geoff Farrow is such a dangerous person hat he has been suspended from the RC priesthood and removed as a pastor.

What horrible crime has he committed? He spoke against Proposition 8 (removes the right of same-gender couples in California to marry) which the homophobic hierarchy of the RC church endorses.

He has risked everything in defense of his gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

I wrote him a note of encouragement last week. His reply was really wonderful. He said that it is nice to know that he has "close relatives" who are willing to welcome him to the family table.

Pray for this courageous priest. Visit his blog and leave him some words of admiration and encouragement. Many of Fr. Jake's children have already done so.

I'm gettin married in the morning

Lest you all fall over in a dead faint, no I'm not getting married tomorrow, but My friend is.

I would like to offer my prayers and love to a blog friend and her beloved who will be married in San Diego.

"IT" (pronounced I. T. not "it") is a remarkable person. We met over at Fr. Jake's former blog. I was attracted to her as soon as I heard her story. She says she is still an atheist who found the Episcopal Church. I say she is just in denial about her conversion. :)

People such as "IT" make the Episcopal Church a beautiful patchwork quilt of people who love God. I'd rather have a church of people like IT, who question, rather than a church of people who promote hate.

You'll never guess what she and her beloved asked for a wedding present from each of their friends -- a donation to the No on 8 campaign. I did, and so should you.

On a related note I just stumbled upon a really cool blog, California Episcopalians for Equality. You really should go make a visit.

Letter to the Standing Committee of Pittsburgh

October 9, 2008

The Rev. Dr. James B. Simons
St. Michael’s of the Valley Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 336 Ligonier, Pennsylvania 15658

Dear Jim:

Thank you for your letter of 8 October 2008, advising that you have appointed the Rev. Jeff Murph and Ms. Mary Roehrich to the Standing Committee, and that you are working together to lead the reorganization of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. I give thanks for your efforts, and I pledge my support and that of this Office in this vital task.

As a first step, and in response to the specific request in your letter, I have asked the Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews, Bishop for Pastoral Development, to meet with you and your colleagues on the Standing Committee to assist in obtaining appropriate episcopal assistance for the Diocese in the coming months.

I give thanks for the work that the Standing Committee has undertaken and look forward to learning of your progress as you move forward in this mission. You and the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh continue in my prayers and those of Episcopalians across this Church. I remain

Your servant in Christ,
Katharine Jefferts Schori

Diocese of Pittsburgh reorganized

The Episcopal Church USA has recognized new leadership for a reorganized Pittsburgh Episcopal Diocese. This comes after a vote Saturday by some clergy and laity to secede from the national church and align with the more conservative Southern Cone of the Anglican Communion.

The clergy voted 121 to 33 and lay leaders voted 119 to 69 to split from the U.S. Church. Robert Duncan served as Bishop of the Pittsburgh Episcopal Diocese for 11 years before he was deposed last month by the Council of Bishops of the Episcopal Church USA. He now becomes the Episcopal Commissary from the Southern Cone to Pittsburgh. Bishop Duncan led the secession movement following the ordination of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire.

Following the vote to secede, at least 20 parishes voted to remain with the U.S. Church. Today the national leadership recognized a Standing Committee to serve as the ecclesiastical authority of the reorganized Pittsburgh Diocese in the absence of a bishop. The Reverend Doctor James Simons, rector of St Michael's of the Valley, chairs that committee. Reverend Doctor Simons told DUQ News that the first task is pastoral...reaching out to those parishes and members who are in pain because of the split.

Simons says that they will hold a reorganization convention December 13 at which an interim bishop will be chosen to serve for a year or two until a selection committee is formed and conducts the process for electing a new bishop. Reverend Simons says he believes that sometime in the future there will be reconciliation in the Pittsburgh Diocese.