The Episcopal Church Research Papers (original) (raw)

Article from Anglican and Episcopal History, 79, 2 9June 2010), 101-123

Annual C.C. Grafton Commemoration
Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, August 25, 2012

This essay traces the history of the debates about and the theological approaches to widening the embrace of LGBTIQ people in The Episcopal Church. It includes substantial discussion not only of gay and lesbian clergy and marriage... more

This essay traces the history of the debates about and the theological approaches to widening the embrace of LGBTIQ people in The Episcopal Church. It includes substantial discussion not only of gay and lesbian clergy and marriage equality but also of transgender people, lay and ordained, in the life of the church.

This field research conducted in the fall of 2011 presents an organizational study of how the principles and practice of democracy work at the local level within a major progressive religious organization during a time of turmoil and... more

This field research conducted in the fall of 2011 presents an organizational study of how the principles and practice of democracy work at the local level within a major progressive religious organization during a time of turmoil and change at the national level. The study is presented in memo style to incoming Bishop Michael Vono of a diocese deeply divided over the differences in key issues such as ordination of openly practicing homosexuals and women. The degree to which local leaders of the organization attempted suppression of transparent, open debate over national issues was a direct contradiction to the democratic principles espoused. However, where debate was present, it sometimes contributed to, rather than bridged, the divide which centered around perceptions of the derivation of legitimate authority. A key mechanism for suppression of debate and empowerment was found to be in the hidden means by which committees were formed and leaders were groomed. Lessons learned are relevant to any social organization navigating change through socially controversial, ideological issues.

The Episcopal Church has been concerned officially with expansive and inclusive language since at least 1985, when the General Convention directed the development of “supplemental inclusive language texts” through a series of materials... more

The Episcopal Church has been concerned officially with expansive and inclusive language since at least 1985, when the General Convention directed the development of “supplemental inclusive language texts” through a series of materials produced by the Standing Liturgical Commission (now the SCLM). Liturgical Texts for Evaluation (1987), significantly reduced gender-specific language for both God and humankind, including revised versions of Prayers A and B, the only attempts to do this until 2018; Supplemental Liturgical Texts (1989) took a somewhat different and more balanced approach to gendered language and used “both masculine and feminine words, images, and metaphors”; Supplemental Liturgical Materials (1991) and Enriching Our Worship 1 (1998) sought to balance traditional language with terms and images underutilized in scripture and tradition. The 79th General Convention that met in July of 2018 also addressed the place of gender in liturgical resolution in resolution D078, which authorized what it called an “expansive language version” of Rite II, including three of its four eucharistic prayers (A, B, and D), in a version it describes as “expansive language." I published an examination of the Trinitarian theology of Enriching our Worship 1 and which is available on my Academic page (“The Eucharistic Materials in Enriching Our Worship 1: A Consideration of Its Trinitarian Theology,” Anglican Theological Review 98, no. 4 (Fall 2016): 661–80). I have a companion piece under consideration at a peer-reviewed journal which examines the recent expansive language version of Rite II. In the process of doing that research I created at document that puts in parallel all of the expansive language versions of Rite II (at listed above). This is that document.

Covering the Akoustolith and Guastavino tiling used at the famed cathedral church, Saint John the Divine, New York City, this paper looks at the acoustical impact of large scale implementation throughout the USA and in particular this... more

Covering the Akoustolith and Guastavino tiling used at the famed cathedral church, Saint John the Divine, New York City, this paper looks at the acoustical impact of large scale implementation throughout the USA and in particular this cathedral. One stakeholder, an organ curator, was able to effect change after a catastrophic fire in 2001 allowed for an entire restoration through insurance funds. This paper covers Douglass Hunt's amateur background and subsequent expertise that allowed him to steward the closing up of the Akoustolith tile, effecting significant acoustic gain and reverberation for the future of the choir and music accompaniment of the church.

The error of the Nicolaitans was to teach that the priests were given secret and special knowledge not available to the people, and thus were also given the rights and privileges to administer the sacraments and operate in the Gifts of... more

The error of the Nicolaitans was to teach that the priests were given secret and special knowledge not available to the people, and thus were also given the rights and privileges to administer the sacraments and operate in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, not available to the laity. This created a special holy, religious class of priests that were above the people and supposedly closer to God than ordinary Christians. It also created an unbiblical hierarchy where the only way to have access to God was through the priesthood and then the pope, thus putting a wall of separation between God and his people.
A look at various denominational and church polities (Hierarchical, Autocratic, Democratic, Presbyterial), as compared to the biblical model (Theocratic). Baptist, Episcopal, Catholic, Presbyterian, Independent styles of government. Illustrations.

The Philadelphia Times included a detailed account of a commemoration of King Charles the Martyr in its January 30, 1897 issue. The article narrates the unveiling of a painting of the Royal Martyr (originally painted with an elderly Queen... more

The Philadelphia Times included a detailed account of a commemoration of King Charles the Martyr in its January 30, 1897 issue. The article narrates the unveiling of a painting of the Royal Martyr (originally painted with an elderly Queen Victoria's permission for the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, New York) at the Church of the Evangelists, Philadelphia, a major early American center of Anglo-Catholic activity.

In the Jacobite period, the north-east was a geographically and culturally distinct region of Lowland Scotland. It had a well-functioning economy, two universities and a strong Episcopalian heritage. It had the means to raise men and... more

In the Jacobite period, the north-east was a geographically and culturally distinct region of Lowland Scotland. It had a well-functioning economy, two universities and a strong Episcopalian heritage. It had the means to raise men and money for the Jacobite cause and was significantly involved in the risings of 1715 and 1745. It was a major Jacobite centre. In a historiographic context traditionally concerned with Highland militarism and the politics of the Stuart courts of St. Germain and Rome, an analysis of Lowland Jacobitism provides an excellent case-study of the development of Jacobitism in Scotland from 1689-1746.
This thesis focuses on locally-produced research material, chiefly: burgh council records; records produced by provisional Jacobite administrations; church records; and correspondence of churchmen, laymen, merchants and elites. This has been augmented by research of state-papers and government correspondence, contemporary pamphlets and literature. Jacobitism had multiple, sometimes conflicting, stimuli. The Jacobite individual was often dichotomous, where the demands of Jacobite principle and intent had to run in tandem with prospering within an established community in post-Revolution Britain. The Jacobite experience was by no means straight-forward. The dynamic between Jacobitism, Scots Episcopalianism and regional life (including politics, mercantilism, education and culture) is a central concern of this thesis.
This thesis describes and analyses the development of Jacobitism and Scots Episcopacy in the north-east of Scotland, with particular emphasis on the towns of Aberdeen. It assesses the contribution the region made to intellectual, cultural and martial Jacobitism. It re-evaluates the scale and role of Jacobitism in the north-east and, in turn, the development of the Jacobite cause over the course of six decades.

Episcopal Bishop of Eau Clare Frank E. Wilson (1885-1944) undated memorandum on the status of Hungarian Catholic/Orthodox supposed Bishop John Torok (1890-1955) in the Protestant Episcopal Church. Torok died as rector of Emmanuel Church,... more

Episcopal Bishop of Eau Clare Frank E. Wilson (1885-1944) undated memorandum on the status of Hungarian Catholic/Orthodox supposed Bishop John Torok (1890-1955) in the Protestant Episcopal Church. Torok died as rector of Emmanuel Church, Great River, Long Island. Transcribed as research notes by Richard Mammana in 2005.

While the author cannot speak for churches of Christ, common among them are unique ways of understanding holy scripture, believed to have been written by apostles and prophets of the Lord before the destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.D.) and... more

While the author cannot speak for churches of Christ, common among them are unique ways of understanding holy scripture, believed to have been written by apostles and prophets of the Lord before the destruction of Jerusalem (70 A.D.) and circulated among the early Christian communities (E.g. A letter called First Clement in about 95 A.D., refers to at least ten New Testament books), then collected as a volume by the self-identified Christian community of the second century A.D. or earlier, e.g. the list of Marcion (140 A.D.).

The homiletical imagination is, at its core, sacramental. It is the Godstuff of Flesh and Spirit. A preached word is flesh. THIS is a basic (introductory) course in the theory and practice of liturgical preaching. Classes will be centered... more

The homiletical imagination is, at its core, sacramental. It is the Godstuff of Flesh and Spirit. A preached word is flesh. THIS is a basic (introductory) course in the theory and practice of liturgical preaching. Classes will be centered on the practice of preaching by students, as well as the skills of careful listening and the offering of constructive criticism for the benefit of all participants.

Anglican churches around the world face a serious problem in discipleship and has called for a season of “intentional discipleship and disciple-making.” The Anglican Church of Canada renewed its emphasis on discipleship, providing some... more

Anglican churches around the world face a serious problem in discipleship and has called for a season of “intentional discipleship and disciple-making.” The Anglican Church of Canada renewed its emphasis on discipleship, providing some helpful resources, but there are no studies of how discipleship may be experienced at a congregational level. This study focuses on an Anglican church, identified as a leader in discipleship ministry. Through in-depth interviews and observations of formative events, I sought to discover how this congregation understood discipleship, engaged its Anglican tradition, lived and nurtured its reality in their context.

A history of Christ Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Diocese of Pennsylvania sponsored a robust mission among Polish- speaking persons from 1916 to 1969. These congregations were distinct from the two major independent Polish churches outside of the Roman Catholic Church: the Polish Old... more

The Diocese of Pennsylvania sponsored a robust mission among Polish- speaking persons from 1916 to 1969. These congregations were distinct from the two major independent Polish churches outside of the Roman Catholic Church: the Polish Old Catholic Church in America, led by Anthony Kozlowski (1857-1905), and the better-known Polish National Catholic Church, led by Francis Hodur (1866-1953). After the merger of the two groups, the Episcopal Church and the Polish National Catholic Church entered into full communion.

In the era prior to the Great Schism of 1054, Christianity was one Church composed of two culturally distinct elements: the Greek East and Latin West. The Greek and Latin halves of the Church each possessed their own independent... more

In the era prior to the Great Schism of 1054, Christianity was one Church composed of two culturally distinct elements: the Greek East and Latin West. The Greek and Latin halves of the Church each possessed their own independent liturgical and cultural customs which were part of the dispute that lead to the Great Schism, effectively separating the Church into independent Greek and Latin sides. While the West had retained liturgical expressions that differed from the majority Western Rite (in the form of the Italo-Albanian Catholic Church, which remained in communion with Rome after the official break with Constantinople), the Christian East was exclusively composed of Churches celebrating the Byzantine Rite for approximately nine hundred years. This changed in the latter half of the nineteenth century with the conversion of Julius Joseph Overbeck to the Russian Orthodox Church in London. Since that time, there have been attempts and successes in establishing a Western Rite in the Eastern Church. This thesis approaches Western Rite Orthodoxy as an established phenomenon in Eastern Christianity, especially as a facet of Orthodoxy in countries where Orthodoxy constitutes a minority. While previous short studies have attempted to substantiate or discredit the legitimacy of Western Rite Orthodoxy as a movement, this thesis accepts the reality of the Western rite and seeks to understand Western Rite Orthodoxy by documenting its history thoroughly, the investigating peculiarities of the Orthodox Western rite compared to other Western liturgies, exposing potential problems (spiritual and canonical) of the current rite and devotions when compared to accepted Orthodox theology and spirituality, and by evaluating some of the criticisms which are often employed against Western Rite Orthodoxy. To complete this critical evaluation, there are some important areas of consideration. Though there have been some studies of Western Rite Orthodoxy, there has been little historical documentation of the movement since the middle part of the twentieth century. Part of Western Rite Orthodoxy’s development has been the alteration of liturgical texts to bring them into conformity with the theology and spirituality of the Eastern Church. There is some question, both in academic and ecclesiastical circles, about how thoroughly these changes were implemented, whether there are still elements requiring further correction, and even if the Western liturgies can be brought into conformity with Eastern theology and practice in any instance. Furthermore, there is are ecumenical implications to the presence of Western Rite Orthodoxy that have yet to be addressed, particularly in the Western Rite Orthodox rejection of post-Vatican II liturgies used by the majority of Western Christianity, and the effect this might have on a future reunion between a Western Church and Orthodoxy. With this critical framework established, there is a greater opportunity to fully understand Western Rite Orthodoxy in the twentieth century, both as it affects the Orthodox Church itself and as it affects external relationships between the Orthodox and other Christian churches. Secondarily, the thesis provides a more complete history in terms of documentation and contextualization of Western Rite Orthodoxy than is presently available through any other medium.

The Eucharist is a sacrament of grace, liturgically enacted in words, gestures, and substances meant to recall the executed and resurrected body of Jesus Christ, a Palestinian Jew under political occupation. It calls the assembly into... more

The Eucharist is a sacrament of grace, liturgically enacted in words, gestures, and substances meant to recall the executed and resurrected body of Jesus Christ, a Palestinian Jew under political occupation. It calls the assembly into ethical action in solidarity with Jesus, to stand alongside him, and with those who currently suffer in our communities. The Eucharist is crucial for the work of racial justice and holds transformation for those white U.S. American Christians who are seeking to challenge the social and political idolatry of white supremacy. To access the practice of love that the Eucharist leads us to, to recover the vision of God from within the rites of a historically white supremacist tradition, white Episcopalians must engage in the uncomfortable and vital work of truth telling. This project offers an exploration of the racial history of the denomination, and a political liturgics grounded in black liberation theology, sacramental and political theology, and ritual theory. It concludes with suggestions for anti-racist liturgical and pedagogical practice for majority white Episcopal parishes.

Since the beginning of Christianity, the recruitment of the episcopal body has given rise to many taboos and has many obstacles; the restrictions are both religious and civil and the legislation of the laity complements the minimum... more

Since the beginning of Christianity, the recruitment of the episcopal body has given rise to many taboos and has many obstacles; the restrictions are both religious and civil and the legislation of the laity complements the minimum expected by the bishops. The choice of the candidate is difficult to define because it is not always easy to link to the canonical theory a practical reality. Several factors are taken into account in the choice of the candidate: beyond the legal obligations, one expects of the moral virtues whose normative sources do not say anything. After studying the African texts addressing the issue of episcopal election, we will attempt to respect the theoretical scheme of the acts of recruitment to the episcopate: the choice of the candidate, his appointment and his consecration. In particular, one has to wonder about his previous career, which does not necessarily follow the ecclesiastical or monastic path. The study of the motivations of the candidates is impossible because they can not be evaluated by sources which limit them to a divine revelation.

This is a completed draft of a preliminary draft placed on my website but had not posted for discussion.

In such a brief essay as this, one can only begin to scratch the surface of what it means to preach online. What I have tried to do is offer the reader a handful of models that may hopefully prove helpful in beginning to understand more... more

In such a brief essay as this, one can only begin to scratch the surface of what it means to preach online. What I have tried to do is offer the reader a handful of models that may hopefully prove helpful in beginning to understand more deeply what is actually happening in the lives of believers who offer these sermons as well as those who watch and listen to them. We have seen that preaching online affords certain opportunities that preaching from the traditional pulpit alone cannot.

Haec studia amici et collegae Andrei B. Biernacki septuagennio dicant

This article examines the life of The Right Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson, second Episcopal Bishop of Mississippi. A distinguished controversial theologian and author, he came to Mississippi from Wisconsin to Jackson through churches in... more

This article examines the life of The Right Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson, second Episcopal Bishop of Mississippi. A distinguished controversial theologian and author, he came to Mississippi from Wisconsin to Jackson through churches in Chicago, New York City, and New Orleans. This extensive biography on his life and family discusses the recovery of the Bishop's chair, his Masonic career, and several notable events such as the Great Chicago Fire, the 1876 Presidential election, the murder of prohibitionist newspaper editor Roderick Gambrell in Jackson and Jefferson Davis' funeral.

This article reassesses the impact of the Investiture Controversy on the late-eleventh and early-twelfth century diocese of Liège. It argues that the image of an papalist rebellion against the imperialist Bishop Otbert is too one-sided... more

This article reassesses the impact of the Investiture Controversy on the late-eleventh and early-twelfth century diocese of Liège. It argues that the image of an papalist rebellion against the imperialist Bishop Otbert is too one-sided and that enmities between the prelate and the abbeys of Saint-Hubert and Saint-Laurent were chiefly induced by the bishop's highhanded interventions in the monasteries' internal affairs.

Gutiérrez Lloret, Sonia. “El Tolmo de Minateda: de Senable a Teodomiro”. En: En tiempos de los visigodos en el territorio de Valencia: Museu de Prehistòria de València, del 18 de desembre de 2019 al 28 de juny de 2020. València: Diputació... more

Gutiérrez Lloret, Sonia. “El Tolmo de Minateda: de Senable a Teodomiro”. En: En tiempos de los visigodos en el territorio de Valencia: Museu de Prehistòria de València, del 18 de desembre de 2019 al 28 de juny de 2020. València: Diputació de València. Museu de Prehistòria, 2019. ISBN 978-84-7795-839-0, pp. 133-139.

This semester-long independent study project involved an exploratory transcription of the manuscript journal of Harry Croswell, rector of Trinity Church, New Haven from 1815 to 1858. In connection with the activities of the Trinity Church... more

“North American Anglicanism: Competing Factions, Creative Tensions, and the Liberal- Conservative Impasse ”: in The Oxford History of Anglicanism: Global Western Anglicanism, c. 1910-Present,” Vol. 4, Jeremy Morris, ed. London: Oxford... more

“North American Anglicanism: Competing Factions, Creative Tensions, and the Liberal- Conservative Impasse ”: in The Oxford History of Anglicanism: Global Western Anglicanism, c. 1910-Present,” Vol. 4, Jeremy Morris, ed. London: Oxford University Press, 5 vols. 2017.

'Bishops of Ely, 1864-1956' in Peter Meadows, (ed.) Ely: Bishops and Diocese, 1109-2009 (Woodbridge, 2010) pp.259-286.