Saturday, April 16, 2005
Step by Step
This has been a busy week. It has held the meeting of several students who see the need for the seminary to provide credit for those wishing to become bilingual. At present VTS is unable to make that commitment citing problems for accreditation and as it not ranking with other needs in the preparation of students.
Last evening I was honored to hear Bishop Ramos. He spoke to the Encuentro that gathered this weekend at VTS. He too spoke of the need for seminaries to proactive in their stance of preparing students to mission to Spanish Speaking persons. Bishop Ramos did mention the vote that went to General Convention 2003 and expects it to go to be voted on again in 2006. He also mentioned the fact that if the Pentecostal can do it (build churches through the support of the people) so should we. Could we have gotten to comfortable with structure?
It seems to me the church needs to make a decision to support it. If we trust in our Lord and we are acting in line with spreading the gospel then the assets will show up. A decision would legitimate the process opening the doors toward the proper preparation of clergy. What bothers me most about this resistance is that we are lagging behind American Business. The church should lead not follow capital markets. I think too of Paul. What if he tried to evangelize using only Hebrew? I understand evangelize is a bit of a dirty word in the Episcopal church. That needs to change.
I had the opportunity to also meet and speak with Danielle Caballero the Missioner for Hispanic Ministry office. He seemed supportive of the thinking and the initial steps our student group was taking. He believed that General Convention needs to give the Spanish language initive some teeth through a decision. He also mentioned the hope that Deans from all the seminaries should meet to decide common ground on how to proceed.
On the mission front I went to Fr. Reyes Spanish Liturgy class at Santa Maria. He is a powerful witness. He had such exuberance. His class coming on the heels I'm sure on long day. After he told me he has been invited to be a part of a group forming out of Christ Church Alexandria that will be partnering Our Little Roses. From what I heard they are meeting to train the up and communing women of OLR Democracy. From just the brief bits I have heard it sounds as if some of the movers and shakers in Washington will be training the women in political action.
At the Wednesday training I ran into a gentleman from St. Mary's church who will be going to OLR in July. I look forward to meeting him again as he said he would give me some pictures of his now multiple visits to OLR. He'll be returning in July so it possible I might be able to go with him to St. Lukes which is supposed to be a real rural parish in either Northern or Central Honduras.
It continues to be exciting.
Last evening I was honored to hear Bishop Ramos. He spoke to the Encuentro that gathered this weekend at VTS. He too spoke of the need for seminaries to proactive in their stance of preparing students to mission to Spanish Speaking persons. Bishop Ramos did mention the vote that went to General Convention 2003 and expects it to go to be voted on again in 2006. He also mentioned the fact that if the Pentecostal can do it (build churches through the support of the people) so should we. Could we have gotten to comfortable with structure?
It seems to me the church needs to make a decision to support it. If we trust in our Lord and we are acting in line with spreading the gospel then the assets will show up. A decision would legitimate the process opening the doors toward the proper preparation of clergy. What bothers me most about this resistance is that we are lagging behind American Business. The church should lead not follow capital markets. I think too of Paul. What if he tried to evangelize using only Hebrew? I understand evangelize is a bit of a dirty word in the Episcopal church. That needs to change.
I had the opportunity to also meet and speak with Danielle Caballero the Missioner for Hispanic Ministry office. He seemed supportive of the thinking and the initial steps our student group was taking. He believed that General Convention needs to give the Spanish language initive some teeth through a decision. He also mentioned the hope that Deans from all the seminaries should meet to decide common ground on how to proceed.
On the mission front I went to Fr. Reyes Spanish Liturgy class at Santa Maria. He is a powerful witness. He had such exuberance. His class coming on the heels I'm sure on long day. After he told me he has been invited to be a part of a group forming out of Christ Church Alexandria that will be partnering Our Little Roses. From what I heard they are meeting to train the up and communing women of OLR Democracy. From just the brief bits I have heard it sounds as if some of the movers and shakers in Washington will be training the women in political action.
At the Wednesday training I ran into a gentleman from St. Mary's church who will be going to OLR in July. I look forward to meeting him again as he said he would give me some pictures of his now multiple visits to OLR. He'll be returning in July so it possible I might be able to go with him to St. Lukes which is supposed to be a real rural parish in either Northern or Central Honduras.
It continues to be exciting.
