- OE - lists.wedgeblade.net

Re: [Oe List ...] OE Digest, Vol 12, Issue 4
by Jaime R Vergara 06 Mar '13

06 Mar '13

Thanks, Sunny. Also trying to find the back door to YouTube in China. I know there is one; it just costs a few pesetas! j'aime la vie Yesterday, appreciate; tomorrow, anticipate; today, participate. In all, Celebrate! -----Original Message----- From: oe-request <oe-request(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> To: oe <oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> Sent: Wed, Mar 6, 2013 2:31 am Subject: OE Digest, Vol 12, Issue 4 Send OE mailing list submissions to oe(a)lists.wedgeblade.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to oe-request(a)lists.wedgeblade.net You can reach the person managing the list at oe-owner(a)lists.wedgeblade.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of OE digest..." Today's Topics: 1. YouTube (Jaime R Vergara) 2. RS1 in Bonham, Texas - June 6-8 (Ken Fisher) 3. Re: YouTube (Sunny Walker) ----------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0

YouTube
by Jaime R Vergara 05 Mar '13

05 Mar '13

Just in case anyone is tech savvy, and have some time, might you download Mac YouTubedownloader and get us an mp4 copy of "WealthInequality in America," a six-minute video produced by a YouTube usernamed "Politizane." Cannot access YouTube in China. Thanks. j'aime la vie Yesterday, appreciate; tomorrow, anticipate; today, participate. In all, Celebrate!

2 1

RS1 in Bonham, Texas - June 6-8
by Ken Fisher 05 Mar '13

05 Mar '13

Spirit Colleagues, I am most pleased to share with you the forthcoming RS1 in Bonham, Texas. For those of us who have spouses or colleagues who have 'never been' or for those of us who wish to be refreshed, here is the opportunity. For a viable and flourishing humanity on planet Earth, Ken Announcement of the Realistic Living June 6-9, 2013 Leadership Training School And June 9-12, 2013 Research Symposium This June we want to emphasize the theological foundations and pedagogical methods that inspired the creation of Realistic Living in 1984 and guided our work for the last 29 years. In the 1960s the Order:Ecumenical, through its nonprofit organization The Ecumenical Institute, initiated a five-session weekend course entitled “Religious Studies One: The Twentieth Century Theological Revolution.” Over the following two decades this course was taught to about 50,000 clergy and laity by over a 1000 trained teachers. In the 1980s and 90s the staff of Realistic Living continued to hold updated versions of this course as well as write essays and books on the dynamics that made this course so effective. A Primer on Radical Christianity (1985) was our first full-volume effort. After 2000 we continued to update, expand, and research the sociological implications of this theological breakthrough including three more books: The Call of the Awe: Rediscovering Christian Profundity in an Interreligious Era (2003), Great Paragraphs of Protestant Theology: A commentary on the 20th Century Theological Revolution and its Implications for the 21st Century (2005), and Jacob’s Dream: A Christian Inquiry into Spirit Realization (2008). Our annual Leadership Training Schools and other courses have also continued to work with the content and implications of this theology. In our Leadership Training School this summer we are going to revisit the original five-session dynamics of the RS-1 course, filling in its history and anticipating its future as a guide for the Christian reconstruction we are aiding. This should give us an opportunity to reflect on how to freight the power of RS-1 as we continue forward. Attached is a chart of the schedule for the June Leadership Training School providing an overview of how we will proceed. The four talks on Friday and Saturday will be updated versions of the RS-1 talks, pulling on Joyce’s and Gene’s many years of teaching these dynamics. The study sessions that will follow the talks will focus on five chapters from Great Paragraphs of Protestant Theology. Attendees will be asked to read these brief chapters before coming to the Training School (These readings are available in both hard copy and e-downloads.) We will also provide the five traditional papers. Also attached is a chart of the proposed schedule for the June Research Symposium. The specific research agenda will be decided by the attendees, and the overall nurture structures are in line with those customarily used for these meetings. These meetings will be held in Bonham, Texas, partly in the Marshalls’ home and nearby Guest House and partly in other Bonham locations. Attendees of the Training School need to arrive in time to eat and show up for a 7:00pm opening on Thursday June 6th. Count on a 2-hour drive from the DFW International Airport. The closing time on Wednesday the 12th is 1:00pm. Similar times apply to those arriving or leaving on Sunday. More explicit details will be shared as we get closer to the meetings. Please put these dates on your calendar, choose soon whether you can come, make your travel arrangements, and let us know. For a vital resurgence of Christian practice, Joyce, Gene, and Alan staff of Realistic Living

1 0

From The Directory Man - You almost waited too long!!
by Jayandem2＠aol.com 03 Mar '13

03 Mar '13

Dear Friends and Colleagues: >From Mike Tippett: A good idea before Spring: Renew your subscription to the ICA/OE/EI Directory!! I NEED TO MOVE REMAINING COPIES!! Priced 15% off original price- Now $18.00! IF YOU ARE A FORMER SUBSCRIBER, PLEASE CONSIDER GETTING THE 2013 VERSION There is still time for you to order your copy! For those who aren’t familiar with The Directory, it is a listing of names, addresses, phones, emails and occupations of several hundred people who have been at one time or another associated with the I.C.A., or the Ecumenical Institute, or its programs and projects. It’s fun to see where everyone is living and what each is doing. (I’m in Florida and am semi-retired) If you would like a copy of your listing, either write or email me. If you would like a copy of The Directory, send in the form below. Cost of the Directory is NOW $18.00 for either the booklet form, or a CD. If you order two forms, it will NOW cost $25.00. ORDER FORM NAME: ______________________________ ADDRESS: ____________________________ CITY/STATE/POSTAL(ZIP) CODE: ____________________________ COUNTRY: ________________________ EMAIL: ______________________________ Make Checks out to and send orders to: Michael B. Tippett, 4676 32nd Court East, Bradenton, FL 34203 (USA) Phone: (941) 753-5189 Email: MovementDir(a)aol.com Please send me a copy of the directory: [ ] Booklet form [ ] CD Cost of the Directory is $20.00 for either the booklet form, or a CD. If you order two forms, it will cost $30.00. I enclose $___________ The CD will contain In Memoriam and Names and Addresses, etc, in Microsoft Word format.

1 0

Salmon: "Harvest Time" ETC.
by William Salmon 02 Mar '13

02 Mar '13

Colleagues: The other day while searching on the web, I came across the name of "Brother Van." You will remember he is the author of the song, "Harvest Time." Do a search for "Harvest Time." I had to down load a "Scorch" process to get a FREE COPY. The words and music are exactly as we sang it. Since mid-November, I've been serving as an interim pastor in a near-by village; the pastor is very ill. We made the decision to do a Lenten series on the topic of the Book of Revelation; something I've never done and did not look forward to ever doing it. So far it is a good deep push for me intellectually and spiritually. I made the decision to use "The Way Life Is" (ontological) metaphor to replace the supernatural (Greek) two-story metaphor. It works wonderfully well, and people are finding the message of Revelation is refreshing. Last night, I read again, Joe Matthew's first talk on the Other World in, "Bending History." I was pleased that over all these years, my theology is so heavily indebted to our common history. Should this approach to view the Book of Revelation intrigue you, send me an email at wsalmon(a)cox.net, and I will send you a copy for your reading and dialogue with me. My third book is now published, "One Mission--Two Objectives: Bible Studies in the Gospel of Mark." Information is available at Amazon.com under the title. Or go to Resurgence Publishing--Walters is my publisher of choice. a.. This book--at $17.50--is available from me at $15.00 and I'll pay the postage. b.. All three books ("Decoding our Old Code Words," "The Making of a Teacher: Bible studies in the Gospel of Matthew," and "One Mission--") is available for $40.00, and I'll still pay the postage. Inner Peace, Bill Salmon

1 0

"Journey Reflection" February 2013 Top-viewed Blogs
by Lynda Cock 01 Mar '13

01 Mar '13

Dear colleagues, Following are the top-viewed February blog posts: February <http://rejourney.blogspot.com/2013/02/journey-reflection-blog-review-februa ry.html> 2013. We appreciate your blog suggestions and comments. Exciting news from ICA about proposals and video for 4750 Greenrise. Should be good input for Sustainability Meeting in Oklahoma as we work everywhere for our one Earth home. I'm working on details for attending the Spring Archives in Chicago. Hope to see some of you there. Lynda (and John) >Daily Blog "Journey Reflections" on ... Google: www.reJourney.blogspot.com <http://www.rejourney.blogspot.com/> Google Plus: JR on Google <https://plus.google.com/u/0/114307312715975337692/posts> Plus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transcribebooks Twitter: https://twitter.com/transcribebooks >Web Page: www.transcribebooks.com <http://www.transcribebooks.com/> >Amazon Author (+books): http://tinyurl.com/n467ka

1 0

2/28/13, Spong: The Pope Resigns: A New Opportunity for the Christian World is Born
by Ellie Stock 28 Feb '13

28 Feb '13

HOMEPAGE MY PROFILE ESSAY ARCHIVE MESSAGE BOARDS CALENDAR The Pope Resigns: A New Opportunity for the Christian World is Born The world in general and members of the Roman Catholic Church in particular were shocked at the recent announcement that Pope Benedict XIV was resigning the papal office at the end of February. A moment of transition for this church has arrived. The stated reason for this unusual resignation was age and infirmity, but as is the case with every public figure, the world began to look for and wonder if the stated reason was actually the real reason. Time, of course, will reveal all things. Those of us who remember the last years of the papacy of John Paul II wonder why age and infirmity has become an issue all of a sudden, since it was obviously not an issue in John Paul II’s final years. The traditional, hierarchical voices of Roman Catholicism grieve for this pope who was their bulwark against the changing forces of the modern world, holding those forces down with great power. This was not, however, the response of those Catholics who saw in the reforms of Vatican II the hope of the future, nor was it the response of the ecumenical world. This was the Pope who visited Africa with its AIDS epidemic, its poverty, its high rate of starvation and infant mortality, its tribal and civil wars and yet the only moral issue he chose to address was the use of condoms specifically, and birth control generally. This was the pope who, serving as the head of the “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith” or the “Cardinal Inquisitor” under John Paul II, began the systematic suppression of any and all creative thinking. He undercut the work of those young Vatican II theologians who were the stars of that life-giving council, called by the much beloved Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, when he became Pope John XXIII. Among those who were either removed from their posts as “catholic theologians,” silenced or harassed were such giants of the church as Hans Kung, probably the best known and most widely read Catholic theologian of the 20th century; Edward Schillebeeckx, probably the best known Roman Catholic biblical scholar in the 20th century; Leonardo Boff, the father of the Latin-American version of liberation theology; Charles Curran, probably the best known Catholic ethicist in the 20th century, and Matthew Fox, the popular and much published advocate of what came to be called “Creation Spirituality.” The only progressive Catholics escaping suppression by this pope were Catholic lay women, who were theologians. Theologically trained Catholic women are not subject to vows of obedience to the church’s hierarchy, so they were simply marginalized, indexed or refused both appointments and honors by those institutions under Catholic hierarchical control. I refer to great thinkers like Elizabeth Schussler-Fiorenza, Rosemary Reuther, Margaret Farley, Sister Joan Chittister, Jeannette Rodriguez, Jane Schaberg, Pheme Perkins and countless others. This was also the pope who presided over the tragic violence of child abuse and its subsequent criminal cover up that has engulfed the entire Catholic world. At first, when these cases began to come to light, we were told that this was just the work of a few bad priests. As the crisis grew, however, the priestly abuse of children became evident in Ireland, the Philippines, Australia, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia, France, Spain, the United States and many more nations. This widespread abuse clearly revealed a pattern pointing to a systemic sickness that infected the entire ecclesiastical structure. This is why the cover up, which today is undoubted, became so necessary. The cover up was a strategy of survival that revealed just how deep the scandal was. In the United States it reached the level of the cardinals. In Massachusetts Cardinal Bernard Law is so obviously guilty of a massive cover up. His hands were not only on the records of priests guilty of massive abuse, but he was also responsible for the choosing of many bishops appointed throughout the United States, who were also subsequently revealed as guilty of both abuse and cover up. Instead of dealing with that issue and letting Cardinal Law face his accusers in court, the Vatican, near the end of the pontificate of John Paul II, moved to extricate Cardinal Law from any criminal investigation and probable imprisonment by “promoting” him to a senior Vatican position where he will remain for the balance of his life, thus removing him from the possibility of ever having to testify under oath or of responding to a subpoena. The “second in command” in the Vatican when this decision was made was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI. No Vatican action could have announced more publicly that a cover up was the official policy of the Catholic Church than this. Cardinal Law was thus placed into a position of high honor instead of going to jail and he was present to say one of the official masses at the death of John Paul II. He has remained in this senior prestigious position during the entirety of the pontificate of Benedict XVI. So Benedict XVI was touched by and involved in this scandal from the very beginning of his papacy. In the midst of Benedict’s pontificate, stories emerged out of Germany, which revealed that while he was the Archbishop of Munich, he failed to take the necessary steps to address the child abuse scandal and, as the investigation got closer and closer to his office, the hierarchy of that church went into its most protective, defensive posture, seeking to remove him from any responsibility. A closed investigation, however, never does that, so the Munich odor is still abroad, still waiting to be dispelled by truth. The truth will eventually be made clear. Just before the time of the Benedict XVI’s resignation, hundreds of subpoenaed letters and documents revealed beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles had been literally directing the cover up activities, while all the time publicly proclaiming just how thoroughly he was prosecuting those guilty of molesting children. Since child molestation is a crime, then protecting a person guilty of child molestation is also a crime. Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles is thus now charged with criminal behavior and ought to be prosecuted under the law. His successor in office in Los Angeles, Archbishop Jose Gomez, has forbidden him to function publicly. Cardinal Mahoney, in a recent blog to his friends, however, asked for their prayers as he flies to Rome to participate in the papal election. Does not everyone understand why there is public disillusionment both within the Catholic Church and beyond it? This was the Pope who would rather close churches, which has been done by the thousands across the world, than open ordination to allow priests who resigned to get married to function as priests. He would rather have no priests than to break the 12th century celibacy requirement or to allow women to be ordained. This was the Pope who continued to call homosexuals “deviant,” a definition almost universally rejected in the scientific and medical community. This was the Pope who spoke out against any politician who supported same sex marriage and then sat back to watch a majority of Catholics in the United States vote for the election of Barack Obama, who endorsed this position. This was the pope who must have seen our nation marching irrevocably toward a Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of gay marriage. Today on that court of nine judges sit six Roman Catholic and three Jewish justices. Few people doubt the ultimate outcome of this debate or the ultimate outcome of the Supreme Court decision. The only question is how long will it take for the prejudice against gay and lesbian people, so deeply supported by institutional Christianity through the centuries, to come to its inevitable death? If not from the Supreme Court as presently constituted, then which Supreme Court in which year will deliver the inevitable coup de grace to our nation’s church supported homophobia? There is always hope in transition. Hope is dampened, however, by the realization that all of the 117 cardinals who will cast their votes for the next pope were appointed by John Paul II or Benedict XVI, and even those appointed by John Paul II were influenced by Cardinal Ratzinger, in the number two position in the Vatican under John Paul II. So there is, people say, little realistic hope for change. That is not a certainty. Many an American president has appointed justices to the Supreme Court whose voting record has been surprisingly different from what the appointing president anticipated. One recalls Dwight Eisenhower’s appointment of Chief Justice Earl Warren, John F. Kennedy’s appointment of Justice Byron (Whizzer) White and George H. W. Bush’s appointment of Justice David H. Souter. No one can finally control the thought processes of another and, as the poet James Russell Lowell once noted, “Time makes ancient good uncouth.” So no one should despair until the choice is made and the white smoke appears. Remember that John XXIII was chosen as a compromise candidate who, because of his advanced age, was thought to merely be a “seat warmer” until a consensus leader emerged. John Paul XXIII proved to be far more than that as he lit the fires for a new reformation, for the modernization of his church, for new ecumenical and interfaith initiatives, and he opened the door to a new spirit. Every pope since, clearly frightened by change, has expended enormous energy in trying to restore Catholicism to its controlling pre-Vatican II lifestyle. Truth, however, cannot finally be suppressed simply because it is ecclesiastically inconvenient. So hope still burns brightly in the hearts and minds of millions of Catholics the world over. That hope just might turn out to be nothing less than a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Will this Spirit be seen, felt and responded to by the Sacred Concave? Only time will tell. The odds appear to be long, but the future of the Roman Catholic Church and maybe of Christianity itself, may well hang on the choice made by these 117 generally old men. ~John Shelby Spong Read the essay online here. Question & Answer Chase Kruger, from Oklahoma City, writes: Question: I am thankful to say that I watched a speech you made last night and it moved me to the point of tears. I had chills running up and down my spine as I listened to your explanation of the Bible in relation to homosexuality. For years I was filled with self-hatred. As a young adult I have tried t explain the responsibility the church has to the suicide of gay teens and the homophobic nature the church has fueled. My intent has been to show Christians how the church is turning family against family, youth against youth and degrading the self worth of those questioning their sexuality. I personally see the Bible as a living document that Christians will continue to grow and understand as they grow spiritually. I in no way want anyone to change their faith, only the voice and tone in which they express themselves in relation to the discussion of homosexuality. I look forward to finding and reading your publications in the near future. You are a living example of how Christ accepted outcasts and used them to teach the masses. May you forever be blessed and recognized for your contribution to the progressive rights for all humanity. I could never thank you enough for the lives you have saved and hearts to which you have brought much needed love, affection and understanding to. Thank you, thank you, thank you! John 18 - “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” P.S. If you are ever in the Oklahoma area, I would love to have the opportunity to attend one of your events. May you continue to be blessed with the ability to speak to others and change religious and social views. Answer: Dear Chase: Thank you for your letter. I need to tell you that the gay and lesbian people taught me everything I know about homosexuality and, in the process, forced me to confront my own prejudices I stand deeply in their debt. When I got to the place where I could in honesty stand at their side in the battle against homophobia, I began to experience the incredible hostility that happens to gay and lesbian people from inside religion in general and from some forms of Christianity in particular. Most of the death threats I have received came from “Bible-quoting true believers” and they came as a direct result of my witness on behalf of gay and lesbian Christians. I have been to Oklahoma on several occasions so that I know there are Christian churches in that state that stand up against all diminishing human prejudices. One of those churches, the Mayflower Church, is in Oklahoma City and its pastor, Robin Meyers, is a national leader and a constant voice for both Christian truth and human justice. I know you would find a welcome in that church. The other is a newly-formed United Church of Christ in Norman, Oklahoma. It is small but growing and willing to be quite public in its witness. They meet now in rented space but they are on the way. The world needs to know that there are Christian voices in Oklahoma that do not reflect the mentality so often encountered from well known public, and highly placed spokespersons, who are uninformed about homosexuality. (It is not deviant or chosen and it is not condemned in the gospels). I hope you can find a home and a welcome and that when Christians sing, “Just as I am- O Lamb of God - I come,” they will mean it. John Shelby Spong Announcements This months eBulletin from ProgressiveChristianity.org highlighted our Liturgy Project with some of our featured Lenten resources. If you missed it, check it out here: Celebrating Progressive Liturgies with a Focus on our Lent Resources for Your Faith Community. Also, each month ProgressiveChristianity.org sends out a free eBulletin full of articles, reviews, books, liturgies, and more. If this interests you click on this sign up button: Thank you for your interest and your support! Any questions or concerns, please contact us at support(a)johnshelbyspong.com or 503-236-3545. Copyright © 2013 ProgressiveChristianity.org, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have a membership at our website. Our mailing address is: ProgressiveChristianity.org 3530 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Unit 1 Portland, OR 97214 Add us to your address book

1 0

Re: [Oe List ...] San Francisco as first zero-waste city
by LAURELCG＠aol.com 27 Feb '13

27 Feb '13

I copied my e-mail to Lynn, and she had some corrections for me. He works for the City of SF in the Department of the Environment. He doesn't write the software but is involved, more related to education through the website that he did help design and finish. He just made a trip to So Calif to promote something environmental. You don't need to correct your post on my wonderful son, this is just so your next 'brag' is a bit more accurate....I love being related to him...Lynnie Jann In a message dated 2/26/2013 10:40:24 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, jpc2025(a)triad.rr.com writes: Way to go, Jesse. Thanks, Jann. Good day, John

1 0

Resources for Education in Sustainable Living
by R Williams 26 Feb '13

26 Feb '13

Colleagues, In our local community a local citizens cadre of which I am a part is promoting grassroots initiatives in sustainable living. Our major strategy is citizen education, not initially in the "what" or "how" of sustainable living, but in "why" it matters. Our theory is that many local people don't do simple things like recycle, conserve water, etc. because they do not understand the environmental, social and economic benefits to themselves and the communty at large of doing so. Therefore we want to evoke changes of hearts and minds which will lead eventually to sustainable life styles. This is what we mean by education. Not all of our educational ventures will be classroom-based, but some will. My purpose in coming to you is to ask if you would share educational resources that you may know of--curricula, books, articles, service-learning approaches, web links, videos, etc.--anything that you would recommend for a venture like this. If you don't wish to put what you have to offer on the listserv, please respond to me directly at rcwmbw(a)yahoo.com. With appreciation, Randy "The sustainability revolution is nothing less than a rethinking and remaking of our role in the natural world." -David Orr

3 2

San Francisco as first zero-waste city
by LAURELCG＠aol.com 26 Feb '13

26 Feb '13

Below is a passage from John Cock's blog today. Wanted to brag a little on Jesse Woltjer, son of Gil and Lynn. They were in the order in 5th City, Jeju-do and Australia in the early 70's. Jesse works for the city of San Francisco, writing software for the waste management department. Last time I talked to him, he was developing a search engine with which anyone in the city could find a source to recycle stuff. Jann McGuire _Recology_ (http://www.recology.com/) , a waste-management company based in San Francisco, is working with the city of San Francisco to help it become the country’s first zero-waste city…. If they’re successful, all of San Franciscans’ discarded items will be recycled, reused or composted, and its need for landfills will become obsolete. (Michelle Lodge, “The Future of Garbage Is ... No Garbage,” _source_ (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/future-garbage-no-garbage-152428840.html) )

2 1