Vol. VII. No. 1
*****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
*****
Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net
*****
In This Issue -
Special Item This Week:
"A Short Reflection on My
Planned Summer Reading"
___
Colleague Comments:
Arthur Bauer
Hardy Schroeder
Bob Todd
___
Colleague Contributions
Martin Marty
___
Net Notes:
Borg-Crossan in Alberta
British Royals Conquer Canada
Marriage Series: The Next Chapter
Indian Leader Lauds Christian Education
Treasure Trove Found Under Indian Temple
South Korea Again in Stem Cell Spotlight
Austrian RC Priests Call for Disobedience
Church Leaders in the North Offer Apologies
Sinclair: Survivors Can Insure Better Future
Schuller Loses Vote at His Crystal Cathedral
___
Global Faith Potpourri:
Thirteen ENI Geneva stories this week.
___
Quotes of the Week:
Maya Angelou
Brennan Manning
Joan Chittister
St. Gregory of Nyssa
James W. Jones
Ambrose of Milan
___
Closing Thought -
Julian of Norwich
(end)
*****
Dear Friends:
This is the first issue of Colleagues List
offered in Volume Seven. My writing year
runs from July 1st to June 30th.
I'd like to share some book titles that
are occupying my attention right now:
"A Short Reflection on
My Planned Summer Reading"
___
Colleague Comments:
Arthur Bauer - provides links to two reviews
from the current issue of Foreign Affairs.
Hardy Schroeder - expresses appreciation
for the work I put into Colleagues List.
Bob Todd - conveys similar sentiments
___
Colleague Contributions
Martin Marty -
Read a review of Marty's newest book:
"Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Letters and Papers
From Prison"
___
Net Notes:
"Borg-Crossan in Alberta" - here is an
announcement of a seminar led this fall
in Edmonton by Colleagues List favourites
Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.
(personal correspondence)
"British Royals Conquer Canada" - the
young royal couple were a big hit all
across the land, reviving hopes that
perhaps the monarchy can still fulifll
an important function in our nation
(Toronto Star, Utoday, BBC News)
"Marriage Series: The Next Chapter" -
with New York State voting to endorse
gay unions, here is a link to a series
of articles on marriage's evolving nature
(New York Times)
"Indian Leader Lauds Christian Education"
= a Muslim leader celebrates a good thing
he believes Christians have done for his
nation (Ucan News)
"Treasure Trove Found Under Indian Temple"
- a cache of great wealth, measured in the
billions, is found at an ancient site
(New York Times)
"South Korea Again in Stem Cell Spotlight"
- after a major research scandal hit the
nation earlier this year, some good news
(Reuters)
"Austrian RC Priests Call for Disobedience"
- the attempts of the Catholic hierarchy in
Austria to hide the truth have created a
climate of distrust in the priesthood
(The Tablet, UK)
"Church Leaders in the North Offer Apologies"
- the Truth and Reconciliation process has
prompted a joint presentation by Roman
Catholic and Anglican bishops there
(Anglican Journal)
"Sinclair: Survivors Can Insure Better Future"
- the head of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, a Manitoba Cree, offers words of
encouragement to his own First Nations people
(Anglican Journal)
"Schuller Loses Vote at His Crystal Cathedral"
- the founder of the California temple and a
father of the American megachurch movement no
longer has a voice on his own church council
(The Christian Century)
___
Global Faith Potpourri:
Thirteen stories appear this week
courtesy of Ecumenical News International
in Geneva.
___
Quotes of the Week:
Maya Angelou, Brennan Manning, Joan Chittister,
St. Gregory of Nyssa, James W. Jones and
Ambrose of Milan provide thought-provoking
insights for our enrichment.
___
Closing Thought -
Julian of Norwich, the first woman perported
to write in English concludes this week's issue.
Blessings on your days,
Wayne
************************
CELTIC TOUR REUNION WEEKEND AT ST. DAVID'S
"Report to the Congregation and Reflection"
Sunday, Sept. 11th, and Monday, Sept. 12th
As St. David's congregation returns from
the summer break, we plan a special weekend
of gathering/worship for those participating
in our Fiftieth Anniversary Tour of the Celtic
Lands, April 26th - May 10th, 2011.
Sunday, September 11th - worship with a
Celtic theme, and a special "Sight and
Sound Report" to the congregation prepared
by Jock McTavish (some of this material will
be posted on Colleagues List).
A CD Jock has produced will be given gratis
to all tour participants and extras will be
made available for those who are interested.
Monday, September 12th, TM Room, 5-9PM
the venue of a special reunion for persons
who took the tour. It will be an opportunity
for reflection and suggestions for future
spiritual travel projects sponsored by
the ACTS Ministry of St. David's.
David Rostad of Rostad Tours, the person
whose tour company planned and organized our
experience in the UK and Ireland, will be
present to join our reflections and suggest
future possibilities.
Mark your calendars!
*****
SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS
Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or)admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/
Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/services.htm
___
ST DAVID'S ACTS WEB PAGE
Created and maintained by Colleague
Jock McTavish
http://stdavidscalgary.net/
NOTE: This page is being reconstructed.
*****
STUDY ARCHIVES
A collection of twenty-five+ studies conducted
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://bookstudies.stdavidscalgary.net/
This collection of study resources represents
a decade of Monday Night Studies at St. David's,
plus extra courses too!
You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.
******************************************
SPECIAL ITEM
A BRIEF REFLECTION ON MY
PLANNED SUMMER READING
Summer offers many of us a chance
to spend time with books in a way
not possible during busier seasons.
I hsve three books on my current
reading table that invite attention.
The first is "On China" by former
US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger.
Distilled from 40 years of engagement
with the Chinese nation, Kissinger
suggests how they view their own history
and external relations in ways that
differ and often confound Westerners.
I am particularly interested in his
thoughts on how we will need to come
to a better understanding of Chinese
thinking as we move into a very
different world with nations like
China and India playing major roles
in international affairs.
For a review of this book click:
Globe and Mail, May 28th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/3sjq88l
---
Readers of Colleagues List know that
I have a special love for Gandhi and
his contribution to human history.
A new biography appeared this spring
that contains new revelations and
insights after many had thought all
there was to know had been written.
"Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His
Struggle With India." by Joseph Lelyveld
a former New York Times correspondent
and Pulitzer prize-winner - approaches
the Mahatmas's strengths and weaknesses
both respectfully and honestly. In truth,
he believes that Gandhi is heroic in spite
of his personal flaws.
He makes Gandhi more human - even though
some have been quite offended by some of
the revelations of the author.
Read a review from the Christian
Science Moniter:
http://tinyurl.com/3udtewo
Behind the Furor over "Great Soul"
http://tinyurl.com/3ms5elk
---
A third summer selection is by
a school-mate of mine from my
Wilfrid Laurier University days.
John Horman has written an
intriguing scholarly study,
recently published by Wilfrid
Laurier University Press and
entitled:
"A Common Written Greek Source
for Mark and Thomas"
Many of us are familiar with
the "Q" or "Quelle" source that
scholars have claimed was a
common text (now lost) for
several existing Gospels in the
New Testament canon. Horman
goes further to propose that both
Mark and Thomas (the latter is not
in our current canon but is often
used today) had a common - but
also lost - source he calls "N"
in this study.
"Close verbal parallels between
the versions of Mark and Thomas
show that each has a common
source I conclude is "N,"
Horman says.
This has interesting implications
for scripture study and the place
of Thomas in our contemporary
reading of scripture.
I hope to share more, perhaps in
the form of a book notice, when
I discover more of how John
defends his thesis.
Learn more about this book from
the WLU Press link:
http://www.wlu.ca/press/Catalog/horman.shtml
Texts Common to Mark and Thomas
http://tinyurl.com/3qn33z5
---
During our spring travels in the
UK, Ireland and France, Marlene and
I picked up many informative booklets
on places visited. We can now reflect
upon these great experiences with more
deliberation.
I will be enjoying the 60+ books we
secured on site at a more leisurely
pace than was possible while on tour.
Tbis reading adds a great deal of
satisfaction to the marvelous cross-
section of places we visited during
a rewarding four weeks of travel.
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
ARTHUR BAUER
Pompton Plains, NJ
June 27th, 2011
Wayne,
As I read this book review - see link below -
(Holy Ignorance: Where Religion and Culture
Part Ways by Olivier Roy, Columbia Un. Press
2010), I wonder if you knew of the book and
review.
You would find it interesting and your reaction
would be of interest to me. Here is the direct
web-site for the review, which appears in the
current, July-August 2011, issue of Foreign
Affairs, pages 159-163.
http://tinyurl.com/6kna5f2
BTW the immediate previous review of Kissinger
and Friedberg is written by my son-in-law,
Joanne's husband.
Regards,
Art
---
HARDY SCHROEDER
Winnipeg, MB.
July 1st, 2011
Elfrieda and I really value your
"religion and culture blog."
THANK YOU for refreshing and stimulating
us every week (or two) with your sightings
and reflections.
And congrats are certainly in order for
having reached the 284th issue (and seven
years of publishing)! How do you find
the time and energy to literally cover
the faith world the way you do ... ?!
We are glad you're "still going strong"!
God bless you and Marlene.
(Elfrieda and) Hardy
---
BOB TODD
Minneapolis, MN.
"Thanks, Wayne. Can't thank you enough
for sharing news of these resources.
Enjoy the weekend."
Bob
http://www.bobtoddpublicity.com/
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
MARTIN MARTY
New Book:
"Dietrich Bonhoeffer's
Letters and Papers from Prison"
Review provided by:
Englewood Review of Books
July 1st, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/65f2ns2
*****
NET NOTES
BORG-CROSSAN IN ALBERTA
From: Melanie Funk
melanief@anwconf.com]
Monday, July 04, 2011
St. Albert United Church is pleased to
announce that scholars Marcus Borg
and John Dominic Crossan are returning
to Edmonton on September 9 and 10,
2011 to present their new seminar
"Speaking Christian: Redeeming
Christian Language" at the University
of Alberta Conference Centre (Lister
Hall). In this first time presentation
of this seminar in Canada, our
presenters will explore how Christian
language has changed over the years and
how those changes have distorted the
meanings. Learn how we can reclaim,
redeem and liberate the true meanings
behind those words that shape our
identity as Christians.
More information is available through
the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton
http://edmonton.anglican.org/events/2011-09-09
and event tickets can be purchased through
www.speakingchristian.eventbrite.com
http://www.speakingchristian.eventbrite.com/
*****
BRITISH ROYALS CONQUER CANADA
Toronto Star
July 6th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/3hogkr6
---
Visit to Medical Research Centre
on University of Calgary Campus
Utoday
July 7th 2011
http://tinyurl.com/5ssgtlz
---
Royals a Hit in Canada -
A Summary of the Tour
BBC News
July 8th, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14090248
*****
MARRIAGE SERIES: THE NEXT CHAPTER
New York Times
July 4th, 2011
With marriage expanding in once
unimaginable ways, what might the
next stage in this evolution be?
Follow an on-going debate:
http://tinyurl.com/3qlrma4
*****
LEADER LAUDS CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Indian Muslim Praises Program
Ucan News
July 8th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/3e7mdbb
*****
TREASURE TROVE UNDER INDIAN TEMPLE
New York Times
July 5th, 2011
Beneath a Temple in Southern India,
a Treasure Trove of Staggering Riches
A search of vaults at the
Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple found
a vast collection of gold coins,
jewels and precious stones worth
an estimated $22 billion.
http://tinyurl.com/3w7j5zt
---
What to do With $22 Billion
New York Times
July 8th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/3uxoasz
*****
SOUTH KOREA IN STEM CELL SPOTLIGHT
Post Scandal, New Breakthrough
Reuters News
July 7th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/3d7ng7c
*****
AUSTRIAN RC PRIESTS
CALL FOR DISOBEDIENCE
The Tablet, UK
July 9th, 2011
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/161447
*****
CHURCH LEADERS
OFFER APOLOGIES
Ecumenical Voices at
Truth and Reconciliation
Hearings in the North
Anglican Journal News
July 1st, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/5s68mm6
*****
SINCLAIR: SURVIVORS CAN
INSURE A BETTER FUTURE
Truth and Reconciliation Update
Anglican Journal
July 4th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/65j6srm
*****
SCHULLER LOSES VOTE AT
HIS CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL
The Christian Century
July 5th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/3qexlls
*****
GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI
Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
30 June 2011
Hong Kong cardinal joins protest for
religious freedom in China
Hong Kong (ENI). Cardinal Joseph Zen
Ke-kiun, the retired bishop of Hong
Kong, joined a protest outside the
Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong
yesterday,asking Beijing to stop
harassing Catholic bishops and priests
in mainland China. Zen and the event's
organizer, the Catholic Justice and
Peace Commission, criticized Beijing
for interfering with recent bishop
ordinations. An ordination on 29
June in Leshan, Sichuan, took place
without papal mandate. On the same day,
however, one with a papal mandate was
stopped by the authorities in Handan,
Hebei. The candidate, Fr. Joseph Sun
Jigen, was arrested.
_____
Conference looking at racism in
Latin America ends with call for
change
Managua, Nicaragua (ENI). Religious
leaders from across the Americas and
the Caribbean issued a declaration
calling for a worldwide move by
churches to educate people about
racism, according to a news release.
The statement came at the conclusion
of a conference held last week in
Managua, Nicaragua. Organized by
the World Council of Churches (WCC)
and the Latin America Council of
Churches (CLAI), the gathering
focused on the violent effects
of racism against people of African
descent in the region. It was the
first such event to bring together
church leaders of Afro-descendent
communities in the Americas and
the Caribbean.
*****
1 July 2011
Role of faith-based groups crucial as
Southern Sudan becomes independent,
says rights coalition
Nairobi, Kenya (ENI). Faith communities
in Sudan have an enormous opportunity and
responsibility to facilitate peace and
reconciliation in their country,according
to the leader of a global antigenocide
coalition, speaking eight days before
Southern Sudan becomes an independent
nation. "We have seen the power of these
faith communities and the action based
on their values in the past. "Certainly
we need them now," said Tom Andrews,
president of the Genocide Intervention
Network/Save Darfur Coalition(GIN/SDC).
_____
Russian pro-lifers to launch women's
health clinics that don't provide
abortions
Moscow (ENI). A Russian pro-life
organization is about to launch a
network of clinics offering pre-
and post-natal care while excluding
procedures such as abortion and
in-vitro fertilization that
"contradict the teachings of the
Russian Orthodox, Catholic and
traditional Protestant churches,"
said Alexey Komov, the project
manager. The Life-Family Medical
Centers Network will be run on a
franchise basis under the auspices
of "Za Zhizn" ("For Life"), an
anti-abortion organization led
by two Russian Orthodox priests.
Its formation was announced in
Moscow on 30 June at the end of
a two-day summit held by the
Rockford, Illinois-based World
Congress of Families (WCF). The
clinics will cooperate with
American organizations such as
Heartbeat International, which
also runs pro-life medical
centers.
*****
5 July 2011
Thousands of modern-day scribes lend a hand
in Methodist Bible transcription
London (ENI news) - In a process hearkening
back to the pre-Gutenberg era, when monks
laboriously copied sacred texts by hand,
more than 30,000 people throughout the United
Kingdom recently participated in a handwritten
transcription of the Bible.
The completed project was presented at the
annual Methodist Conference in Southport,
England, set to conclude 7 July. Delegates
voted at last year's conference to undertake
the project, the first of its kind in Methodist
history, to mark the 400th anniversary of the
King James Bible. According to a news release,
guidelines were drawn up for the 31 Methodist
districts, "enabling them to organize the
project as creatively as possible in their
regions."
Public writing centers called scriptoriums
were set up by volunteers in various places,
including prisons, schools, libraries,
airports, and shopping centers.
_____
Anglican and Jewish leaders meet to discuss
importance of shared scripture
Jerusalem (ENI news) - Anglican and Jewish
leaders met recently to discuss the
centrality of the Psalms to both traditions,
according to a news release from the Anglican
Communion News Service. The gathering was the
fifth meeting of the Anglican-Jewish Commission
of the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury
and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. It was
hosted by the American Jewish Committee on
14 and 15 June at its facility in Jerusalem.
*****
6 July 2011
Mexican priest dies after being
caughtin cartel-military crossfire
Mexico City (ENI). A Catholic priest
died of his wounds last week after
being caught in the crossfire of a
shootout between drug cartel gunmen
and the military in Matamoros, across
the border from Brownsville, Texas,
authorities said.
The Father Marco Antonio Duran Romero,
48, pastor of the St. Robert Bellarmine
Parish and host of a local television
program, was shot in the chest after
encountering the shootout while out
driving on Saturday, said Father Alan
Camargo, spokesman for the Diocese of
Matamoros, according to a news release
from the Latin America and Caribbean
Communication Agency.
_____
Pakistani religious minorities criticize
recent government initiative
Bangalore, India (ENI). Christians and
other minority leaders in Pakistan have
spoken out against the government's move
to relegate issues regarding religious
minorities to provincial governments in
the Muslim-majority nation, instead of
dealing with them on a national level.
"This is obviously a major setback to
Christians and other religious
minorities," said the Rev Maqsood Kamil,
spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church
of Pakistan (PCP). Kamil was reacting
to the government's approval on 28 June
to place seven federal ministries,
including the Ministry for Religious
Minorities, under the control of
provincial governments. The move is
in accordance with the 18th Amendment
to Pakistan's constitution, passed
in April.
_____
Methodists strengthen links with
Church of England at annual conference
Canterbury, England (ENI). One of
the highlights of this year's Methodist
Church Conference in Southport, England,
which ends tomorrow, has been a
discussion of ways to strengthen
cooperation with the Church of England.
"The Anglican-Methodist Covenant of
2003, which aims at enhancing unity
between the two churches, was
discussed, and on the final day,
delegates plan to examine an
ecumenical report on the subject
of greater co-operation," said
Anna Drew, a Methodist spokesperson.
"That will mean the Methodist Church
changing various standing orders,
similar to the Church of England's
canon laws, in order for it to
implement the Covenant."
*****
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners.online
July 1st, 2011
"If you find it in your heart to
care for somebody else, you will
have succeeded."
- Maya Angelou
---
July 2nd, 2011
"[Be] daring enough to be different,
humble enough to make mistakes, wild
enough to be burnt in the fire of love,
real enough to make others see how
phony [you] are."
- Brennan Manning
---
July 5th, 2011
"To allow ourselves to become digital
chips in an electronic world, isolates
in an interdependent universe, women
and men out of touch with the life
pulse of a living God, indifferent
to creation, concerned only with
ourselves, and still call ourselves
good -- is to mistake the rituals
of religion for the sanctifying
dimensions of spirituality."
- Joan Chittister writes in:
"The Monastery of the Heart"
---
July 6th, 2011
"Concepts create idols; only wonder
comprehends anything. People kill
one another over idols. Wonder makes
us fall to our knees."
- St. Gregory of Nyssa
---
July 7th, 2011
"Teach me, God, to pray/
in works as much as in words/
to make my actions thoughtful messages/to
make my actions more beautiful than words."
- James W. Jones
---
July 8th, 2011
"You are human, and temptation has
overtaken you. Overcome it. I counsel,
I beseech, I implore you to repentance."
- Ambrose of Milan
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT -
"The Fullness of Joy is
to Behold God in Everything"
- Julian of Norwich
(end)
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