blog.sinden.org

It is not the place of this blog to add anything substantial to the discussion of the recent events at General Theological Seminary in New York City (see today's New York Times for an overview of the situation: "Seeking Dean’s Firing, Seminary Professors End Up Jobless")

But we would be remiss if we did not at this occasion quote the Rt. Rev. Euguene Sutton, Bishop of Maryland and his sermon to the Annual Conference of the Association of Anglican Musicians this summer.

My brothers and sisters, this bishop believes that our parishes need to focus more on their community’s worship as the vehicle for the kind of evangelism that works for us. The problem for the Episcopal Church is not that we are neurotically and unhelpfully fixated on music and liturgy. Rather, the problem for us from an evangelical and church growth stance is that we are not focussed enough on our worship.

"The Two Calls"

This seems to pair well with the perspective of Derek Olsen on the situation at General Seminary:

One of the points of controversy regards the current Dean’s approach to the liturgy and his alteration of this fundamental schedule. Apparently in the name of relevance he has cut this schedule back: there’s no Morning Prayer on Monday and Thursday, there’s no Eucharist on Wednesday or Friday (or Saturday or Sunday). Medievalists and those with a grounding in classical Anglican liturgy will, no doubt, note the irony of skipping Eucharists on Wednesday and Friday…

What’s the big deal? Well, the big deal is that this pattern teaches our future clergy that their spiritual obligations can be altered and shifted if they conflict with more important things. Of course, as time goes by, life interferes more and more until the very idea of an obligation is dispensed with in the name of efficiency and—I suppose—relevance.

"On General Seminary"

It should be noted that one of the faculty members in question is the noted church musician David Hurd, whose work is found throughout the Hymnal 1982

It should also be noted that the hymn tune GENERAL SEMINARY takes its name from General Theological Seminary and was composed by former professor David Charles Walker. It is found at Hymn 382 to the words "King of glory, King of peace".

Labels: David Charles Walker, education, General Theological Seminary, Hurd, Hymnal 1982, hymns, NYT

In the wake of the 77^th General Convention of the Episcopal Church two opinion pieces in major papers have generated a lot of good writing about our life together as a church. Not having any major drama to report (the approval of a provisional liturgy for the blessing of a same-sex relationship was largely expected), The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times ran opinion pieces that take issue with the Episcopal Church for being what it is: a largely progressive, "main line" denomination whose adherents are diminishing in number.

Here's the chronology of what you've missed in the last week or so. (You have a lot of reading to do).

Thursday 12 July

“What ails the Episcopalians”, Jay Akasie, Wall Street Journal

Friday 13 July

“Wrong on Every Count”, Arizona Bishop, the aptly named blog of the Bishop of Arizona, Kirk Smith.

“What ails the Wall Street Journal: Error-laden opinion on Episcopalians”, Seven Whole Days, the blog of the Rev. Scott Gunn, director of Forward Movement. Seven Whole Days is perhaps my newest favorite EpiscoBlog.

Saturday 14 July

“Can Liberal Christianity be Saved?”, Ross Douthat, New York Times, an opinion piece that opens by invoking the name of John Shelby Spong, accompanied by a photo of the Choir of Men & Girls at the National Cathedral.

Sunday 15 July

"Can Christianity Be Saved? A Response to Ross Douthat", Diana Butler Bass, Huffington Post

Monday 16 July

"Once more dear friends", a good summary of the many rebuttals to Douthat from Episcopal Café. Note that Jon Meacham is awesome. Also the Rev. Winnie Varghese was the voting secretary in the House of Deputies.

Tuesday 17 July

"Saving Christianity" James Kowalski, Dean of the Cathedral St. John the Divine, Huffington Post

Wednesday 18 July

"Episcopal churches: Short on politics, sexuality debates and long on Jesus", The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, newly elected president of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, Huffington Post

I'm sure there will be much more to come.

Update: Thursday 19 July

"Episcopal Church is Radically Faithful to Its Tradition", The Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of the Episcopal Church, letter to the Wall Street Journal

Labels: Cathedral of St John the Divine, Diana Butler Bass, Episcopal Church, Gay Clark Jennings, John Shelby Spong, Jon Meacham, journalism, NYT

I am totally fascinated by Anthony Tommasini's search for the top 10 composers.

I don't know why.

This begs the question, what is compositional "greatness"? In Strauss's mind it was something more than skill. That doesn't really make it fair, does it?

We understand that composers are born with a certain amount of God-given (or St.-Cecilia-given, take your pick) talent, but are they also imbued with "greatness"? And, if so, does this skill have any bearing on "greatness"?

And if composers are able to study music and hone their craft, are they also able to increase their "greatness" quotient?

Bach was tremendously skilled, and also "great". His music conveys more than technical mastery. There is a depth of feeling, a certain rhetorical pathos in much of Bach's music. How did he achieve both of these feats?

This is all speculative and theoretical, and that's what makes it fun, I guess.

But I do know one thing: if Strauss ranks higher than Sibelius on your list, you had better try again.

Labels: Bach, Jean Sibelius, NYT

". . . it is always gratifying to hear Mr. Tritle play the organ in a recital", the New York Times says.

Tommasini, Anthony. "From Organ Loft, Sounds of Buxtehude and Bach". 13 Sept 2010.

Labels: Kent Tritle, NYT, organ music

For all of you working on the Sunday crossword in the New York Times, 42 down is "organ".

Yet another example of our instrument's cultural relevance.

Take that, harpsichord!

Labels: NYT, organ, randomness