Ubuntu and Reconciliation - thoughts by Ched Myers

Reconciliation is not something accomplished by Christ for God, nor inflicted on Christ by God, but forged by God through Christ. This wreaks havoc on the medieval (but still widespread) doctrine that Christ’s death functions to placate an angry or offended deity. Rather, the “crucified God” represents a fundamentally restorative initiative by the Divine victim towards the human offender.

By Ched Myers

The "Other"...Ubuntu discussed by Michael Battle

The Rev. Dr. Michael Battle discusses Ubuntu...


Here is a video clip of my thesis advisor and professor from seminary, the Rev. Dr. Michael Battle who gives a very short (1min 29seconds) description of the African theology of Ubuntu, the idea that "a person is a person through other persons." He's a wonderful person and I feel blessed to have had the chance to learn (a bit) of his wisdom over my years in seminary. He is now serving in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

Check it out, it's pretty good...

Click HERE, to see the video clip, (posted on the Episcopal Cafe blog)...

The "Other"...Ubuntu discussed by Desmond Tutu

No, not the operating system (Ubuntu), but the theology...

"a person is a person through other persons"

Desmond Tutu on Craig Ferguson

Desmond Tutu on Craig Ferguson - part 1




Desmond Tutu on Craig Ferguson - part 2




Desmond Tutu on Craig Ferguson - part 3

Reflections on the service of repentence at St. Thomas African Episcopal Church

from the VTS Anglican Communion Commentary

10/8/2008
On Saturday, October 4 a number of us from VTS attended a Service of Repentance at historic St. Thomas Church in Philadelphia. The service was part of a solemn two-day observance which constituted a public apology for the Episcopal Church’s involvement in the institution of transatlantic slavery. The service was mandated by the 2006 General Convention resolution A123 which declared that slavery was, is and will always be a sin. The resolution asked the Presiding Bishop to call for a “Day of Repentance and Reconciliation.” The Rev. C. David Williams, president of the Union of Black Episcopalians, said that the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s call for a “Day of Repentance” was “extraordinary.”

In her sermon the Presiding Bishop seemed to let no one off the hook. We heard of the sources of J.P. Morgan’s wealth, even as he initiated the Church Pension Fund. A farm dependent on slaves is part of the early history of Trinity Church in the City of New York. The Presiding Bishop told those gathered that slave labor was utilized in the building of Virginia Theological Seminary. Our church, North and South, benefited from the institution of transatlantic slavery, and there is no shortage of guilt from the top down. The stains of slavery run so deep that a “Day of Repentance and Reconciliation” calls for more days, long days of conversation, repentance and reconciliation. Virginia Theological Seminary will spend the rest of its days dealing with its own stains and involvement in the institution of transatlantic slavery.

In writing resolution 123, John Vanderstar, Executive Council member, said: “I strongly believe that the church needs to confront its past and change its future.” As I listened to the Presiding Bishop’s sermon, I thought of our church and the Anglican Communion and the need we have to “confront” the past and to “change” the future. Our church always needs days of repentance. What are we doing today that will require an apology from those who come after us in the future?

- Barney Hawkins

Desmond Tutu - Reconciling Love

Archbishop Desmond Tutu lecturing at UCSB (University of California at Santa Barbara) on Reconciling Love...

This man is an inspiration!

It's a long video (43 minutes), but well-worth it!

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey




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