The Diocese of Gloucester labours under an ancient curse, a curse that some say goes back to Gloucester cathedral's ill-fated Dean, William Laud, in the seventeenth century. However, though centuries old, the curse is apparently active today and seems to be claiming a new victim, bishop figure Rachel Treweek.
About to be installed as a member of England's ruling elite aristocracy in the House of Lords, Treweek told the public that she no longer prays to God as "he," although she sometimes forgets.
According to the UK's Guardian, "She personally prefers to say neither 'he' nor 'she', but 'God'. 'Sometimes I lapse, but I try not to.'"
Well that's great. Mawkish forgetfulness aside, God is a perfect spirit and therefore beyond gender; like time itself, God transcends it. But here's the thing, Christianity believes that this transcendent Being, the perfect, necessary source of all being, is revealed in masculine terms.
Jesus, the eternal Word made Flesh, is notoriously a man, who teaches his followers to pray to God as Father. The Church, for St. Paul, echoing the Old Testament, is the Bride of Christ.
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| Mary Domus Aurea |
In brief, God, for Christians, reveals himself in masculine terms. Take it or leave it, hate it or love it, that's Christianity.
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| Welcome to Goof Squad |
Rachel, who has been promoted to one of the declining Church of England's top jobs, albeit cursed, has chosen to leave it, at least as far as God's revelation of himself is concerned. Where does this leave her?
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| Note Killing Rod Through Backs of Children |
Hint, not praying to the being revealed by Christ as Father. And remember, it's all a larf until the horned god claims its own.
LSP
11 comments:
Does anyone take her seriously?
The Devil's hand maiden at work!
She is the gift that keeps on giving!
That's a good question, LL. They took her seriously enough to make her a bishop figure, so...
The ancient curse, Brighid.
Quite a present for the venerable CofE, Anonymous.
When you look at the mountebanks that they make bishop, she fits the mold. She looks a bit like a young Jefferts-Schorri. Keep her away from Hillary...they might make a match...that kind of hideous.
What happened to the drunk arch deacon lesbian who ran over those people (while drunk)?
No shortage of mountebanks in Goof Squad.
The drunken assistant Bishop of Baltimore, Heather Cook, is due to be sentenced today -- prosecutors are shooting for 20 years, with 10 suspended, and 5 years probation. Nasty business, and Jefferts Schori et al, knew of Cook's prior history of getting wasted and driving around, but didn't tell the diocese prior to her selection. Quite a web of malfeasance.
I'm sure that she will serve as the spiritual advisor to the convicts while in prison (assistant to the prison chaplain). That will give her access to additional food so she can keep her bulk up. She can dip into the sacramental wine. It's likely Costco box wine, not the fine vintages that she's become accustomed to. She can also meet privately with prisoners to give them advice on sexual malfunction, etc.
She was sentenced to 7 years this afternoon... got off lightly.
No doubt her piety swayed the judge...
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