And did those feet

The Church of England is revamping its "Wedding Project" site. It is an interesting venture, particularly aimed at the community (I suppose) that does not go to Church, but because the C of E is 'established' ... that is, it is the State religion of England .... such people have a sense of ownership in a way that is probably not true in Australia.

One of the interesting questions addressed on this hotch potch of a site is whether or not you should sing "Jerusalem" at a wedding (see a sort of answer here) it's a popular song, with a stirring tune which is well-known at a time when not much religious music is. But the words are about something totally unrelated to getting married (debatable I suppose).

One can only imagine why such an issue has such prominence It's to do, I suspect, with a bit of conflict on a whole range of different levels (eg. Churches only allowing certain sorts of music, clergy being dogmatic about what is and what is not acceptable, and couples not really having a clue about what is and what is not appropriate......). One can only imagine.

My policy (which I think has worked quite well) is to be as open as possible. I don't need to inflict my musical taste on people, whilst also remembering I am a guardian of the sacred.

I always begin my spiel with "The church is not hired in the way a secular venue is hired."

Part of the trouble is that people seem to assume that if they pay for something then they should be able to do what they like.

Of course this is not even true of a secular venue, they are often very restrictive in terms of what you can and can't do; where you can sit and what you can throw at the B & G; and certainly you have to drink and eat their products!

Beside all this I am curious given the picture above (taken from the sit) as to how Whoopi Goldberg has apparently become a Vicar in the C of E.

Lest we forget that the Church is just as ridiculous

I am ever conscious when I write about anything institutional be it politics, education, or social issues that the Church is not much different. Indeed in many senses it is is more ridiculous than most!

Blogging, as I have been, about the raucous political events that no sees Australia with its first woman Prime minister, I have noted how commentators often seem obsessed by what women wear.

Well lest we forget my aforementioned truth that the Church is just as bizarre, here's a little story about how one of my heroes, Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori who happens to be the Presiding Bishop of the American Episcopal Church, was trifled with during a recent visit to Southwark Cathedral in London.

Apparently the Dean of Southwark made the mistake of asking what protocols might need to apply and was told make from the Archbishop of Canterbury's office, that she should not wear her hat!! (that is, the special hat called the 'mitre' which recalls the tongues of flames which came on the first apostles at Pentecost)

This curiosity is all the more curious when you consider there had been other occasions where she had been seen out in public hat and all (see the follow up here!!)

Bishop K kindly went along with this power-play and carried her hat!

In a Communion, where we have at times prided ourselves on the fact that at least we can be civil. It is offensive when such pettiness takes place.

Put your left leg in!

In a curious acricle in the UK Daily Telegraph (here) a leaked report tells us that English Bishops think many, maybe most. clergy are not up to the job.
Well, I could have told them that! Most Bishops, in particular, aren't either!
One Bishop repotedly says of clergy “Truthfully, it is deeply depressing. Egotism rules. Contemporary worship is feeble, 'sweet’, and leads no one to the Majesty of God.”
Now I don't deny an elephant of truth, but that Bishop also needs a mirror.
Clergy are to be encouraged by the release of a book (God help us!) about preaching "with humnanity". Seems like a good idea, some of the advice:

In giving advice on learning to use the diaphragm consciously, it advises: "Go down on your hands and knees and pant, rapidly with short breaths."

It's partly right, you do need to get down on your knees to preach well, but panting is not the main thing you need to be focussing on!
Clergy are indeed not up to the 'job', the sooner Bishops (and others) stop thinking about it as 'a job' the better in my opinion....grrr!