Reverend Ref +

MORNING NEWS

Woke up to the morning news from the NY Times Online and found two articles from home. The first comes from my home state and has to do with a lesbian United Methodist (UMC) minister from Bothell who is on trial for violating UMC law by living a life "incompatible with Christian teachings."

Two things come imediately to mind (well, maybe three). First, will this trial be followed as closely in the media as our General Convention was last summer?

Second, I will be very interested to see how this story plays out in the UMC. We all know how it's playing out in ECUSA. The UMC has their convention next month in Pittsburgh. It will be interesting to see if this trial has the same effect on their convention as the confirmation of Canon Robinson had on ours, and what that outcome will be.

Third, if she is indeed found guilty of violating UMC law and defrocked (a possibility), how long will it be before an ECUSA bishop allows her to enroll in what seminarians refer to an Anglican Dip course, transfer her allegiance, and assigns her a parish?

I am strangely comforted by knowing that we are not alone.

The second comes from my home town and has to do with my Zags. It's a great article about the GU team, a little history, and a few stats (such as: in his first five years as head coach, Mark Few has a record of 132-31). Check it out, and then watch the game tonight at 9 pm CST between GU and Valpo.

And in a strange twist of fate, if GU wins tonight they will play the winner of MSU-Nevada. Luckily Mother Heather is currently out of the country or there could be a real need for reconciliation and absolution here on the block.

Peace