You know the meme: “shit ______ say”. Shit my dad says (3million followers; following 1 – complete with best-seller book and television series), leading to “Shit girls say” (1million followers) and YouTube channel (23million views). And now many, many others “shit ______ say”.
Derivatives: Shit people say to ministers and the very healthy discussion that “shit” is a perfectly biblical word. Saint Paul says shit.
I’ve been pointed to the wonderful video “Stuff Presbyterian Seminarians Say”. Obviously Presbyterians are doubly predestined not to say “shit”! The Presbyterian translation of Phil 3:8 is:
More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as stuff, in order that I may gain Christ.
I was pointed to this lovely video by a NZ Anglican priest. This priest said that there are a lot of parts of the video reminiscent of NZ Anglicanism. That’s very true! The Presbyterian video is gearing up for ordination exams. NZ Anglicans also have an ordination exam. It consists of one question: “Do you want to be ordained this weekend or next weekend?” (What do you mean I wasn’t supposed to reveal the question… I haven’t told them the answer!)
Substitute the Wesleys for John Calvin and it is not all that different from what I heard almost 30 years ago at the United Methodist seminary that I attended. Conservative Methodists would not say shit if they had a mouthful of it.
“NZ Anglicans also have an ordination exam. It consists of one question: “Do you want to be ordained this weekend or next weekend?” (What do you mean I wasn’t supposed to reveal the question… I haven’t told them the answer!)”
Hmm. I believe this is also The Episcopal Church ordination exam question. I could be wrong.
Elizabeth, IMO, thankfully you are incorrect. But I will see if I can get someone from TEC to give an outline. Blessings.
In TEC we have the infamous General Ordination Exam. Many people still become priests even though they fail one (or seven) of the canonical areas. Sometimes they get remedial work to do from the sponsoring diocese. At least it give us a group titled The General Board of Examining Chaplains. http://www.episcopalgbec.org/. Speak to anyone who has survived the GOE’s about them and you’ll have fun watching them twitch.
Thanks, Tim. I am in favour of the concept, and of your description of how it can be implemented with some flexibility. Blessings.
I’m in the US where I can not only buy myself an online ordination but it’s perfectly legal for me not to bother with all that high-falutin’ education and just to set up virtually any kind of tax-exempt organisation and call it a church or charity or religion. Hence we get http://www.godhatesfags.com/schedule.html or http://www.kkk.com/ ( ‘a message of love not hate’…now that really is sh*t )
You bring up a very good point, Tracy. At which point are we just a little self-serving hobby-club; and when are we a cult; and how religion can abuse the goodness that even the secular state assumes. Blessings.
Hi Bosco et al,
Here’s the skinny on the ordination exam in the Episcopal Church in the USA.
http://www.episcopalgbec.org/exam.htm
Opinions about the exam are mixed. I’m generally a fan of the concept, though it could use some improvement.
Peace,
Scott+
Thanks, Scott. And for the link. Like you, I am in favour of the concept. As in all things – we can keep improving. Blessings.
TEC GOE? Who is Jonathan Myrick Daniels and what is his role in modern liturgical development?
Straight snark = off
Seriously, would that the TEC GOEs be taken more seriously, while also focusing on major points of doctrine and practice. Sometimes they leave the feeling that someone had an axe to grind.
Thanks for the comment, Mike. I’m not really sure how to take it, however. Is this an actual question from an actual paper?
For those interested, I’ve just followed the links from previous comments and you arrive, for example, at last year’s papers. You can also, from there, get to previous years’. I’ve only had a moment to quickly scan the questions, but they look pretty straight-forward to me. Can you use last year’s example please, Mike, to elaborate on your point?
Blessings