There are many perennial disagreements between the two groups. For example, the Bishops have been trying for years to reduce the size of each diocesan delegation from 8 members. (Often 8 alternates are also flown to the meeting; this is the case for New York, for example.) Delegates, fearing they may not get re-elected balk at this reform.

Apparently the biggest current issue, however, is the wish of the President of the House of Deputies to be able to speak on equal footing with the Presiding Bishop. For some, this is a matter of “justice”–giving equal weight especially to the laity. 

I have often expressed my exasperation with the current President of the House of the Deputies. But even without such feelings, I am amazed that anyone in an “episcopal” (= “having bishops”) church would feel the need to counter the weight of the primate of the whole church. No doubt this issue will need to be considered again. –J. Douglas Ousley

This is hardly an unusual or unreasonable request. What seems unusual to me is the dollar amount needed: “about $10,000.00.” Admittedly, purple cassocks and other episcopal garb are surely expensive. And the total is equivalent to around 25 cents per New York Episcopalian.

Still, at a time when so many parishes are struggling financially–a point stressed by the new co-adjutor during the election process, putting the dollar amount out there could be off-putting. –J. Douglas Ousley

Plantinga is a distinguished Christian philosopher who work I first studied in 1971 when I was reading for a postgraduate degree in London. Much of his work depends on a detailed knowledge of mathematics, physics and logic, but in this book, the technical material appears in small print and can be skipped. The bulk of Where the Conflict Really Lies is devoted to defending theism as a more intelligible way to construe science, the universe, and human beings. In the spirit of C. S. Lewis, it far surpasses his work in its confident demolition of atheist positions.

I recommend the book to all thoughtful people–Christians, other believers, and atheists. –J. Douglas Ousley

A later resolution supported the movement while irenically noting that some parishes and individual Episcopalians don’t agree with Occupy positions.

As someone in the latter camp, I was pleased that our reliably left-of-center diocese presented a resolution that acknowledged differences of opinion in a tactful and generous way. Perhaps the times are a-changing. –J. Douglas Ousley

The man and the woman each complained about the bells we played after the midnight mass on Christmas Eve; they said the bells waked them up as well as children who were staying with them.

I can understand the complaints; we stopped playing the daily bells at 9 AM so as not to disturb people who work night shifts, and I can imagine some people might be annoyed at being waked up. However, we do this only once a year, and few people work on Christmas Day, so the annoyance should be manageable. Outside noise from construction and traffic in the middle of the night is not exactly unknown in this busy neighborhood.

Most unusually, in his message, the man referred to “#@*&! Christians” while the woman said she “hated” our church and would never attend there. I wonder if they would have used these terms about a synagogue or a mosque. In any event, I had no way to respond or express sympathy, since the messages were anonymous. –J. Douglas Ousley

The word, “marginal” seems what is most likely to get me in trouble. The issue for church people: does this movement express the prophetic Gospel and speak truth to power or is it merely the media inflation of a ragtag collection of malcontents and publicity seekers?

As I have said before, there are many bad guys in the financial industry who have gotten away with high crimes and who should be punished. OWS, however, seems to have done little to bring them to justice. –J. Douglas Ousley

“The Rich Get Richer” referred to the recent lottery win by some financial tycoons. They apparently plan to give some of the mega-millions away, which wouldn’t disappoint the source of the Scripture, who also said that the poor in spirit would be blessed–but who also said that in the fullness of time, “the rich would be sent empty away.” –J. Douglas Ousley

But first in most Episcopalians’ minds must be the fact that our bishop coadjutor-elect was first rejected by the Nominating Committee. He was then nominated by petition; he led on the first ballot; and he won by a huge majority on only the third ballot. The official system failed; the people won.

And most of us present in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine also noticed that Canon Andrew Dietsche seemed to be the least concerned of the candidates with being a spokesperson for the church in the media and on the national and international stage. Rather, he would try to help struggling parishes to survive and flourish. Many of us share this priority and we should be grateful that the election results seem to endorse this emphasis on the parish. –J. Douglas Ousley

While many clergy and laity continue to mull over the qualities of the various candidates and rumors circulate, the mood in Manhattan seems more subdued than it was three weeks ago. Perhaps, “resigned” is a better word. We will not be offered the candidates of our dreams so we shall have to choose from among the ones set before us.

That said, I don’t think nominations from the floor can be ruled out, and it is at least possible that the convention will be deadlocked. Perhaps these prospects are contributing to the subdued consciousness. But they at least give us additional reasons to pray for the Diocese of New York. –J. Douglas Ousley

In the meantime, the Episcopal Church has released figures on 2010 that indicate yet more decline. Down 16% in membership in the past ten years, the annual decline last year increased from 2% to 3%. Median attendance has gone from 72 in 2006 to 65 in 2010.

The 2012 proposed budget for the Diocese of New York also appeared recently, and it projects one-third of diocesan expenditure devoted to the numerous parishes which are not self-supporting.

Happily, every candidate for bishop has talked about the need for congregational growth and development. Yet the extreme spiritual and financial challenges of our church at this time may have been the major reasons why so many able candidates from within our diocese declined to stand for election. –J. Douglas Ousley