Posts Tagged ‘Manhattan church’

Sundays in the Park

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

The listserve for priests in the Episcopal Diocese of New York recently discussed all the Sunday morning events that now compete with church services for peoples’ attention. The AIDS Walk this Sunday will attract thousands of participants, including some 900 Episcopalians. The MS Bike Tour May 5 involved many others, besides tying up traffic all over New York City. Add other sporting events and birthday parties, brunches, and other social occasions–not to mention weekend getaways and overtime at the office–and church often finds itself second-best.

If I knew what to do about this, I would do it. Sunday evening worship helps a bit, as do church events during the week. But, as far as I know, the church still needs to find new ways to win the attention of modern people distracted by contemporary alternatives to the formal worship of God. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Resolved: Not Resolved

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

The bar debate last night was about the following resolution: “Resolved: The Anglican Communion is too progressive.” I’ll have more to say about this discussion another time. I’d like to make a rather different comment now.

The liberal-conservative, progressive-traditional split in the Episcopal Church which was the subject of the debate tends not to be present in most parishes, especially in Manhattan. Here, the individual churches tend to one side or the other, and the rectors follow that pattern. So do the assistants appointed by the rectors.

Here at Incarnation, we have almost always had rectors on the conservative side politically and assistants on the liberal side. I’ve been asked more than once why I don’t appoint a fellow conservative as a colleague. This is, I believe, the universal practice in the other Manhattan parishes.

My answer is that I want laypeople of all political persuasions to feel comfortable at Incarnation. One way to insure that comfort is to provide and breadth and inclusiveness to the clergy. I think that’s the best way to go, even if some questions remain unresolved. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Mainline Sidelined

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

When my first boss in the church was installed as rector of a large church on Fifth Avenue, a photo of the event appeared the next day in the New York Times. In 1972, no one thought much about this publicity; it was taken for granted that the Episcopal Church was important news.

Last Saturday, the new bishop co-adjutor of the Diocese of New York was installed at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. As far as I know, the Times offered no coverage. One local television station referred to the new “bishop co-agitator,” but that was about it. Many commentators have noted the declining media attention paid to the mainline Protestant churches. Here is an example–all the more striking when the Cardinal Archbishop of New York recently received days of front page attention. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Quoted in the NY Times

Monday, December 19th, 2011

I achieved a tiny measure of fame/notoriety over the weekend by being quoted in the Times. I referred to Trinity Church’s accommodation of “the marginal group of protestors” of Occupy Wall Street. 

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

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Diocesan Politics Continued…

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Meetings, caucuses, and phone calls are multiplying as the October 29 Diocesan Convention to elect a new Bishop of New York approaches. 

At least from my limited point of view in Manhattan, there seems to be no front runner. The two write-in candidates from the diocese have the advantage of being well-known and well-liked–and the disadvantage that their limitations as bishop-material are also well-known. The five candidates nominated by committee are almost equally unknown; while they have their supporters, most delegates I know remain uncommitted. Much will depend on the “walkabouts” to introduce the candidates that will take place during the week of October 16.

The nominating committee has been criticized for coming up with no candidates of national stature. Members of the committee have apparently indicated that a number of prominent clergy declined to be nominated; I know several wonderful priests who withdrew their names, including the person I myself nominated. I hope that these refusals even to be considered aren’t an indication that the job is unmanageable. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Diocese of New York to Manhattan: Drop Dead?

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Just before Labor Day, the diocesan nominating committee announced its list of five candidates for Bishop of New York. They all seem to be able church leaders.

However, they are hardly persons of stature, nor are their accomplishments exceptional–especially compared to previous bishops of New York prior to their elections.

And–while I know this is a very parochial concern about a small matter in the history of things–there are no candidates with any apparent connection with the Diocese of New York, not to mention Manhattan, where so many historic Episcopal parishes are located.

Moreover, there are very few opportunities planned to meet the candidates; Manhattan delegates to the electoral convention will have to attend a “walkabout” on a Friday afternoon at 1 PM–not easy for the working lay delegates.

I have previously complained about the lack of Manhattan clergy on the nominating committee–or in other diocesan committees. I realize, too, that the days of cardinal rectors and noblesse oblige are long gone. Nor do I have a personal ax to grind; I don’t like committees and am too old to be a bishop.

But I know so many talented colleagues in Manhattan whose advice and counsel is sought throughout the nation and world–and whose leadership potential in our own diocese is ignored. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Out to Pasture

Monday, June 20th, 2011

In the past several months, five rectors of Manhattan churches have announced their impending retirements. This is a huge number; in the 1980′s, there might be at most a parish or two vacant at any one time, and often, all posts were filled.

Perhaps this is a statistical fluke. Perhaps this is just a generational blip. But since all of these clergy are well under the mandatory retirement age of 72, it is worth asking whether increased work loads or difficulties in serving the confused Episcopal Church “brand” have contributed to these priests seeking retirement. (In my view, all of these parishes are in better shape than when their respective incumbents took office–some in vastly improved condition.)

In the case of work loads, for example, the number of assisting clergy in most of these parishes has declined. In fact, the curate of old has become a rare luxury; for much of this year, the only assistant position listed for the Diocese of New York was Incarnation’s, and that was just filled.

As it happens, our search attracted 42 applications and inquiries. One can imagine that the five rectorships will attract large numbers–and one can hope that the successful candidates will build on the fine work of their predecessors. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Church of the Incarnation - An Episcopal Church in Murray Hill New York, NY
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