(The material on this page is meant to promote an interest in scholarship and creative writing and does not reflect any official views of the University of Texas.)

• Opposition to the Proposed Anglican Covenant::
  • Announcement: From Episcopal Life Online.
  • No Anglican Covenant: An organization opposing the proposed Anglican Covenant.

• The Episcopal Church's Responses about Human Sexuality:
  • To Set Our Hope on Christ: Episcopal Response to Section 135 of the Windsor Report (2005) (local copy).
  • New in March 2010 Same-Sex Relationships in the Life of the Church: Resource created for the 2012 General Convention (2010) (commentary, local copy).

• 2009 General convention:
  • Sermon , sermon by Rowan Williams, General Convention, 9 July 2009 ( local copy).
  • Two controversial resolutions, 2009 General Convention:
    • Resolution D025, Commitment and Witness to Anglican Communion: Recognizing gay and lesbian persons (local copy).
    • Resolution C056, Liturgies for Blessings: Blessing same gender relationships (local copy).
  • Anaheim Statement, drafted by Bishop Gary Lillibridge (local copy).
  • Communion, Covenant and our Anglican Future, essay by Rowan Williams, 27 July 2009, a response to actions at the 2009 General Convention (local copy).
  • Reflections on General Convention 2009, Bishops Lillibridge and Reed of West Texas discuss the General Convention and particularly Resolutions C056 and D025 (local copy).
• Anglican Covenant and Commentary:
  • Anglican Covenant (Ridley draft), (local copy);   Covenant in PDF (local copy).
  • Initial Response from the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church.
  Two Key quotes from the Executive Council Response:

  Several comments expressed concern about the silencing of prophetic voices by the proposed necessity of seeking a "shared mind." There is the sense that this shared mind might mean a uniformity in which differences are not tolerated. One person commented that a shared mind is "not our goal as Christians. Our goal is to 'put on the mind of Christ.' " One deputation felt that there was a "contradiction between statements affirming diversity and autonomy with those suggesting that certain 'controversial actions' might be deferred with the threat of 'relational consequences.' "

  Next Steps: ... As the highest legislative authority of The Episcopal Church, the General Convention is the body that will ultimately decide The Episcopal Church's position with respect to its participation in an Anglican Communion Covenant. There are some in The Episcopal Church and beyond who want to prejudge The General Convention's decision on the Anglican Communion Covenant. We find such predictions and pronouncements premature and unhelpful.

  • Commentary on the Ridley Covenant: with excerpts.
  • Anglican Covenant (Final draft)
  • Announcement from the Episcopal Church.
• N.T. Wright's Statement and Commentary:
  • Rowan's Reflections: Unpacking the Archbishop's Statement, response by NT Wright to Williams's essay, 27 July 2009 (local copy).
  • Commentary on Wright's Statement: with excerpts.

• Angels: materials for a seminar
• William Stringfellow: "the greatest Episcopalian theologian" according to Rowan Williams
• For the Time Being: a long Christmas poem by W. H. Auden.
• "Clergy in Our Midst": a series about clergy who are members of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
• Restating the Beatitudes, by the Rt. Rev. John H. MacNaughton.
• OpAd: Placed in the 12 May 2007 New York Times by the Episcopal Church.
• Gay Issues: mainly focused on religious intolerance of gays.
• Evolution: focused on religious issues.
• Fundamentalism: My first write-up,  my second write-up.
• Atheist Issues: "If they didn't exist we would want to invent them."
• 10 Commandments vs Golden Rule: The Ten Commandments is a flawed unifying principle across religions, but the Golden Rule is found in all religions.
• Tolerance: Acknowledging That God Is Not Limited to Christians: Write_up
• Intolerance: Toward Muslims: My write-up.
• Just War: a balanced analysis of war, and whether it can be "just", by Brandon D. Hill.
• Bad Influences on Children? Violence in the Media: My write-up,  Ratzinger's letter (German),  tranlation.
• Illinois Gov. George Ryan and the Death Penalty: Ryan's speech,  my write-up.
• Suicide and Euthanasia: My write-up.
• Welcoming Churches: How to be welcoming.

• The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil, by Philip Zimbardo. Review.
• If Grace Is True: Why God Will Save Every Person, by Gulley and Mulholland. Review.

• Rowan Williams, The Archbishop of Canterbury.
  • Writing in the Dust: After September 11, review of his book.
  • Sermon, sermon at the 2009 General Convention, delivered 9 July 2009.
  • Communion, Covenant and our Anglican Future, essay, 27 July 2009, a response to actions at the 2009 General Convention.
• Desmond Tutu, former Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Interview
  • Tutu on gays
• Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop, Episcopal Church.
  • "Mother Jesus" controversy: Jefferts Schori preached a homily in which she used the phrase "Mother Jesus". People condemned her knowing nothing but that she used these two words. In fact, although her language was perhaps unusual, it makes sense in context.
    • The homily, preached on June 21, 2006.
    • News story, from the Washington Post, July 3, 2006.