The Right Reverend Derek Rawcliffe died on the 1st February 2011 aged 89. He was openly gay, although I think it was only in his retirement that he became open. A fascinating article from the Telegraph is worth reading, as is a tribute from the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement.
I had never heard of him, I'm afraid, and it was Mr Catolick who alerted me to his life and death, and to some of the issues we face in the Church of England to do with hypocrisy when it comes to homosexuality. It seems to me we are tying ourselves in more and more knots and it regularly gives me cause to facepalm:
(This is a desperate attempt to show I know anything about modern culture and expressions):
(Not entirely sure why Star Trek is responsible for all the facepalm images - I am sure Captain Kirk didn't do it - oh let myself down in my attempt to me modern!)
Anyway, sorry about that. It is a serious subject. As an aside, it is widely rumoured that the Church of England has more practising gay bishops than any other Anglican Province. I don't know whether it is true or not... BUT it makes our brothers and sisters in The Episcopal Church livid and incandescent with fury when the Archbishop of Canterbury seeks to discipline them for their openly gay bishops, and yet it is believed that we have bishops who are gay and not celibate, but they are not 'out'. For the Americans, and I can understand this, it feels like the ultimate act of hypocrisy.
I feel like I should end with a Star Trek Quote to sum it all up - 'there's Klingons on the Starboard bow', perhaps... or 'It's life Jim, but not as know it'.... actually I think 'Beam me up Scotty' is most appropriate.
7 comments:
Excellent post Lesley. I too know hardly anything about Star Trek, but agree that the pictures are very appropriate. Definitely hypocrisy and yes 'beam me up Scotty'!
Thanks for your post.
Rachel.
sad to say i can find no mention of +Derek's passing on either the SEC website or the Glasgow Diocesan site. I know he was a bit of a "character" (to say the least) when he was Bishop in G&G, but still....
May he rest in peace and rise in glory
Well. last week's Church Times obit will escape the pay wall on Friday.
Do you not read the CT?
Face-palming and "Beam me up, Scotty" are quite often the feelings I have every time the Archbishop of Canterbury speaks on the issue of homosexuality. He attacks TEC, but refuses to directly criticize the Church of Uganda for its homophobia. We all know what he wrote on the subject before he became Rowan Cantaur. So either he's a pod person, or just another figure in the history of the Church who had it right... and then went astray.
May light perpetual shine upon +Derek Rawcliffe.
Rescue ships with transporters are available. There are more ships than captains.
"It is widely rumoured...", "I don't know whether it is true or not...", "it is believed that...".
If this were another issue, or putting a different viewpoint, I'm sure you would be asking for evidence?
Thanks for your comments.
Hi Doug, Yes I read the CT but I think this was on my stack of posts prior to Friday - sorry! I can't blog very much at all Thurs pm through Mon pm due to other commitments so sometimes it gets a bot behind the news.
Hi Revsimmy. I can see what you are saying. I do know people who tell me that they know these things. Part of the problem with the 'listening process' is that some of the people who may be able to speak cannot for fear of losing their jobs. Perhaps it is better for me not to blog on it as it can't be substantiated. On the other hand, the rumours are very alive and do cause all sorts of reactions. I look forward to the day when the 'don't ask, don't tell' regime is over.
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