I apologize that it has been a while since I posted my last blog entry. I am not sure if this is beneficial for anyone. This site receives just under 200 views a month. Blog posts only receive a few views a month. I feel like I need to at least occasionally write something to provide fresh content. I did have a couple of preliminary comments to make and then I wanted to speak about something I am trying to think through.
First, the Independent Catholic jurisdiction I incardinated in had a recent change in leadership. My former Bishop Robert Lyons left the American Catholic Communities. I was very sad to see him go as he was an excellent bishop and a dear friend. I pray that God may continue to bless and keep him. I am sure God has wonderful things in store for him. Please pray for him during this time of transition.
Second, I have less free time as I enrolled in a liturgy course at the Reformed Episcopal Seminary which is under the Reformed Episcopal Church. I am thoroughly enjoying the course, the professor, and the overall feel of the program. It is great to participate in classroom discussions and continue to learn. I must admit that I knew so little about Anglicanism when I first created this resource. The past few months provided me with the opportunity to read several Anglican books and attend several different Anglican liturgies. I now understand a bit more about how the continuing Anglican movement came into being as well as older fractions in the Anglican Communion. Anglicanism was never a living option in the William James sense for me in the past. My own Roman Catholic background colored all things Anglican and so I never considered any Anglican jurisdictions in my ISM journey. I have certain issues with Anglican thought but I also see real possibilities that otherwise might be overlooked. I hope people journeying in the ISM movement open their minds to possibilities that may be foreign to their own background.
Now to the issue I am thinking through. The past few months were a productive time of reading a lot of theological works. Working through these books caused me to ponder a question. Why is it that most of the clergy involved in the ISM movement are involved in various ministries or parishes but there are essentially no professional theologians teaching at top tier universities or publishing works that are widely respected and known? Mainline churches have professional theologians doing these very things. Moreover, this is somewhat surprising since the Old Catholic movement was essentially a movement among the intelligentsia.
As I am thinking through this, I think there may be a few reasons why there are no professional academic ISM clergy theologians. Reason 1: ISM clergy are practitioners/pastors. The emphasis here is on the practical doing rather than professional reflection and scholarship. Reason 2: ISM clergy have less professional theological training. Reason 3: ISM clergy are in jurisdictions that lack educational institutions, professional journals and scholarly opportunities. ISM clergy could not be professional theologians as there is a lack of paid theological positions within the ISM movement. Reason 4: There may be ISM clergy theologians but who do their scholarship apart from their ISM affiliation. In fact, some may hide their ISM clerical status as it would make it more difficult for them to maintain academic positions at certain ecclesiological institutions. I wonder if we could use a few professional theologians within our jurisdictions. Good theology allows us to reflect closely on what we are doing.
What do you think?
Peace,
Ben
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