A Bigger Picture: Money v. The Vote

  By At The Threshold Jesus talked about the sins that came of the abuse of money and power more than anything else. The totalitarian abuses of the Roman Empire were at the forefront of his every thought, and those of the people who listened to him. For Christians, the authority granted to what Jesus called “the…
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Michael Fullam’s Blog – It’s Not About Me

Dearest Friends, I a dear family friend wrote this touching post regarding the ministry of Katrina’s Dream.  I am deeply moved by this piece.   Yes it true the Swanson Family is full of love.  It is why I married him… like attracts like…  Take a moment to read Michael’s post and then take a moment to…
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Can systems change? by Bishop Dan

Monday, September 22, 2014 LIVE FROM TAIPEI: PART 6 Can systems change? I am self-conscious that I go on so much about what a wonderful group of colleagues I have in the other bishops, how kind and supportive they are, what a sane, gentle, and caring group I encounter each time we meet. But it…
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Oklahoma – “All Er Nothing”

…The Very Rev. Justin Lindstrom and The Rev. Canon Susan Colley Joplin pulled off an amazing Women’s Equality Day Vigil in less than 48 hours notice.  State Senator Connie Johnson her passion and commitment to serve all moved me beyond words and Margaret Cox a die-hard activist who has lead the way on many social justice issue here is most impressive, in…
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A Cloud of Witnesses

…Utah is Mormon country, and top officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (as the church is formally known) are vigorously opposed to admitting women to the priesthood, a role to which virtually all male Mormon adults are ordained. In fact, the church recently publicly excommunicated a woman, a lifelong and dedicated…
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“See Ya Tomorrow”

When I embarked on this Pilgrimage for the ERA I knew it would be difficult.  Difficult is an understatement!  As I slowly make my way from the Golden Gate bridge to Washington D.C.  I pray for those whom I care for and those I have met in the course of day to day affairs.  My…
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“Lady of Walsingham, I lift up Godfather Bob”

Helene Swanson and the Rev. Robert T. Coolidge at the Chapel of the Lady of Walsingham, Trinity Church Seneca Falls, NY on July 29, 2012 on her first pilgrimage to promote the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment following morning prayer lead by Rev. Coolidge.  Photo Credit: William Swanson Dearest Family and Friends, It was…
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Listen to The Night

On the side of the road I met a Native American/Indian sage who instructed me to listen to the night when he and I exchanged stories. Inspired by his words I wrote the following poem.  Read more → Listen To The Night Reaching out I listen to the night In the darkness I find the light…
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The Scream

One of my first college writing assignments was on The Scream. I identified with it as the painting invoked strong feelings as I thought of my mother who lost all of her hair when a red brick fell nine stories striking her smack dab in the middle of her skull as she had thrown herself…
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Open the Floodgates

This amazing pilgrimage I am making across the United States of America for the Equal Rights Amendment is dedicated to my beloved husband Brother William Gaines Swanson who stood by my side and encouraged me to undertake the calling his mother the Rev. Katrina Swanson asked us to undertake in her last year of life.  Read…
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Some Theses in Connection with the Ordination of Women

Some Theses in Connection with the Ordination of Women By the Rev. Frans Josef van Beeck, S.J. An Episcopal bishop (who shall remain unnamed here) misquoted van Beeck in the House of Bishops’ emergency meeting following the July 29, 1974 ordination of eleven women priests.  This led the bishops to rule that the ordinations were…
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Every State Needs a Law against Torture

Your State Needs This Law 1.  A person is guilty of torture if he intentionally causes severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, to be inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person…
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Episcopal Church Condemns the Doctrine of Discovery

Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church call upon the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, to disavow and publicly repudiate the claimed validity of the doctrine of discovery against all peoples, specifically…
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Embracing the Silence of Death and Life

by George Swanson Introduction During the sixteen months that my wife was dying of colonic cancer I sort of fell into silent prayer.  Well, I was also pushed. I fell this way.  The hospice nurse told me always to sleep when Katrina did.  That way I would be rested and ready for action if we…
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