CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL An Episcopal Community in the Heart of Houston, Texas
JANUARY 2013 CHRISTCHURCHCATHEDRAL.ORG
The Year of our Lord A.D. 2013. We’ve entered a new date on our calendar. A surprising number of people believe that “A.D.” refers to “After Death,” signifying the time after the crucifixion of Jesus in an analogous way that B.C.—“Before Christ”— refers to the time before Jesus’ birth. This belief is curious for two reasons. First, if A.D. refers to THE REV. BARKLEY “After Death,” then how THOMPSON do we account for those thirty-three years of Jesus’ earthly life? What do we call the dates between B.C. and A.D.? Second, it would be odd indeed if we were to signify the first year of the new dating system by extolling Jesus’ horrendous death. If anything, we’d call the new system “A.R.” for After Resurrection. As it is, A.D. doesn’t mean “After Death” at all. A.D. is shorthand for Anno Domini, which means, “The Year of our Lord.” A.D. 2013 is The Year of our Lord, Two Thousand Thirteen. At least twice in the past two thousand years this system of dating has been questioned. The first time was during the French Revolution, when France’s secular regime attempted to supplant Anno Domini. We presently live in the midst of the more recent time of questioning. Today, scholars in virtually every field have agreed to refer to B.C. as “B.C.E.” or “Before the Common Era” and A.D. as “C.E.” or “Common Era.” The rationale for the new designation makes sense: In a world in which scholars of various religions and cultures interact, a Christian dating designation can seem triumphalistic. Even so, the fact remains that Year 1 is still considered Year 1, whether the designation is Common Era or Anno Domini. The universally agreedupon Year 1 is still the year of Jesus’ birth (or very close to it). Does this matter? For Christian people, it most certainly does. We are entering into the season of
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Jill and Barkley Thompson
Getting to know Barkley Thompson We asked our soon-to-be dean, the Rev. Barkley Thompson, some questions about himself and his ministry. His responses are excerpted below. The full interview and a video greeting are posted on the Cathedral’s website. What attracted you to the Cathedral and to Houston? Many, many things! Christ Church is distinctive even among cathedrals in the Episcopal Church in the combination of its size, vibrancy and location in the very center of a major U.S. city. Christ Church is able to serve as the agent of Christ’s love to an incredible range of people encompassing all walks of life. The Cathedral’s pursuit of justice, service, and hospitality kindles my heart. When Jill and I toured The Beacon, we were blown away by the tangible impact for good the Cathedral is making in the daily lives of Beacon clients. The search committee was also clear that the Cathedral sought in its next dean a compelling preacher and teacher. I experience my priesthood primarily as a call to preach and teach. The proclamation of the Gospel, I believe, should make explicit the points of contact between God’s vision for the world and our daily living. No other role is more important for a priest. Finally, our family connections both to Houston and to Christ Church served as a powerful lure. And, Jill and I fell in love with
Texas during our time at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. Tell us about your family and how they play a role in your ministry. Our menagerie consists of Jill and me, our children Griffin (12) and Eliza (8), Wrigley the 14-year-old beagle, a puppy named Maggie (short for Mary Magdalene), and Sally the cat. Everywhere I’ve served, Jill, the kids and I have found our network of social relationships in and through the church. This was true of Jill and me even before I was ordained. Friendships first based upon a shared faith in Christ are true and abiding. Jill has engaged in the ministry of the church in her own areas of passion and interest. In recent years, she has helped with children’s ministry, and last year she co-led St. John’s “Club 45,” which is St. John’s preyouth group for fourth- and fifth-graders. In her professional life, Jill is a physical therapist. That and motherhood are her vocations. What have your previous parishes taught you spiritually and practically? Spiritually, my experience serving parishes has reminded me again and again that it’s crucial for the priest to pray. This may seem selfevident, but in the crush of activity at a large parish, it’s all too easy for prayer to be the
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