Crisis in the Emerti: OH MY !!!

June 02, 2005

Fools for Christ? No, just fools.

Rev. James Cooper

Rev. Bom Bean, aka Rev. Cooper, serving Holy Communion

More on that "Clown Eucharist" in New York that took place on May 22. I've learned now that apparently the senior cleric at the Episcopalian church in New York has done some weird things before, in previous parishes. Here is a commentary from an e-newsletter put out by Episcopalian David Virtue, "Virtueonline" ... read the extended entry for the newspaper story about his installation in 2004: reports in it about his use of a chain saw during one sermon, and at another time, riding a motorcycle into the church during his sermon on "Christianity and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." But, of course, we read how he increased the size of his Episcopalian Church in Florida from a few hundred, to over 5,900. So, that must mean all this is just fine. I notice in the newspaper article that one member of the parish expressed the thought that Rev. Cooper would not be revving up chain saws or riding motorcycles, since, he said, "We are not that kind of parish." So, they are not going for the Biker look or chain saw crowd, but the clown/circus crowd is ok for one of America's most historic Christian congregations....charted by the King of England in 1692! [I just read a mention of it in McCullough's new book "1776"].

Here is David Virtue's comment on this incident:

And at TRINITY WALL STREET in New York City, the Rev. James Cooper,
rector of the celebrated Episcopal sanctuary at Broadway and Wall St., (also the single richest church in the world) greeted worshipers last Sunday in some highly unorthodox vestments -- a checked red-and-white clown suit, red fright wig, rubber nose and large floppy shoes. Then, in what was almost surely the most unusual church service most parishioners ever experienced, he presided at a "Clown Eucharist" that included circus music during the opening procession, a mimed sermon, jugglers and outlandishly dressed ushers blowing soap bubbles at worshipers. To encourage people to get in the mood, ushers handed out noisemakers and big red noses to everybody, but only a few of the 450 or so worshipers, among them several dozen tourists, wore any clownish accoutrements. "I'm self-conscious about doing that kind of thing in church," one woman said. "We are fools for Christ's sake," said the rector. Sorry rector, you are just plain fools. In his previous church, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., he fired up chain saws and rode motorcycles down the aisle to make sermon points. Oh, God.

The extended entry includes a story from the New York Daily News on Rev. Cooper's installation, on September 11, 2004. After that is a story preached by Rev. Cooper in South Africa, which I notice is noticeably "Christ free."

Continue reading "Fools for Christ? No, just fools."

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Clowning Around with Holy Things

Clown Eucharist

A frequently abused text of Holy Scritpure is 1 Corinthians 4:10 where Paul refers to himself and his fellow missionaries as "fools for Christ," Paul is not suggesting that we act like fools. He is embracing what others were accusing him of being: a fool, for preaching Christ and Him crucified. Using this verse, some today attempt to pass off all manner of nonsensical foolishness, trying to justify it in the name of "mission" and "outreach." This story is about a "clown eucharist." Let me be perfectly clea. A "clown eucharist" is blasphemous, profane, irreverent and horrifying. It is a symptom of the sickness unto death that afflicts much of American Christianity. I am sick to my stomach looking at this stuff. Anything goes, so it seems, as long as we can claim it is for the sake of "outreach" and "mission." An Episcopalian church in New York put on a "Clown Eucharist" on May 22. You can visit their web site for "Clown Eucharist Resources."
Keep reading for all the details. You may also watch a video of the service. You can also view a program for the service. Thanks to fellow Lutheran blogger "IntolerantElle" for posting this on her site.

Some more photos from the event, from the parish's web site:

The Rev. James G. Callaway hands out noisemakers at the start of the Clown Eucharist.