Rabbi in Residence for Western Mass Cathedral

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The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and it’s Bishop have appointed a Rabbi to the staff of the Cathedral. What a wonderful idea!
Bishop Doug Fisher of Western Massachusetts has appointed a Rabbi in Residence for the diocese’s Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield. From Sept. 1, Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro will take adult education classes and will also “preach periodically in the Sunday liturgy.”
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Speaking to the masslive.com news website, Shapiro said that the new post “offers me and parishioners of the cathedral an opportunity to explore faith and history in ways we have never done before … I anticipate a unique opportunity to teach and preach as well as see my own tradition from a new very rich perspective.”
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I can imagine all the possibilities that can come out of this partnership. Yes, adult education and learning, and yes, even preaching on Sunday mornings, but I wonder if they would be open to pastoral counseling, to creating events that support social justice projects. Perhaps even hosting more interfaith weddings at the Cathedral.

To me, it’s a brilliant idea and I hope it goes forward in exciting ways.

episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/07/27/mark-dov-shapiro-named-rabbi-in-residence-for-western-mass-cathedral/
 
ComplineSanFran said:
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and it’s Bishop have appointed a Rabbi to the staff of the Cathedral. What a wonderful idea!

I can imagine all the possibilities that can come out of this partnership. Yes, adult education and learning, and yes, even preaching on Sunday mornings, but I wonder if they would be open to pastoral counseling, to creating events that support social justice projects. Perhaps even hosting more interfaith weddings at the Cathedral.

To me, it’s a brilliant idea and I hope it goes forward in exciting ways.

episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/07/27/mark-dov-shapiro-named-rabbi-in-residence-for-western-mass-cathedral/
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I disagree that it’s a good idea.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and it’s Bishop have appointed a Rabbi to the staff of the Cathedral. What a wonderful idea!

I can imagine all the possibilities that can come out of this partnership. Yes, adult education and learning, and yes, even preaching on Sunday mornings, but I wonder if they would be open to pastoral counseling, to creating events that support social justice projects. Perhaps even hosting more interfaith weddings at the Cathedral.

To me, it’s a brilliant idea and I hope it goes forward in exciting ways.

episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/07/27/mark-dov-shapiro-named-rabbi-in-residence-for-western-mass-cathedral/
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I agree it is a good idea although some will be opposed to this kind of ecumenism. I don’t know about interfaith weddings since, while certain Reform rabbis will participate in such, they are discouraged even in Reform Judaism.
 
meltzerboy said:
I agree it is a good idea although some will be opposed to this kind of ecumenism. I don’t know about interfaith weddings since, while certain Reform rabbis will participate in such, they are discouraged even in Reform Judaism.
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That’s very true, Meltzerboy. However, I know a number of Reform rabbis who do perform them and spend time counseling interfaith couples about how to raise their family. It’s an issue of concern for many.
 
Syncretism is bad for both religions. Of course, if the two groups are merely social clubs for speaking in a God/G-d speak similar to that of their forefathers without any of the actual beliefs shared by those who came before, then there’s no religion to syncretize anyway.

I can’t speak much from the Jewish perspective, but as a Christian, this utterly destroys the respect for the Office of the Keys. My Lutheran church confesses that “No one is to preach or administer the sacraments in our churches unless he be rightly called [and ordained].” The Episcopal Church once held similarly high regard for the Holy Ministry. Now it’s a joke. Even non-Christians can, apparently, preach at Mass. What’s next, a Muslim Pope? A Hindu Dalai Lama? A Roman Patriarch in Constantinople?
 
ComplineSanFran said:
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and it’s Bishop have appointed a Rabbi to the staff of the Cathedral. What a wonderful idea!

I can imagine all the possibilities that can come out of this partnership. Yes, adult education and learning, and yes, even preaching on Sunday mornings, but I wonder if they would be open to pastoral counseling, to creating events that support social justice projects. Perhaps even hosting more interfaith weddings at the Cathedral.

To me, it’s a brilliant idea and I hope it goes forward in exciting ways.

episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/07/27/mark-dov-shapiro-named-rabbi-in-residence-for-western-mass-cathedral/
Click to expand...
Interesting to see another Diocese with a Rabbi in Residence at their Cathedral. The Diocese of San Diego has had a Rabbi in Residence since at least last year at Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Rabbi Laurie Coskey. I can’t recall the exact date she was bestowed the title but she gave the sermon during Labor Day weekend last year.
 
I fail to see the purpose or understand their goal. If they want to have nights or special events with a rabbi that’s one thing. But to hire one to almost be part of the clergy is very confusing. What is the message being sent here? It seems to me that they are saying that Christians don’t need Christ.

Furthermore, this idea that people from outside your denomination can give a sermon during mass or a Protestant Worship service is a bad idea. Again, it can be ok outside of a worship service, but not during
 
ComplineSanFran said:
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and it’s Bishop have appointed a Rabbi to the staff of the Cathedral. What a wonderful idea!

I can imagine all the possibilities that can come out of this partnership. Yes, adult education and learning, and yes, even preaching on Sunday mornings, but I wonder if they would be open to pastoral counseling, to creating events that support social justice projects. Perhaps even hosting more interfaith weddings at the Cathedral.

To me, it’s a brilliant idea and I hope it goes forward in exciting ways.

episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/07/27/mark-dov-shapiro-named-rabbi-in-residence-for-western-mass-cathedral/
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Are you an Episcopalian type Anglican or belong to a different Anglican body?
 
phil19034 said:
I fail to see the purpose or understand their goal.
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There is a long history in Episcopalianism of proving how intellectually advanced/superior you have become by discounting or minimizing somewhat foundational concepts of the Christian faith. (Including having your ministers actually be Christian I guess).
 
ChurchSoldier said:
There is a long history in Episcopalianism of proving how intellectually advanced/superior you have become by discounting or minimizing somewhat foundational concepts of the Christian faith.
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And, if that is the case, how would that even remotely apply here?
 
phil19034 said:
Furthermore, this idea that people from outside your denomination can give a sermon during mass or a Protestant Worship service is a bad idea. Again, it can be ok outside of a worship service, but not during
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One of the most moving sermons I have ever heard (on tape) was Dr Martin Luther King preaching at the Washington National Cathedral. It was the last Sunday sermon before he was assassinated. Dr King, obviously, was not Episcopalian.

The Word of God knows no bounds.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
And, if that is the case, how would that even remotely apply here?
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I’m not even sure I understand the question…but just in case:
  1. There’s a general tenet in life that “if you don’t live it, you don’t believe it”.
  2. The purpose of a Christian Church is to teach the message of Christ.
  3. Having a non-Christian on staff as an authorized teacher of the members of the church, will, by nature, not provide them with a fully committed Christian message.
Now I understand many / most Episcopalian clergy aren’t what we would consider being adherents to a particularly orthodox Christian message, but seeing they have been suspended by the Anglican Communion for false teaching / action, It might be prudent to at least stick to the appearance of supporting Christian teaching.

Thanks for asking.
 
I do believe that only Catholic priests or deacons should preach at Mass. However, I would truly enjoy learning more about the Jewish faith because it would enhance my Catholic faith.
For example, the last supper was a Passover Seder meal. At the same time it was the first Eucharist. The Rosary Mystery of the Presentation at the Temple is a Jewish custom that I don’t fully understand.
We believe that Christianity is the fulfillment of Judaism. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah Who was prophesied in the Old Testament.

I believe if I understand Judaism better, my own faith and understanding of Jesus will be enriched. I would enjoy an adult-ed class taught by a rabbi.

I would also enjoy some type of social justice type ministry with people of others faiths such as working with the homeless, or prolife causes. I am not looking to convert but rather form a bond with people of different faiths.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and it’s Bishop have appointed a Rabbi to the staff of the Cathedral. What a wonderful idea!
Click to expand...
Thanks the good Lord that a Rabbi wants to work as a staff of the Cathedral. 👍👍👍

We do not get that often enough. 😉
 
ComplineSanFran said:
That’s very true, Meltzerboy. However, I know a number of Reform rabbis who do perform them and spend time counseling interfaith couples about how to raise their family. It’s an issue of concern for many.
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Even the very Reformed Rabbi that married us in Las Vegas stopped doing interfaith marriages because he received so much criticism. Ours was the last one he performed (as far as I know, anyway).
 
ComplineSanFran said:
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and it’s Bishop have appointed a Rabbi to the staff of the Cathedral. What a wonderful idea!

I can imagine all the possibilities that can come out of this partnership. Yes, adult education and learning, and yes, even preaching on Sunday mornings, but I wonder if they would be open to pastoral counseling, to creating events that support social justice projects. Perhaps even hosting more interfaith weddings at the Cathedral.

To me, it’s a brilliant idea and I hope it goes forward in exciting ways.

episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/07/27/mark-dov-shapiro-named-rabbi-in-residence-for-western-mass-cathedral/
Click to expand...
I am sure it will be an enrichment to all concerned.
 
So a very liberal diocese in a liberal denomination and a liberal Rabbi of a liberal denomination find no conflict of interest in this? Either they common liberality trumps religious sense or they’re doing religion wrong. I’m assuming that for “fairness”, the Muslim, Bahai, Buddhist, Hindu et al clergy are next on the payroll?
 
So can the Episcopalian Church drop the pretence and just admit they ? If people are are going to complain that the previous sentence is unfair, then shouldn’t the Episcopalian Church be in the news when it does something Christian as opposed things which are not Christian?

What is the purpose of preaching within the church? The church being both the body of Christ and the building consecrated for the purposes of glorifying the triune God. Will this Rabbi preach Christ? Will this Rabbi glorify Christ as God? No he won’t. In a world which constantly tends to ignore God and Christ shouldn’t Sunday, the day on which Christ was raised, shouldn’t we use that period of time, that preaching to glorify him?
 
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