DeanRobin :: The city of tragedy & comedy

This is Robin Walker's blog. I am the Dean of the Diocese of Brandon & Rector of St. Matthew's Anglican Cathedral, in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. I have been in this ministry since January of 2003. My big interest is "preaching among exiles," to borrow a term from Walter Brueggemann. This blog is mainly devoted to my sermons, and the sometimes circuitous process by which I get to them, as well as current issues in church life as I experience them. I welcome constructive comment on the content of my personal posts. Comments on linked articles should be directed to the appropriate authors. Note that this is a moderated blog. I will not accept comments dealing with local and/or personal issues. The main page normally contains only material from the current week. Past articles are found in other categories.

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The city of tragedy & comedy

by Robin Walker on Fri 11 Apr 2008 11:04 AM CDT | Permanent Link | Cosmos

The 55th annual Conference of North American Deans, Spouses and Partners met this year from April 3 - 6, hosted by Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans. The invitation was extended two years before Hurricane Katrina, whose influence on the city and the conference was deeply felt. The Conference chair referred to New Orleans as the "city of tragedy & comedy," which seems to me to sum up what we experienced there. There is still much devastation -- whole neighbourhoods remain abandoned

-- but the good humour of the place remains. They don't call it the "big easy" for nothing!

We experience great food, wonderful music, fine fellowship-- and the memory of disaster. Dean David duPlantier's front fence still shows the high-water mark.

Inspiring words and music from New Orleans cultural ambassador Irvin Mayfield stick with me, giving me much to think about over the months to come.Thanks to all who made this conference possible.

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Life in the Church