Basket of Carp : Anne Lamotte and the Gathering

"Due to scheduling conflicts, Anne LaMott will not participate at A Gathering of the Diocese in June." We discussed this announcement in the board meeting of Nevertheless — did she cancel or was she canceled? — and I said I would try to find out what happened. Through a mutual friend I was able to make contact with Anne Lamott and asked who had the "scheduling conflicts." She wrote back, "the conflict was at the Houston end." And her agent wrote, "Please know that Anne Lamott does not have scheduling conflicts with the date in June. The postponement request came from the Diocese."

A speaker has been announced in Anne's place, an ordained retired banker from Nairobi. I'm sure she is fine and worth hearing. But what happened about Anne Lamott?

A Diocesan official, whom I respect, denies that the announcement says that Anne canceled, but it implies that, nevertheless. The Diocese contacted Anne, the Diocese scheduled Anne for the Gathering, the Diocese publicly announced that Anne would be at the Gathering, and then the Diocese said there was a "scheduling conflict". We know that Anne didn't have a conflict. I wonder why the office isn't more upfront and tell us the reason for the scheduling conflict. Or do they think it's not our business?

We don't really know why the "conflicts" but in her books Anne not only testifies to her need of Jesus, she is also very frank about her life story. She is equally plain-spoken about her views. For example: (a). she despises George Bush and says so in Plan B; (b). she strongly opposes the war in Iraq; (c). she has had more than one abortion and speaks out for Pro Choice; (d). she has a son by a man she didn't marry; (e). she is a recovering alcoholic; (f). she is a recovering drug user; (g) she has had extramarital affairs; (h). she takes her role as a parent very seriously; (i). she likes chocolate; (j). she is a Christian.

My guess is that many of these are shared with Episcopalians and that some others think these things shouldn't be talked about. Maybe somewhere in that list we can find the "conflicts".

I am so pleased that Anne will be at the Cathedral in the spring. Thank you, Diocese of Texas, for your commitment to getting her here. She will have a different venue and probably different crowd than the Gathering. And a lot of us will want to hear her.