London Day - My Way

After a March on Poverty described in the national press here as a bobbing river of purple, the bishops, spouses, guests, et al, were, what else, treated to a drinks reception and sumptuous lunch under a specially erected marquee. Think of the statement they could have made if they had a lunch similar to those eaten in the two-thirds world - that is, if those folk were having any lunch at all. That could have been a major statement on poverty and world hunger.

While at lunch, they were addressed by "the son of a preacher man" the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. While the PM was addressing the assembled, the Labour Party was getting its clocked cleaned in elections in Scotland and his very well received remarks were knocked out of the news altogether. Barack Obama's rally in Berlin didn't help either. From all accounts, if the Prime Minister loses his day job he'd fit right into the pulpit. I watched his address to The Knesset last week and I, too, agree he could follow in his father's footsteps.

After those festivities it was off to see The Queen. Following some mysterious selection process, a handful of bishops got tapped on the shoulder to come up higher. Our very own Bishop 826 was chosen to chat up the Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince Philip. Part met the Queen and the other part the Duke. Before The Royals entered the receiving chamber, the bishops were instructed on the body language protocol of the proper form of greeting.

Perhaps it's because the Church of England doesn't have women bishops that the Protocol Officer told the women bishops to curtsy - wrong! A bishop is a bishop is a bishop. Going along to get along were Rhode Island and El Camino Real. How I wish their office rather than their sex had defined the movement of the moment. Anyway, a grand time was had by all.