[Magdalen] TECnical question

[Ferdinand von Prondzynski (sms)]

Jim Guthrie wrote:

>I think it's better than the historic acronym -- PE or PEC as in
>"Protestant
>Episcopal Church." So there's certainly historical precedent.  And the
>acronym
>is rarely -- if ever -- used by non TEC people  or in news items or other
>communications meant for general public consumption.

I guess I need to try to explain why I find it wholly irritating - as I
do. I must say that in this, as in so many other things, I really
appreciate the approach of Anglicans Online.

First, I dislike acronyms more generally. Acronyms are, amongst other
things, a way of sustaining a protected community of insiders, who have
the advantage over those who stumble upon their conversations and have no
idea what they are talking about. Universities are amongst the very very
worst offenders - I wrote about that once, here:

universitydiary.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/linguistic-fog-in-the-academy/

Churches are beginning to get into this game, and as far as I can tell the
US Episcopal Church is amongst the more serious offenders. My strong
advice is to stop it.

Secondly, I particularly dislike THIS acronym. What are you supposed to
say in speech? "Teck”? Does that sound like a church? Absolutely not.
We’re only a minute away from US episcopalians calling themselves Teckies,
I suspect. It is not only an unattractive acronym, it’s a very non-church
one.

Thirdly, the acronym has a vaguely annoying implication for non-Americans,
and maybe for Scots in particular. The US Episcopal Church is not THE
Episcopal Church, it is AN Episcopal Church. The acronym suggests a degree
of disinterest in, or a claim of superiority over, wider Anglicanism.

There, I’ve got all of that off my chest. As ever, my apologies for
causing any offence.

Best wishes

Ferdinand


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