THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER

Humor in Theology

 

Humor in the Old Testament


The Often-Overlooked Humor of Jesus


Books Offering Humor and Theology


A "BritCom's" Take on Anglican Life


Laughing All the Way: To, From and In St. Bart's


Cartoons & Extras

 

 

BACK

Cartoons & Extras

Top 10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian
(from the comedian/Episcopalian Robin Williams, on an HBO special)

10. No snake handling.
9. You can believe in dinosaurs.
8. Male and female God created them; male and female we ordain them.
7. You don’t have to check your brains at the door.
6. Pew aerobics.
5. Church year is color-coded.
4. Free wine on Sunday.
3. All of the pageantry — none of the guilt.
2. You don’t have to know how to swim to get baptized.
And the Number One reason to be an Episcopalian:
1. No matter what you believe, there’s bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.

 

Illustration by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham,Vicar of St. Bartholomew’s, Manhattan/Copyright The Church Pension Fund


Just how many Episcopalians DOES it take to change a light bulb?
In tribute to the (in)famous light bulb joke, here is a compilation of Episcopal takes on the punchline:

  • Change?!? What do you mean “change?” My mother donated that light bulb.
  • None. We always use candles instead.
  • None. The old one is complete and sufficient unto itself, and should not be changed according to the world’s whims.
  • Three. One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was.
  • Four. One to change the bulb. One to bless the elements. One to pour the sherry. And one to offer a toast to the old light bulb.
  • Four. One to call the electrician, one to clear it with the vestry, and two to argue about how much better candles were.
  • Six. One to change the bulb, and five to form a society to preserve the memory of the old light bulb.
  • Eight. One to call the electrician, and seven to say how much they liked the old electrician and old light bulb better.
  • Ten. One to actually change the bulb, and nine to say how much they liked the old one.
  • Twelve. One to do the work and 11 to serve on the committee.
  • Several dozen. They form a committee that meets weekly to discuss the project and, if unusually expeditious, within 18 months will have remanded the project to the building and grounds committee.
  • 300. A sexton to change the bulb. The rector, the assistant rector, deacon and seminarian to lead the ceremony blessing the new bulb. The church secretary to make up the special bulletin insert with the bulb-blessing ceremony, including congregational responses: “Do you, the people of St. Swithin’s, promise to support this bulb in its work on behalf of this church?” “We do!” The choirmaster/organist to write and arrange a special Blessing of the Bulb Anthem: the “Phos 100-Watt GE Soft White” and 12 choir members to sing it. An acolyte and two torch-bearers to sit around looking bored and making faces at each other. And 278 people in the pews thinking to themselves, “Is this service EVER going to end?” PLUS — six of those 278 (about 2%) will form a Society for the Preservation of the Light Bulb, and two of those people will leave the parish and try to find someone who will let them use the Real Light Bulb of their forefathers.
  • The entire General Convention. One to move that the bulb be changed while the others debate until the room spins.