While the Celebrity Bloggers got an entire WEEK (actually two, but who’s counting?), the Supreme Executive Committee of Lent Madness gets but a day. And they have to begrudgingly share it. Nonetheless, this is the day that the SEC hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
What are the job requirements for serving in this capacity? This is shrouded in mystery. All we really know is that Tim and Scott are self-appointed and serve for life. And that they drink a lot of (black) coffee. This more-or-less benevolent dictatorship began in 2012 when Tim, who created Lent Madness two years earlier, partnered with Scott and the folks at Forward Movement. The rest is penitential history.
The SEC does take responsibility for ultimately choosing the 32 saints each year — though in an uncharacteristic display of democracy they do open up the floor to nominations during Easter season. They also stand as final judge and jury on all decisions and rulings related to Lent Madness, including but-not-limited-to issues of voter fraud, Monday Madness, Celebrity Bloggers, humor, comment moderation, and eligibility of saints.
When not collaborating on Lent Madness, Tim and Scott spend time bickering in online public forums, as each considers the other his archnemesis.
The Rev. Tim Schenck
The Rev. Tim Schenck is rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Massachusetts, on the South Shore of Boston. He is the author of four books full of humor and faith including most recently Father Tim’s Church Survival Guide (Morehouse 2015) and Dust Bunnies in the Basket: Finding God in Lent & Easter (Forward Movement 2015). When not tending to his parish, drinking single-origin coffee, desperately seeking material for his syndicated “In Good Faith” column, or blogging at Clergy Confidential, he’s likely hanging out with his family that includes his wife Bryna, two teenage sons Benedict and Zachary, and his dog Delilah. Friend him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @FatherTim or Instagram.
The Rev. Canon Scott Gunn
The Rev. Canon Scott Gunn is a geek of both the church and of technology. He serves as the executive director of Forward Movement in Cincinnati, Ohio, whose mission is to inspire disciples and empower evangelists. Scott is also a Deputy to the Episcopal Church’s General Convention, the ultimate achievement for serious church geeks. Along with the Rev. Melody Shobe, he has written two books, an introduction to Christianity, Faithful Questions: Exploring the Way with Jesus, and an introduction to the Episcopal Church, Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs and Practices. His blog is Seven whole days, where you’ll read church rants and raves, thoughts about technology, and random musings. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, flickr, or LinkedIn. Scott is married to Sherilyn, who is also a priest, and they have a dog named George (after George Herbert, the first-ever Golden Halo winner). George has his own social media presence, and he’d love it if you followed him on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
I’m glad that you have the email subscription as I give up Facebook for Lent. Let the voting begin!(tomorrow)
Thanks for setting up an epic battle. I’m giving my bracket a final once over before delivering it to my church office today. It’s funny that Lent Madness coincides with the Olympics this year. I have images in my head of St. Paul on the luge and Katarina von Bora attempting a triple axel. May the best saint win!
🙂
I have encouraged our choir to join in the voting and hope they enjoy this Lenten discipline as much as I have over the years.
Is it wrong to be giddy that Lent Madness (and Lent) is starting? I think not. Simply bubbling over with excitement, awaiting the first vote.
I’ve decided to join the Purple Nails for Lent folks. Starting light and working up to Purple Passion. Go Lent Madness!
This is great
I have participated in lent madness for several years now. It is so much fun and I love it. However, I’d like to announce that this year I am basing all my voting on who displayed the most “heroic virtue” amongst the competitors. I learned about this in pre Vatican catholic school and I am sticking with it. Some people gave a personality that naturally lends itself to heroic deeds and social contributions, writing books, studying theolog, etc., while others had to do things like overcome shyness or temper problems of control their ADHD without benefit of medications such as in olden times. So that is where I am coming from.
Love you guys! I read the Church Survival Guide, so now need to pick up one of Scott’s. Happy Lent!
Looking forward, let the games begin!
Please sign me up so I can vote.
ewcorreia38@gmail.com.
Elisa Correia.
Sign up on the home page — enter your email in the top right where it says “Get Lent Madness by e-mail.” http://www.lentmadness.org
My wife and I are spending the first week of Lent Madness 17 times zones apart, so will never be voting on the same saints on the same day. Which means that I get the power of neutralizing her vote. This will be her penitential practice.
Please add my name to your Lent Madness. I have to play during Lent.
Sign up on the home page — enter your email in the top right where it says “Get Lent Madness by e-mail.” http://www.lentmadness.org
Where do we sign up for daily email? I can’t rely on Facebook or Twitter to give me the daily…
Thanks, Chris
Sign up on the home page — enter your email in the top right where it says “Get Lent Madness by e-mail.” http://www.lentmadness.org
Watch the Dean and Precentor battle it out during the final lap of the pancake race. The Dean also explains the significance of pancakes and Shrove Tuesday.
https://www.facebook.com/131264053618635/videos/1602369073174785/
I would like to vote, but do not use Facebook or twitter, and in the e-mail I cannot locate a place for voting.
Click on the word “here” at the end of the third paragraph.
Also you can bookmark http://LentMadness.org/ in your web browser then go there each day to read the newest post and vote.