Fairhaven Shorts 11-26-2023

A Departure In Royal Tradition

Over a year after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Canadian Mint has begun to release its first dollar coins bearing the image of the new king, King Charles. So after over 70 years now of Canadian coins bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth, with a crown on her head, always, alongside dozens of other countries around the world, not just the UK, but all the former Commonwealth countries, a new face will be seen on coins and bills. And the image that's come out of the Mint of how they're going to do it, it's notable, I think, that King Charles' portrait will not include a crown. This is a really major departure from the way that his mother was portrayed.

Queen Elizabeth, from her youngest years, whenever she was first coronated, have always had a crown, but nothing in King Charles' portrait really gives you indication that he's even a king.

The Church's Democratic Nature VS. Monarchical Rule

In their capacity. They're Supreme Governor of the Church of England, which is why there are all sorts of prayers and anointings and so on during the coronation. The king is involved with the appointment of bishops in the Church of England, all that sort of thing. I just don't like it.

No matter how much it's been reformed, no matter how much it's just ceremonial now, I'm too American, I'm too deeply steeped in the idea of democracy. I think that's genuinely a good thing. And honestly, my commitment to democracy is not just in the political realm. The United Methodist Church, democratically governed, the whole thing, top to bottom, our bishops are elected.