SEC Day!

After a rollicking, Celebrity Blogger Week, it's time to highlight the Supreme Executive Committee. Just who are these masked (in the appropriate MMliturgical color, of course) men? Lent Madness creator Tim Schenck and Forward Movement executive director Scott Gunn form the self-appointed and, mostly, benevolent dictatorship that is the SEC.

In real life, the one word they would use to describe one another is "archnemesis." Fortunately, for the season of Lent they engage in a 40 day and 40 night period of detente in order to pull off the world's most popular online Lenten devotion. The moment the Easter Acclamation is announced at the Great Vigil on Easter Eve, the world returns to normal and their rivalry is revived.

Besides simply being supreme, what exactly is the role of the SEC? Well, that's a mystery that will never fully be revealed. But Tim spends much of his time corralling Celebrity Bloggers into meeting deadlines, writing introductions to posts, and  managing the Lent Madness social media presence. Scott manages the Lentorium and helps bring to bear Forward Movement's resources in terms of graphic design, publishing, and technology. He also heads the Voter Fraud Department (one vote!). Both Tim and Scott film award-winning Monday Madness episodes throughout Lent to keep the faithful informed and up-to-date on all things Lent Madness; determine the yearly bracket; and publicize Lent Madness by any means necessary.

Scroll down for some never-seen-before SEC Fun Facts!

Tim.Headshot.EditedThe 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 the recently released Father Tim’s Church Survival Guide (Morehouse 2015) and Dust Bunnies in the Basket: Finding God in Lent & Easter (Forward Movement 2015). Tim writes a monthly syndicated column for Gatehouse Media titled “In Good Faith.” When he’s not tending to his parish, drinking coffee, or blogging at Clergy Confidential, he’s likely hanging out with his family that includes his wife Bryna, two sons Benedict (16) and Zachary (14), his dog Delilah, and a ferret named Mimi. Friend him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @FatherTim.

DSC_6879-e1315428467832-297x300The Rev. Scott Gunn is an Episcopal priest and self-confessed technophile. He serves as the executive director of Forward Movement in Cincinnati, Ohio, whose mission is to inspire disciples and empower evangelists. Though Scott is happily married and the proud owner of a dog named George, he will never, ever have ferrets at home. His blog is Seven whole days, and he is the co-author of Faithful Questions, an introduction to the Christian faith. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, flickrLinkedIn, or Instagram.

SEC Fun Facts

  1. While Tim and Scott don't agree on much, there is one thing they have in common: They drink their coffee like they wear their IMG_0159clergy shirts: black.
  2. Every edition of Monday Madness is filmed in ONE TAKE. This explains the high quality of every episode.
  3. Tim and Scott first met as members of the now defunct Board of Governors of the now defunct Episcopal Life newspaper.
  4. The saintly bracket is discerned and finalized (after a period of open nominations) at the yearly SEC Retreat, traditionally held in Eastertide, at a remote, secure location. Inane icebreakers, PowerPoint presentations, and small-group breakout sessions are always involved.
  5. Both Tim and Scott believe that most churchy types take themselves too seriously, while often not taking Jesus seriously enough. So they talk a lot about Jesus. And laugh often.
  6. Tim's ferret is on Twitter, and so is Scott's dog. The difference is that Scott has the password to his dog's Twitter account, but Tim's ferret runs rogue. Check it out at @GeorgeTDog or @MimiTheFerret.
  7. Just as Supreme Court justices never take sides when they attend a State of the Union address, the Supreme Executive Committee never takes sides when it comes to the saintly smackdown.
  8. In the unlikely event the Supreme Executive Committee is deadlocked at one vote each, they would contact their fellow supreme, the Supreme Pontiff and Bishop of Rome, to cast the tie-breaking vote. Failing that, they keep Diana Ross of the Supremes on speed-dial.
  9. When it comes to the humorless and/or complainers, the SEC lives by the two great commandments of Lent Madness. 1) If you don't like the world's greatest online Lenten devotion, go ahead and start your own; 2) Lent Madness is...OPTIONAL.
  10. Both of their spouses will be quick to point out that supremity does not extend beyond the online world of Lent Madness. At home, they're just two guys cleaning up after a ferret or walking the dog.

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