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So under pressure from each of these four serious compromising objections, the concept of life after death has entered a theological limbo. The Church will not abandon it officially; but few theologians seek to engage this profound issue, because it makes little sense inside the box of traditional theistic thinking and no one has proposed a new context in which it can be examined. So in both conservative and liberal Christian circles, a conspiracy of silence has fallen on the subject.

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Is stealing a loaf of bread, when that is the only way one's family might escape starvation, to be judged on the same basis as one who stole as a way of life?

Wow. I got the above quotes from http://www.dioceseofnewark.org/vox31199.html I read most of it. It's hard to believe a so-called minister wrote it. It represents some of the most naive and ignorant views of Christianity I have ever read. A sovereign God knows our situation far better than we and does judge us based on our heart. This guy needs to go all the way back to square one and read Mere Christianity . I hope he submits to Christ some day. And let us pray for his flock.

Spong is a "loose cannon" (retired) now. There are others of his persuasion, too. However there are also Bishops like John Howe of Central Fla. with whose teaching only the Spong types would find fault. When Howe labored at Yale in his "youth" Yale had a significant interdenominational revival.

There are many churches and ministers who are still standing up from within for the pure faith. The Episcopal churches with which I have personal experience,for example, have baptismal tanks and use them.

Rectors from the "developing nations" for the most part cannot be told from evangelicals doctrinally and surely wouldn't be asked to take a UMC pulpit. These stalwart men, cheered on and helped by U.S. and British churches who treasure the Word, have prevented the rest of the church councils from departing from the requisite "plum line” of Biblical truth.

There is still a great deal of difference between Catholic and Episcopal churches. I believe that a number of the elitist hierarchy of the Episcopal church, however, would prefer Catholicism if the celibacy requirement were lifted.

This church is in the balance. If you know how, perhaps you will sense the Lord’s challenge to pray for it.