Posted on 10/08/2004 7:32:30 AM PDT by JesseHousman
An African Anglican leader said the Episcopal Church's confirmation of a gay bishop is tantamount to creating a new religion.
NEW YORK - (AP) -- The most influential Anglican leader in Africa -- home to nearly half the world's Anglicans -- said Thursday that the U.S. Episcopal Church has created a ''new religion'' by confirming a gay bishop in New Hampshire, breaking the bonds between the denominations with roots in the Church of England.
Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, in an Associated Press interview, also said he views the head of the Episcopal Church as an advocate for gays and lesbians and no longer trusts him.
His comments come less than two weeks before an international panel is scheduled to release a critical report on whether the global Anglican Communion can bridge its divide over homosexuality. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of Anglicanism; Akinola leads the Anglican Church of Nigeria.
''The Communion is shattered. It is broken,'' Akinola said. ``The commonality that bound us together is no longer true.''
Akinola represents one of the fastest-growing Anglican provinces, comprising more than 17 million people. He is also chairman of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, encompassing more than 37 million members, and has emerged as a leading voice for conservative Anglicans worldwide.
The Anglican Communion has about 77 million members around the globe. Episcopalians make up just over two million people in that body, a relatively small number -- though the American church is a wealthy one.
Akinola said he could not accept attempts to ''superimpose your modern culture on Scripture'' by ignoring what he said were Biblical injunctions against gay sex.
''I didn't write the Bible. It's part of our Christian heritage. It tells us what to do,'' Akinola said. ``If the word of God says homosexuality is an abomination, then so be it.''
Those who support ordaining gays contend Scripture does not ban same-sex relationships, and that there was no understanding in biblical times that homosexuality was a natural orientation, not a choice. Akinola said this reasoning sent an offensive message that the Bible ``is only for the primitive people.''
Akinola is in the United States exploring ways to allow American congregations upset over Robinson's election to realign themselves under his jurisdiction.
Each Anglican province is autonomous, and crossing geographical boundaries, as Akinola plans to do, is a direct challenge to Episcopal leaders.
When your church's hierarchy has deserted you, then it's time to put some distance between you.
That's exactly what SSPX and other traditional Catholic groups have done.
He's summarized the gay agenda in two sentences.
FINALLY....someone GETS IT!
Good!!!!!
or: Mission Accomplished
I have always found the faction religions of the Christian religion quite interesting...
By and large many of them still recognize and even have as part of their creed say:
"We believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic church"...
and they accept a Catholic Baptism as qualifying equivalent in their church (ie not needing to be rebaptised or remarried etc etc)...
Seems to me, just skip the splinter activist groups and come home.... Mass is offered 7 days a week, stop on in.
I find it interesting that you would compare the Anglican Communion with the Catholic Church and characterize Mr. Akinola's schism as akin to Archbishop Lefebvre's.
In reality the Anglican Communion itself is a schismatical body, just as the SSPX is.
Also in reality, the Catholic Church continues to uphold traditional sexual morality which the Anglican Communion does not.
Mr. Akinola is not really committing the sin of schism because (a) he was not in communion with the Holy See to begin with and (b) he is separating himself from a group which openly teaches immorality.
The SSPX, unlike Mr. Akinola, have deliberately separated themselves from the Holy See even though the Holy See does not teach that sodomy is acceptable.
The comparison is ridiculous.
Jesse-
It is a very simple question, do you follow the will of man (who is sinful and corrupt) or do you foolow the will of God. Following Gods will is not always easy or pleasant, but it is right and in the end is rewarding. As for my House we shall follow the Lord.
Soon Africans will be sending missionaries to England...
Akinola is on the battlefront with Islamic militantism. He KNOWS the importance of doctrinal and moral purity in effectively combatting the spread of militant Islam.
The gay issue in the Anglican/Episcopal Church and other "mainstream" Protestant denominations, like the botched handling of the paedophile issue in the Catholic Church, abortion, etc, are the mere symptoms of something much more serious.
Just as the Constitution of the United States is threatened by judges and courts which feel they have the right to interpret laws in any way they see fit, we are increasingly faced by a clerical establishment which feels it can interpret the Bible in any way IT sees fit, regardless of original intent.
Higher authorities no longer feel they are bound by written laws, be they Biblical or secular - and THAT is a very dangerous thing.
ping
americans need to be sending missionaries to england.
in fact, england is about the only place americans should be sending missionaries to.
The opposite is true. In Biblical times they were well aware that behavior, including homosexuality, was a choice that people were responsible for.
Well, give me that 'old time religion' then. 1928 BCP Continuing Anglican and proud of it.
In today's AAC email, there was a brief interview with Archbishop Eames. He claimed the Commission Report (to be dubbed the Windsor Report), will not be a "fudge." Text is to be released on Monday October 18 and will be available on line.
Even if the Report is not a fudge and calls for the excommunication of ECUSA, I don't think the heretics will give up Vicki Robinson. They much prefer the role of gay martyrs.
Akinola is actively soliciting orthodox parishes to come under his jurisdiction. I pray my parish takes him up on it. Our current bishop is OK, if a bit wimpy, but when he retires in 2006, I am positive we will get a heretic - probably a lesbian.
But the consecration of a gay bishop does not make sense to me. And especially the way the gays used an end run to change the Church's doctrine, when there is a specific process for determining doctrinal changes of this magnitude, was unconscionable to me. The Church went through years of discussion and an official process to change its doctrine on the ordination of women. They would never have done this just by allowing one diocese to elect a woman bishop. Surely the ordination of homosexuals is as significant a doctrinal change. Yet it was allowed to happen, merely by the ordination of a homosexual bishop. And we are all supposed to just accept it or be called bigots. It's wrong on biblical principle, and it's wrong on procedural principle.
I really don't know what to do here. My husband disagrees with me on this. I do not want to join a different church from him.
Homosexual Agenda Ping. Looks like the real future of Anglican/Episcopalians is in Africa. They get it.
Let me and Scripter know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.
Someone (or a church) can put a label "Christian" or "religious believer" on, it means nothing. The fruits are what determines who is who and what is what.
I also hope and will encourage my parish to join the traditional Anglican church.
Mission Accomplished.
Also, if he had of said these things in the USA post-hate crimes bill which is about to pass, he could be thrown in jail, or gined.
In the creed that you cite, the Christians that use it, including Roman Catholics, use a small "c" catholic. Which mean "universal", not Roman Catholic. The apostolic part simply provides recognition that Jesus wanted his apostles to form a church to spread the good news.
The Catholic church recognizes most Protestant baptisms and visa versa.
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