Homosexual Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson. (UPPA)
Posted on 07/15/2009 3:03:05 PM PDT by NYer
In defiance of the majority of the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. has voted in favor of ordaining homosexual bishops.
The unilateral action by the Episcopal Church, courtesy of a vote by its General Convention, moves the deeply divided Anglican Communion closer to formal schism.
The Los Angeles Times reports today:
Bishops, clergy and lay leaders voted overwhelmingly at the denomination’s General Convention in Anaheim to open “any ordained ministry” to gays and lesbians.
The liberalized policy represents a reversal from guidelines adopted by the church at its last convention in 2006 that effectively prohibited the consecration of bishops whose “manner of life” would strain relations with the 77-million member Anglican Communion.
The Los Angeles Times article quotes a pro-homosexuality Episcopal bishop who believes his church can remain in union with other Anglican churches, despite its actions at the General Convention.
But progressives in the 2.1-million member denomination said the move toward inclusion reflects the reality of a church that is home to many partnered gays and lesbians who belong to parishes that encourage their involvement and already bless their unions.
“Being an Episcopalian means you can disagree and still worship together,” said the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles. “We’re going to leave the door open for all those who disagree with us to find a place here and peace here.”
The BBC appears to have a more realistic understanding of the ramifications of this week’s actions by the Episcopal Church. Comments BBC News in this article, “The decision seems likely to lead to the Episcopal Church’s eventual exit from the worldwide Anglican Communion.”
Many observers have long regarded such a schism as inevitable, given the irreconcilable gulf in belief regarding homosexuality between the liberal-minded Anglicans who oversee its diminishing flocks in countries like the United States, Canada and Britain, and the more orthodox views that prevail among the Anglican hierarchy in the developing world, where the communion is thriving and the large majority of its members now live.
As Register correspondent Father Raymond J. de Souza put it, in this February 2007 commentary published in the National Post:
The Anglican Communion has been facing an insurmountable challenge these past few years. The small and getting smaller Anglican churches in the United States and Canada have decided, for the most part, that homosexual acts should be judged morally licit, and even sacramental. The big and getting bigger Anglican churches in Africa have kept to the constant Christian teaching that such acts are sinful. Between the two, the archbishop of Canterbury has valiantly attempted to fashion a compromise. But of course something cannot be both a sacrament and a sin, so matters had to be resolved one way or the other.
Ping!
They have been on the brink for years. +Rowan Cantuar is a significant part of the problem as he won’t take a stand and act with any firmness. I fear he will blink again, although I pray he won’t.
“Many observers have long regarded such a schism as inevitable, given the irreconcilable gulf in belief regarding homosexuality between the liberal-minded Anglicans who oversee its diminishing flocks in countries like the United States, Canada and Britain, and the more orthodox views that prevail among the Anglican hierarchy in the developing world, where the communion is thriving and the large majority of its members now live.”
They will for “Church” which will eventually house all liberals, to include - hopefully, the CINO’S.
I wrote they will “for” - should be -> form.
“Bishops, clergy and lay leaders voted overwhelmingly at the denomination’s General Convention in Anaheim “
This is what happens when you don’t take an active role in your church and organize and vote. People who believe in the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost find themselves worshiping Daddio, Laddio and the Holy Spook. This happened because most of you didn’t get involved and frankly you deserve it.
For up to date and live blogging on this see
www.standfirminfaith.com
From VirtueOnline today: (http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/)
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord George Carey today blasted the American Episcopal Church. In a note to 1,600 participants at the Fellowship of Continuing Anglican conference he said that his visits to different parts of the world reveal grievous hurts to the Body (the Anglican Communion) caused by the lamentable actions of TEC in 2003.
That was the year V. Gene Robinson, a non-celibate homosexual living in a partnered relationship, was ordained bishop of the diocese of New Hampshire.
“In such a situation, your witness, your courage and your commitment to the gospel are grounds for hope,” said Carey.
“You are already facing suspicion and hostility from various quarters because of the launch of FCA in England. Nevertheless, attempt to build the strongest bonds of communion with the rest of the Anglican family.
“Remain steadfast in truth, and compassionate in unity. And be prepared to go the extra mile for others.”
Her Majesty the Queen, Governor of the Church of England also wrote to the conveners expressing encouragement and “good wishes to all concerned for a successful and memorable event.”
After the Jerusalem conference, GAFCON leaders wrote to the Queen expressing their concerns for the Anglican Communion. They also expressed their loyalty to her as the Supreme Governor of the CofE, arguing that the pressing need was for the Anglican Church to remain faithful to the biblical gospel. She replied that she “understands the commitment to the Anglican Church that prompted you and your brethren to write as you did”.
Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, sent a one line statement, “I shall be glad to hold all of you in my prayers for the occasion.”
Other Church of England bishops were more expressive and adulatory in tone about the FOCA conference.
Michael Scott-Joynt, Bishop of Winchester wrote, “I warmly welcome the fact that Be Faithful is happening, I look forward to continuing to serve alongside you all, and I shall have you all in my prayers.”
Peter Forster, Bishop of Chester, wrote saying. “I send my warmest greetings, and the assurance of my support. Events in North America are developing progressively, and it is essential that we stand publicly and clearly with the emerging Province of orthodox Anglicans.”
Paul Butler, Bishop-elect of Southwell and Nottingham, said, “I was glad to be a part of the gathering in Jerusalem last year and am sorry that I cannot be with you today. The mission that God has called us to of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed must keep leading us forward. We all need to stand together for this good news. We may differ on some matters but standing together under the authority of Scripture for the Lordship of Jesus Christ is vital.”
Donald Harvey, Moderator Bishop of the Anglican Network in Canada and a Diocese of ACNA, said, “I write in my capacity as Moderator of the Anglican Network in Canada to convey to those gathered in London our warm wishes and the assurance of our prayers throughout the next few days. “Because of our mutual involvement in GAFCON just a year ago, we know many of the leadership who will be meeting at this time. Indeed, our Movement here in Canada has been enriched by so many of you and will continue to be as move together under the new banner of FAC in the days ahead.” “It is a joy to be part of this great Fellowship and although we are separated by a vast ocean, we are with you in heart and mind as the events unfold.” The Rev John Coles of the New Wine Network wrote saying, “This is a follow-on to GAFCON last year, at which I was present along with others from the UK. A conference is becoming a movement. Having talked again to Henry Orombi (Primate of Uganda) when he was with us for our Leadership Conference, I am sure this is an important movement. It’s important for us to show solidarity with orthodox and persecuted Anglicans in North America; it’s important for us to show that there is a strong group of orthodox Anglicans in the Church of England; and it’s important for us to stand together against the slow but steady conforming influence of secular humanism within the Church of England.”
Richard Turnbull, Principal, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, who is traveling in the US addressing scattered conservative Anglicans in the San Francisco Bay Area where church planting is in action, wrote saying “Our faithful North American Anglicans are deeply grateful for the support of fellow confessing Anglicans in the UK. One fellowship had met today in a community school for the first time - having been forced from their building.”
Turnbull said he heard moving stories of oppression and persecution. “The Lord honours those that honour Him. We have little concept of the depth of suffering endured on the ground by our faithful brothers and sisters. They are suffering a second and equally scandalous ‘great ejection.’ They deserve our full and open support, not vacillating and begrudging, not hedged or qualified a thousand times.”
We must stand alongside them, he said.
The letters are reminiscent of one famous letter sent by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who wrote a letter on behalf of the Pope John Paul II to some 4,000 orthodox Episcopalians gathered in Plano in October 2003.
In a look back in history, Ratzinger wrote, “I hasten to assure you of my heartfelt prayers for all those taking part in this convocation. The significance of your meeting is sensed far beyond Plano, and even in this City from which Saint Augustine of Canterbury was sent to confirm and strengthen the preaching of Christ’s Gospel in England. Nor can I fail to recall that barely 120 years later, Saint Boniface brought that same Christian faith from England to my own forebears in Germany.
“The lives of these saints show us how in the Church of Christ there is a unity in truth and a communion of grace which transcend the borders of any nation. With this in mind, I pray in particular that God’s will may be done by all those who seek that unity in the truth, the gift of Christ himself.”
The letter bypassed then Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold making it one of the greatest single embarrassing moments in his ecclesiastical reign.
This is what happens when moral relativism or cultural relativism supplants the Scriptures and six thousand years of Judeo-Christian tradition. All Protestant mainline denominations have bought into the belief that the Scriptures are nothing but fairytales and moral platitudes. Before someone thinks that I’m talking about his denomination, by mainline I mean the following ones: Presbyterian Church, USA; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, Christian Church/Disciples of Christ, and American Baptist. I may have missed a couple. I wouldn’t be caught dead in any of these denominations.
Actually it began with Sola Scriptura. Even the "founder" of Sola Scriptura (Martin Luther), near the end of his life, was afraid that "any milkmaid who could read" would found a new Christian denomination based on his or her "interpretation" of the Bible. Luther opened a "Pandora's Box" when he insisted that the Bible could be interpreted by individuals and that It is the sole authority of Christianity. This is why have more than 20,000 different non-Catholic Christian denominations? Each one has a "different" interpretation of the Bible.
“Actually it began with Sola Scriptura”
That is absurd. These Bishops of the apostate TEC are all in “Apostolic succession” ordained through the root in the Roman Catholic Church. They are doing just what the majisterium does, making it up as they go along and putting the imprimatur of the Holy Spirit on their teaching.
That's right.
The Episcopagan Bishops just authorized gay marriage services.
I would rather have a milkmaid interpret Scripture than the Roman Catholic Church. I have more confidence in her understanding of the Scriptures than I do the Pope’s.
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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15
The problem in a nutshell was the radical Protestant advisers to Edward VI, who changed the ordination ceremony to remove all mention of the sacraments or the Holy Spirit. The issue is whether they changed it so drastically both in form and intent so as to render subsequent ordinations and consecrations invalid. The Church says 'yes'. The fruits that were borne (and continue to be borne) seem to bear that out.
Assuming you can find a milkmaid -- let's say a laborer on a Vermont dairy farm with a grade school education, which means an amoral and Godless education -- you're going to have trouble getting her to read it in the first place, it being written by dead patriarchal oppressors and all, and in any event to put her possibly flawed reading (especially if it's King James she's not going to understand the half of it) against the years of study of a profound Biblical scholar is just . . . hyperbole. I hope.
Then Cardinal Ratzinger's letter to the Plano meeting that bypassed Foggy Frank was a fist-pump moment.
I would love to see the Concordat that was in the works in the 60s picked back up with the conservative Anglicans. Problem is, most of the group are evangelical rather than "high", so it will probably just be an 'understanding' rather than ever an actual concordat. Most of us 'high' folks got tired of standing around and went on Over to Rome.
I am so gald our church is now part of the Anglin Communion of North America and that soon the TEC will be sent packing by the rest of teh Anglican Communion. Trust God and pray.
I am so glad our church is now part of the Anglican Communion of North America and that soon the TEC will be sent packing by the rest of the Anglican Communion. Trust God and pray. <P
opps major spelling mistakes
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