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Critics of Homosexual Bishop's Confirmation Lament 'Sad Day for Christians'
CNSNews.com ^ | 8/06/03 | Steve Brown

Posted on 08/06/2003 2:25:59 AM PDT by kattracks

(CNSNews.com) - Some Christian activists expressed disappointment Tuesday over the election of the Episcopalian Church's first openly homosexual bishop - a vote that occurred after church officials meeting in Minneapolis, Minn., concluded allegations of past sexual misconduct on the part of Rev. Gene Robinson were baseless.

"It's a sad day for Christians everywhere," Peter LaBarbera, senior policy analyst with Concerned Women for America's Culture and Family Institute, told CNSNews.com.

The vote by the House of Bishops had been postponed Monday following the 11th-hour allegations that Robinson had engaged in inappropriate touching with another man at a church event. An investigation was quickly launched into that charge, as well as one revolving around whether a website belonging to an organization Robinson founded for homosexual Episcopalian youth also contained a link to Internet pornography.

Robinson was cleared of any wrongdoing, and the final vote by the House of Bishops was 62 to 45 for approval.

"I'm thrilled we're going forward, and I'm very hopeful," Rev. Michael Hopkins, president of Integrity, an Episcopalian group of homosexuals - told CNSnews.com after learning the results of the investigation.

Hopkins said the vote confirming Robinson as bishop sends a "great message" from the church that its doors are "open wide."

However, not all Episcopalians applauded the decision or agreed with Hopkins on the message being sent. Rev. David Anderson, president of the American Anglican Council (AAC), had previously told reporters that Robinson's confirmation would be a "fatal bullet" to the Anglican Communion, the church of Great Britain that includes the Episcopalian Church in America and has 77 million members worldwide.

"We are on the deck of the Titanic, saying to the captain, the presiding bishop, that there's an iceberg dead ahead. For God's sake, steer us away from it. Don't hit it," Anderson said.

According to a petition on the AAC's website, "to confirm a non-celibate homosexual as a bishop of this Communion or to approve the creation of liturgies for the blessing of relationships outside of marriage would shatter the church," a reference to the decision of some Episcopalian officials to bless civil unions.

According to the AAC petition, the decision to confirm Robinson would:

-- Separate the church from historic Christian faith and teaching;

-- Alienate it from the fellowship and accountability of the worldwide Anglican family; and

-- Confuse the witness of the church to the love and joy of Christian marriage.

According to press reports, the AAC is planning a meeting in October to decide whether to break away from the Episcopalian Church or take some other action. Like-minded Anglicans overseas were also reported as saying they would consider severing ties with the American Episcopalian branch.

The 1998 Lambeth Conference, a once-a-decade gathering of Anglican leaders, approved a resolution calling homosexuality "incompatible with Scripture."

Yet Hopkins and other supporters expressed some doubt about the convictions of those threatening a church split.

"I hope that it's more bluster than reality. We'll see what they decide to do," Hopkins said. "I think in the end, there's more that holds us together than drives us apart."

Hopkins conceded that the church had lost some members when it decided to ordain women as priests, but he noted that then, as now, there were predictions of "a real worldwide split" in the church, which never came to pass.

Susan Russell, director of communications for Integrity, recently told reporters that Robinson's elevation to the position of bishop would increase church membership, which according to press reports has fallen 5.3 percent in the last decade.

"The same threats of schism were all around, and in my experience as an ordained woman in this church, the ordination of women has only strengthened our ministry and enhanced our ability to proclaim the good news of God in Jesus Christ to those yearning to hear it," Russell told reporters. "I think the Episcopal Church is poised on what we call a kairos moment, offering to the world a vision of a progressive, inclusive gospel, which is another step forward."

Critics like LaBarbera disagree. The "saddest thing" about Robinson's ordination, he said, is that it confuses children.

"It tells them that wrong is right, that it doesn't matter if a man has a (sexual) relationship with a woman or a man. It's just tragic that they are choosing to elevate something that is a sin, and all the young people are going to see this. The liberals are teaching the kids that sin is okay, and it's very sad," LaBarbera said.

He stressed that this issue is far from over within the Episcopalian Church and the larger society.

"The funny thing is that these people think they can change immutable standards by a vote. You don't change moral law by some liberal political action. God will not be mocked," LaBarbera said.

See Earlier Story:
Child Porn Link Delays Vote on Homosexual Bishop
(Aug. 5, 2003)

E-mail a news tip to Steve Brown.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.




TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 62to45vote; 62votes; confirmed; episcopal; fallout; homosexualbishop; peterlabarbera
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To: kattracks
It is time for real Christians to "come out" (from among them).
21 posted on 08/06/2003 3:24:52 AM PDT by Wilhelm Tell (Lurking since 1997!)
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To: kattracks
Hopkins said the vote confirming Robinson as bishop sends a "great message" from the church that its doors are "open wide."

That's a good thing. People won't get trampled as they rush for the exit.

It's going to be a very interesting Sunday for me, I can tell you that...

22 posted on 08/06/2003 3:28:15 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: Wilhelm Tell
I'm a minister and a strong believer in home churches - also a strong believer in non-denominationalism.
23 posted on 08/06/2003 3:29:27 AM PDT by bets
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To: bets
what defines a Christian? hmmm

Former Episcopalian Bishop of Newark, John Shelby Spong, did not believe in the divinity of Jesus.

Can you imagine what your children learn in Episcopal Sunday School?

We used to be Episcopalian but had to leave when it became clear the degree to which the church had defined deviancy down and lost any moral or spiritual footing whatsoever. It is simply time for Christians to abandon many of the old mainline churches and to join up with the smaller but spiritually sound, conservative Anglican, Presbytarian and other churches. Pull your tithes and your children and put them where they will grow in biblical truth!

24 posted on 08/06/2003 3:32:43 AM PDT by Huber (Ann Coulter's Treason is a corrective lens to clearly perceive the motivation of the left.)
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"I think the Episcopal Church is poised on what we call a kairos moment, offering to the world a vision of a progressive, inclusive gospel, which is another step forward."

Can somebody define "kairos" for me? I'd like to know, before I jump to any hard conclusions about what this "Woman of Integrity" appears to be suggesting.

25 posted on 08/06/2003 3:34:37 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: Evil Inc
Christ took whips and drove out the money changers as defilers of the church. Remember that? Well wgat do you think hed do to this bone smuggler?

Unfortunately, there are some clergymen who would enjoy getting whipped.

26 posted on 08/06/2003 3:35:06 AM PDT by Wilhelm Tell (Lurking since 1997!)
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To: RnMomof7; Clint N. Suhks
"I think the Episcopal Church is poised on what we call a kairos moment, offering to the world a vision of a progressive, inclusive gospel, which is another step forward."

Progressive? In the sense of progressing to Sodom, I guess. Inclusive? Well, sin is no longer a problem if you just include it as a virtue. Being progressive and inclusive is political language, not Christian.

Do these people even own a Bible?
27 posted on 08/06/2003 3:43:45 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: George W. Bush
Remember, Clinton owned a Bible...a real BIG one. He made sure that the media saw him carrying it out of church on Sun. It was cartoonishly huge.
28 posted on 08/06/2003 3:45:32 AM PDT by bets
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Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: hellinahandcart
Kairos is a Greek word meaning "moment of destiny" or "a time of opportunity that will not occur again."

Beware Greeks bearing gifts.

30 posted on 08/06/2003 3:48:41 AM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: hellinahandcart
A Google search found this:

July 1, 2001 marked the birth of a new ecumenical partnership in Canada dedicated to promoting human rights, justice and peace, viable human development, and universal solidarity among the peoples of the Earth. KAIROS is a decisive and faithful response to God's call for respect for the Earth and justice for its people.

http://www.kairoscanada.org/

Articles from the site:

KAIROS Opposes War Against Iraq's People

Safeguard the Credibility of the Kyoto Protocol and the Reputation of Canada

The Reoccupation of the West Bank and Gaza and Bush's Proposal for Peace An Analysis from KAIROS

Kyoto Protocol Climate Change Action Alert

Read the latest Climate Change Action Alert and find out how to respond to opponents of the Kyoto Protocol.

31 posted on 08/06/2003 3:55:33 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: bets
"Hey I believe in God and carry a Bible, but I also openly believe in sex before and outside of marriage, and oh ya, I think murder's ok (if you declare it openly). Can I become a leader of the Christian church? /s
what defines a Christian? hmmm"

You bring out an important point. The problem of the secularization of the church does not just apply to the Bishop situation..It is rampant in nearly all denominations and has been rapidly advancing, in my experience, since the 1980s. Sometimes the best thing to do in a bad situation is just to pull out, let the organization fail and then start over. The Bible and the sources used in other religions are very specific about leadership qualifications and it is not cruel to those who choose to go outside those boundaries to say, "That is your choice to make but if you do, you cannot serve in a position of leadership or authority in this institution." In fact, if we do not hold to strict principles about this as our faith dictates, the church will lose all it's power and it will become just another secular organization. I fear we are just about there already and I firmly believe that this Episcopalian group is working feverishly for a political cause, not a spiritual one.
32 posted on 08/06/2003 4:08:51 AM PDT by jazzlite (esat)
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To: kattracks; Miss Marple
I had looked all over for a definition. I found one strange definition about "seizing the bull by the horns", another about it meaning a specific moment in time as opposed to chronos or linear time, and the word itself attached to numerous lefty-sounding groups. But I was wondering if, in this context, there was a religious use of the word.


Guess not, it's apparently just a new label for the march toward "social justice" and "multiculturalism".


33 posted on 08/06/2003 4:09:01 AM PDT by hellinahandcart
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To: kattracks
One word: APOSTASY.
(Revelations said this would happen)
34 posted on 08/06/2003 4:13:00 AM PDT by peteram
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Presiding Pharasies Frank T. Griswold

My fellow Episcopalians it is time for use to take positive steps to ensure that this brood of vipers has taken the church on the wrong path for the last time. I propose the following immediate actions. E-mail the Presiding Bishop @ pboffice@episcopalchurch.org, Here is the first paragraph of my letter.

Words cannot begin to express my disgust with the actions taken during the General Convention. If Jesus were here today, would he rephrase the warning he gave in Matthew to "How is it that you fail to perceive that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Bishops and Sadducees." Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Bishops and Sadducees." The General Convention is all the proof anyone should need that Satan is alive and doing well. For through, you he has corrupted an entire denomination, and sent the message it is okay to sin. Perhaps you could book some television air time and toss out a few more of the commandments while you are at it.

Next, express your dissatisfaction to every media outlet you can find. Put the word out.

Finally, take back the church at your diocesan conventions next year.
35 posted on 08/06/2003 4:14:04 AM PDT by TheFrog
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To: kattracks
I don't care whether this man has physical urges for the opposite sex or the same sex. Why? Because we are more than just our physical sensations. God made us that way. He elevated us above all other creatures on earth.

What I can't believe is that the Episcopal church is giving their blessing to open sex out of wedlock. This new bishop lives with his lover. He's not just a homosexual. He's a practicing, cohabitating homosexual. Suppose he and his lover break up. In this case I imagine it will be all right for Bishop Robinson to have sex with anyone he wishes. After all, he's not married now, and what he does is okay.

Could a heterosexual bishop who left his family to live with a female lover ever have gotten confirmed? No. This man was given special dispensation because he belongs to a subgroup of society favored by liberals.

People sound paranoid when they say homosexuals are trying to infiltrate and take over their church, but how can you believe anything else when you see standards tossed in the trash can so quickly when homosexuality is a factor?

36 posted on 08/06/2003 4:25:18 AM PDT by Katie_Colic
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To: kattracks
Sad, but necessary, day, as the Apostle Paul noted in 1 Corinthians 11:18-19:

For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.
(19) For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.

37 posted on 08/06/2003 4:26:57 AM PDT by rhema
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Comment #38 Removed by Moderator

To: kattracks
It only took 26 verses in the first book of the Bible, for God to reveal His marching orders:

27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

28. And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

Thanks for the information on Kairos, kat ... Satan is alive and well.

39 posted on 08/06/2003 4:31:28 AM PDT by Pegita ('Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word ...)
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To: kattracks
This is a complete mockery of HIS word and HIS church. The only time Jesus was angry, was about the money changers on the temple steps, so compare that to THIS. I hate to see the consequences that are coming this way. How true it is that God is patient, but I'm sure it is wearing very thin. Buckle up cause it is going to be a bumpy ride ahead for us all.
40 posted on 08/06/2003 4:37:07 AM PDT by DreamWeaver
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