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To: sionnsar

If I were WRITING a liturgy or rite, or were part of a group authorized do so, I guess I would entertain the "hear what the Spirit ...." line. It's sort of provocative in a way, and in my opinion not intrinsically harmful.

But think about it. The Episcopal Church is a group which one may leave voluntarily. It has a prescribed method for establishing and revising its rites. And this method is part of the promulgated and easily obtainable Constitution and Canons of the group. It seems to me, therefore, if you join or remain in such a group, you make a commitment to abide by the rules, including the rules for changing the rules.

With me so far? Hang on.

If I make a statement in public and sign it in public and have the signature witnessed in public, with the witnesses signing that they saw me sign, AND IF that statement says that I will abide by the "doctrine, discipline, and worship" of the Episcopal Church, AND IF I THEN break my word, not over some high matter of conscience or great fear and threat but because I happen to like "hear what the SPirit is blah blah blah" more than I like "The word of the Lord", then it's a pretty safe bet that I am not to be trusted, that my word is worth nothing, and that, in setting my whim over the choice of the group I engaged to obey, I have put my SELF and my litle whims ahead of keeping my voluntary commitments.

No wonder the Episcopal Church has gone off the rails. The people, and espesially the clergy think that when they follow their fancies they are following God and they value their whims ahead of their promises.


7 posted on 08/31/2005 2:08:49 PM PDT by Mad Dawg (Allahu Fubar! (with apologies to Sheik Yerbouty))
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To: Mad Dawg
Um, you may not be aware of this but the author is not ECUSA. He's REC.

I don't recall any signed promises in ECUSA, either. I know other churches do that, and I believe the REC may be one of them.

8 posted on 08/31/2005 2:23:09 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || (To Libs:) You are failing to celebrate MY diversity! || Iran Azadi)
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