Posted on 05/05/2014 3:07:30 PM PDT by NYer
The Episcopal Church is in a death spiral.
Why is the Episcopal Church near collapse?Prominent bishops are pulling out. Convention-goers were told headquarters had spent $18 million suing local congregations. Members are leaving at a record rate. This is no longer George Washington’s church – once the largest denomination in the colonies.
The headlines coming out of the Episcopal Church’s annual U.S. convention are stunning — endorsement of cross-dressing clergy, blessing same-sex marriage, the sale of their headquarters since they can’t afford to maintain it.The American branch of the Church of England, founded when the Vatican balked at permitting King Henry VIII to continue annulling marriages to any wife who failed to bear him sons, is in trouble.
Somehow slipping out of the headlines is a harsh reality that the denomination has been deserted in droves by an angry or ambivalent membership. Six prominent bishops are ready to take their large dioceses out of the American church and align with conservative Anglican groups in Africa and South America.
U.S. Catholics out-number the Episcopal Church 33-to-1. There are more Jews than Episcopalians. Twice as many Mormons as Episcopalians. Even the little African Methodist Episcopal denomination -- founded in in 1787 -- has passed the Episcopalians.
Congrats and WELCOME HOME.
Hebrews 10:24-25:
“24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Translation: Even though one is a believer in Jesus Christ, it is very important to meet fellowship with your fellow believers. Faith in Jesus is not to be lived all alone.
Well no church is a museum of saints. It is supposed to be a hospital for sinners.
Just one poster’s OPINION.
And your view is...what?
Please see post 42. Thank-you.
Not sure where you got the idea that gathering together to pray, study the Scriptures, fellowship and share meals is something I don't do, but you are mistaken if you believe that. I am saying that the organizations of Rome, and even most of those holding views other than Romanist, are neither biblically encouraged nor doctrinally sound.
The "groups" to which Paul referred were independent, small gatherings in homes, marketplaces, even alongside rivers and very small on structure, large on correct doctrines. Rome violates this at every point, and the Episcopalians did too...I am happy to see these ungodly groups collapse.
It applies to not only indiviual/group study, but worship in a Christian community, bet it the RCC or the small local church in town.
At least my church is cleaning out house:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3152892/posts
I'm sorry, I cannot understand what this sentence means.
“It applies to not only indiviual/group study, but worship in a Christian community, bet it the RCC or the small local church in town.”
Correction: It applies to not only indiviual/group study, but worship in a Christian community, be it the RCC or the small local church in town.
Please see post number 51. Thank-you.
Oh for the days when theological students were required to learn Hebrew, Greek, and Latin! I used to catch my ECUSA pastor out from time to time because he knew neither Latin nor Greek. He didn't know Hebrew either, but I never got past my aleph-beis . . . fortunately there's always the Septuagint.Heck, just requiring clergy to be a student of the Bible in their native language would be a welcome start. There are several modern translations that are reasonable good that make it an easy read. So few, however, are students of the Bible, at a time in history when the most resources ever are available for their convenience.
Even the marginally competent in Latin and Greek can manage with the resources available today (I know - I are one!)
Working on the music . . . that was the biggest stumbling block to our conversion. Fortunately they put us on the search committee for a new music director - he is absolutely top flight. Now if we could just get the old hippie ladies to quit demanding tacky OCP music instead of Palestrina and Byrd . . . .
It would be wonderful to have a replacement for the NAB but I fear that will never happen as the USCCB holds the copyright. As in every other part of life, follow the money.
The only thing that comes close is the Adoremus Hymnal, or possibly the St. Gregory Hymnal although that is pretty antiquated now - but still loads of fun. We absolutely floored our then-new Archbishop with all the propers for an Archbishop when he showed up to confirm the kids.
To anyone who can actually read either original (the Greek or the Latin Vulgate) the NAB is an embarrassment.
It manages to be both a banal translation and a bad one. 0 for 2.
Tried to use the Knox Bible for daughter's wedding . . . no dice, it's NAB or the highway. Enough to make you want to do the readings in Latin! :-D
The only real possible Bible replacements and there are two in regards to the NAB is the Jerusalem and the NRSV, Catholic Edition, both which I have as well as the NAB. I have a number of Bibles, including the old Catholic Bible.
Jerusalem Bible is good, so is the RSV Catholic (I don't like the NRSV because of all the "inclusive language" - first rule of translation: "Don't Mess With the Text.")
Knox is approved in Britain but not here. I have been reading through it and I'm very impressed with it - Msgr. Knox was a polymath genius with a very good ear for English. I especially like the OT, which he makes very exciting and readable, but Acts is also excellent reading. I'm starting on Paul's letters now.
Yes, the old Douay. I do collect Bibles myself.
The NRSV, Catholic Edition, what I like is that the letters are a bit larger print.
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