Posted on 11/12/2005 3:56:42 PM PST by Mount Athos
Overseas Anglican archbishops told about 2,500 Episcopalians meeting in Pittsburgh yesterday they might have to leave the Episcopal Church unless its leaders "repent" at the church's General Convention next June for consecrating an openly homosexual bishop.
If Episcopal leaders refuse to back off from the 2003 installation of Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the prelates said they might boycott the 2008 conference of the world's Anglican bishops.
The mood at the David C. Lawrence Convention Center -- the site of the three-day Hope and a Future Conference sponsored by the Anglican Communion Network -- ranged from upbeat to dire as the foreign archbishops exhorted conservatives to hang tough.
"Bishops of the network must realize time is no longer on their side," Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola told the crowd. "This is your ... moment to make up your mind about what you want to do.
"Many of you have one leg in ECUSA (the Episcopal Church, USA) and one leg in the network. You must let us know exactly where you stand -- are you ECUSA or are you network?" he said.
The way won't be easy; in fact, Recife, Brazil, Bishop Robinson Cavalcanti, ousted by his own archbishop for siding with American conservatives, called his listeners "my partners in martyrdom."
He then compared the leaders of the 2.2 million-member Episcopal Church to those guarding Jesus' tomb after the Resurrection.
"In the deep of their souls, they are afraid, they are shaking," Bishop Cavalcanti said. "They know that spiritually, they are like dead men."
He concluded: "Don't be afraid of your bishop. Don't be afraid of losing your jobs, of losing your salaries. ... Many times the law of men needs to be broken so the law of God is obeyed."
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
The current Episcopal Church of the USA is likened unto a whitewashed sepulcher; claiming to be a church, yet filled with corruption. There is no pride to be taken in compromise with evil. Anyone who will not see the evil in the ECUSA is in clear danger of losing their immortal soul.
The church has lost 90 percent of its membership since the 1950s. This is a tragedy for a country who drew from its ranks many of its presidents and 40 percent of its military flag officers. No more.
The decline in membership is in line with the clear goal of those who have managed to take over the church. They would have us believe God is happy with each of us doing what we think is right. If everything is fine, who needs to go to church each Sunday to find that out?
The takeover of the ECUSA has been long in the planning. The changed "Book of Common Prayer" put in to effect in 1979 was done to allow confirmation of homosexuals. It is particularly important to note that the first queer bishop was not only openly, but an adulterer who left his wife and children for his queer lover.
Those who stay with the ECUSA must understand they are in an unholy alliance. They are not negotiating with Christians who have slightly differing views of God's intention, but devil buddies who are only interested in subverting God's will.
May you live in interesting times - Onne heck of a curse.
Good points.
The problem is not further dividing the church, but rather not following the church in its decline into the pit.
You do not become evil because of Robinson, but the contributions you make to your local church are passed on to the diocese and further to the national church. You are funding the work of the national church.
Your local priest may not have been ordained by Robinson, but the person who did likely voted to ordain Robinson as a bishop. If he did not, he "gets along" with those who did.
You cannot compromise with evil. The result is predictable.
Check out Luke 12:51 and on:
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
The point of this is that we unite with those who believe and not with those who do not. It is far more important to start unifying with those who believe than to worry about those who have heard the word, but choose not to believe.
As to guidance, pick up a copy of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and read the Articles of Religion. Simplified, there is nothing necessary to salvation that may be required to be believed that cannot be proved by warrant of Holy Scripture. Belief in God, Honor and Country. Family is the central focal point. One must work hard to provide for one's family. One is responsible for one's own actions. Help should be given to those who cannot help themselves. Those who cannot work should be provided for. Those who will not work should starve. Our country is a special gift from God. We must take care of the gift we were given. We are stewards of our environment; we are to use the world in a manner consistent with that stewardship.
You and your local church are no doubt good people who believe in what is written in the Bible. You not only believe, but attempt to follow the instructions contained therein. Understand, those at the helm of the ECUSA do not. That is all.
You better get a clue, shake the dust off your feet and move on in the name of Jesus.
A denomination that votes to have a faggot, reprobate, spiritual degenerate as their spiritual leader is an apostate denomination. You are not the denomination.
I can't recommend looking to the Roman Catholics - we still have our child molester-enabling bishop McCormack up here and the 'reform' cardinal in Boston, is sharing honors and the stage with pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage mayor Tommy Menino - at an event sponsored by THE biggest Catholic adoption agency in Boston - that recently bragged about the number of kids they place with gay couples.
Was this made clear to Martin Luther?
Or Henry the 8th?
Is that worldwide or just in the US?
world wide
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