There is a meeting of all of the national Primates of the Anglican Communion underway right now. They are meeting to discuss what to do about the US Episcopal Church, which according to many is acting outside of the bounds of authentic orthodox-catholic Christianity. The Associated Press today published an article that announced the determination of the new Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katherine Jefferts Schori, to not back down from her positions in favor of the ordination of openly gay and lesbian clergy, and the blessing of same sex marriages / unions. The article went on to state that the issue of gays and lesbians in the Church, could cause a schism within the worldwide Anglican Communion.
As a former Anglican myself, I grieve for the pain and hurt that schism is going to cause. I wll not debate the issue here. My jurisdiction does not ordain openly gay men and does not bless same-sex relationships. That case is closed. Still, I really have to wonder why the Anglicans are now up in arms over the issue of homosexuality. Why are they finally up in arms over this, when the Communion completely ignored the Episcopal Church's refusal to deal with openly heretical bishops? Such men as the late (and very tragic) James Pike and the contemporary John Shelby Spong have denied the most basic tenets of the orthodox-catholic Faith, including the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Resurrection, etc. Even in my home state of Minnesota the Episcopal Bishop, a short time after his election and consecration, could announce during a radio interview, that he, "didn't like the Creed". Yet these Bishops were allowed to remain unchallenged as full members, teachers and shepherds within the Communion.
The ordination of openly gay and lesbian clergy may finally get the Episcopal Church removed from the Anglican Communion, or it may cause the Communion itself to split asunder. But the truth is, the Episcopal Church died years ago when it could no longer affirm the Faith of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I just can't understand why it took so long for the rest of the Communion to finally notice.
1 comment:
"...which according to many is acting outside of the bounds of authentic orthodox-catholic Christianity." - many, many, many!
I think this is really just the inevitable consequence of a phenomenon which first presented itself some time ago in what used to be a solid foundation of Catholic faith and ancient practice. You see, when you are presented with the position of a faction within your church and then you try everything possible to accommodate those people in order to avoid acknowledging the painful reality of actual division, you set the stage for the long-rolling snowball of liberal modifications which have been plaguing the communion for many years now. Unfortunately a snowball only rolls down hill.
At first glance, the generally pleasant mix of “high-church catholic” and “low-church protestant style” groups flirting within the church may seem like an excellent display of Christian unity and tolerance; but then this is where you finally end up-- a luscious rainbow of mixed spectrums which nobody can define. Schism may indeed be somewhat of a dirty word, but it is a reoccurring and unfortunate reality which cannot be avoided.
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