Episcopal Groups Discuss Gay-Clergy Flap

The Kansas City Star ^ | 27 March 2004 | Harry R. Weber, Associated Press Writer

[MegaSilver]

ATLANTA - Moderate and liberal Episcopalians from dioceses that oppose an openly gay bishop called Saturday for church members to find common ground and tolerate differing viewpoints so the church can remain whole.

Episcopalians from 11 conservative dioceses said at the conclusion of a three-day meeting in Atlanta they are trying to move past a debate that has caused divisions in the church.

"There is a place for everybody in this church," said the Rev. Michael Russell, rector of All Souls' Episcopal Church in San Diego. "Because a vote was taken that a group doesn't like isn't a reason to leave the church. It's a reason to stay together in conversation."

Church conservatives have heavily criticized leaders who consecrated openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in November, and have created a national oppositional organization called the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes.

The network opposes same-sex unions and the ordination of gay clergy. Members have said they plan to defy church leaders and contend for control of parishes and dioceses, which could lead to a schism in the national church.

The meeting was attended by liberal and moderate Episcopalian clergy and laypeople from conservative dioceses in California, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, New York, Illinois, Texas, South Carolina and Florida.

They are members of organizations known as "via media" groups formed mainly to support unity in the national church. "Via media" is a Latin phrase meaning "middle way."

[MegaSilver]

Moderate and liberal Episcopalians from dioceses that oppose an openly gay bishop called Saturday for church members to find common ground and tolerate differing viewpoints so the church can remain whole.

Not a chance.

"Because a vote was taken that a group doesn't like isn't a was in clear violation of long-standing tradition and of the Word of God gives is every reason to leave the church."

[Eala]

ping

[thoughtomator]

"There is a place for everybody in this church," said the Rev. Michael Russell, rector of All Souls' Episcopal Church in San Diego.

Including Satan, apparently. Welcome to the ECUSA, Satan. Make yourself comfortable - we have no expectations here.

[scory]

"Moderate and liberal Episcopalians from dioceses that oppose an openly gay bishop called Saturday for church members to find common ground and tolerate differing viewpoints so the church can remain whole."

A church with practicing homosexuals among its heirarchy is not a church. It is a social club or political organization or homosexual rights pressure group but it is most emphatically not a church.

[Eala]

They are members of organizations known as "via media" groups formed mainly to support unity in the national church. "Via media" is a Latin phrase meaning "middle way."

To be more honest, it ought to be "via sinister" (sinistra? my Latin is fading...).

[King Black Robe]

Beware of the middle-wayers. You can't split a baby without killing it you know.

[Servant of the 9]

"There is a place for everybody in this church," ..... "Because a vote was taken that a group doesn't like isn't a reason to leave the church. It's a reason to stay together in conversation."

NO.
When they took a vote to cease being Christian, it was time to leave.

So9

[RobRoy]

This is something I do not understand. I am the music leader at my church and I also teach High School Sunday School.

If my church took the same position on gays as the Episcopalians did, I would prepare a speech for the next Sundays Service and before the first song I would read it and resign, walking off at the end of the speech or at such time as I was shouted down by the leadership.

The speech would be an anouncement of my resignation and the reason for it.

Seriously, for a Christian this really is a no-brainer. For those who are just hedging their bets, on the other hand...

[KC Burke]

Interesting.

This is the first major meeting of the liberal element within those areas where the conservatives are witholding funds and persuing other measures to distance themselves and perhaps seperate from the national mess. These people are trying to have their churches stay in the ECUSA and are perhaps planning the finacial battle.

[ASTM366]

I get a big laugh from these Christian denominations who don't have the balls to call homosexual behavior what it is:

DESTESTABLE

An ABOMINATION

God did not mince words when He spoke of homosexuality. Those who openly live in that lifestyle and defiantly preach that it should be accepted are WRONG.

Any church Pastor, Biship or Deacon who supports it should be immediately removed from their position of authority.

Can I get an "Amen"?

[thackney]

Can I get an "Amen"?

AMEN

[Paleo Conservative]

Beware of the middle-wayers. You can't split a baby without killing it you know.

Go ahead and split it.

[bboop]

Amen. V. is for Vicki.

[chachacha]

"There is a place for everybody in this church," said the Rev. Michael Russell, rector of All Souls' Episcopal Church in San Diego.

Would someone please forward this to "GOD" so he knows he's invited.

[King Black Robe]

In this instance you are right. They should split the church. But in my analogy I didn't intend to associate the baby with the church as it is. I meant to associate the baby with the church as it was Scripturally meant to be. Conservatives cannot split the baby -- the Biblical church -- in an effort to compromise with liberals without killing it. They should save the true church by ditching the worldly church. They can't have it both ways. If they lose money and property then so be it.

[King Black Robe]

Even better, consider the baby to represent truth. You cannot split the truth and still have a drop of truth remaining. If conservatives compromise truth to save their church, they will be left with nothing worth saving.

[ahadams2]

Ping.

[secret garden]

They love using political terms like liberal, moderate(what a liberal calls himself) and conservative instead of orthodox and revisionist.