Posted on 06/20/2006 12:59:42 PM PDT by Abathar
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Episcopal clergy and lay delegates Tuesday rejected a demand from fellow Anglicans that they temporarily stop electing gay bishops, leaving little chance the proposal could be revived at a national church meeting.
Anglican leaders, angered by the 2003 consecration of an openly gay Episcopal bishop, had asked the Episcopalians pass a moratorium — at least for now — on homosexuals leading dioceses.
But in a complex balloting system, a majority of the Episcopal House of Deputies voted against the measure, which church leaders had seen as critical to keeping the embattled Anglican Communion together.
The critical debate in the Episcopal Church came on a day when another American Protestant denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), coincidentally planned to decide on whether to allow leeway on the ordination of gay clergy and lay elders and deacons.
Mainline Protestant groups, including the Methodists and the largest U.S. Lutheran branch, have been struggling for decades over the traditional Christian prohibition on gay sex as lesbians and gays push for full inclusion in their churches. The issue has frequently dominated debate at national Protestant assemblies.
The Episcopal General Convention ends Wednesday, and the House of Bishops could still try to resurrect the ban on gay bishops. But such a measure would still need the approval of the very same deputies who have now rejected it.
ROFL! My stepdad's father and brother were Episcopal priests; if they were alive, they'd be stunned at what's happened to their church.
"Slander"
You're right!! You get the Gold Star for today!
Yes, it came as a total shock. I keep hoping it will be changed.
It wasn't just Anne Boleyn that motivated Henry, though (and it wasn't so much the playpen as the nursery). Henry was in desperate financial straits due to foreign adventures and the debasement of the coinage. He needed the Church's assets.
Just like the liberals are eyeing the ECUSA's valuable urban properties and pension funds today . . .
A really good Catholic service with the most formal of the canons and traditional chant and polyphony will give the Episcopal service a run for its money, and has the added advantage of being doctrinally sound and in the valid Apostolic Succession . . .
( . . . former Episcopalian, now Catholic. No regrets. )
That is true, but on a day to day basis, you got to give the eps their music (mostly written by a methodist, of course). Unfortuantely, a lot of liberal ep churches are going to praise music. My wife's church even plays Dan Schulte from time to time.
When our former ECUSA choirmaster really wanted to insult us, he said, "You sound like a bad Catholic choir." That's about as bad as it gets.
Fortunately our current parish has a great music director with a taste for the really old-fashioned stuff (Palestrina, chant, Tallis, Byrd, etc.)
Hymns are mostly old German and Scandinavian Catholic hymns (he's Swedish). It's VERY nice music, very singable without being banal. He has to throw in a little of the Glory and Praise dreck to keep the mercifully small liberal population happy.
Don't worry----they will
Why are you surprised?---the Bible fortells all of what we are seeing happen so do not fear--Praise the Lord for sending his Son
Why are you surprised?---the Bible fortells all of what we are seeing happen so do not fear--Praise the Lord for sending His Son
Thanks for sharing all this. I cannot tell you how grateful our family is that we have a pastor that preaches the Bible and not current events sermons. If you hear the Bible in the Sunday sermon, most people are smart enough to figure out how to apply it to the events in the world around them. Unless a pastor has rock solid Bible footing to stand on, he doesn't have any business spouting political opinions from the pulpit. Preach the Law and the Gospel and let God do the work in the hearts of the flock.
We left the ELCA for the LCMS last year for the same reasons. It was the best decision of our lives!
et cetera
Sorry for not responding sooner but I shut down early last night due to storms and only have the laptop up this a.m. for the same reason; it's easy to shut down and unplug.
Our pastor is very good on the Bible. Unfortunately, he's under consideration of a call right now. We'll hate to see him go, if it comes to that, but from what I know he's nowhere near a decision as yet. As he says, it depends on how God moves him.
You are absolutely right. Preach the Law and the Gospel both. Then believe your congregation is intelligent enough to apply His Word to their lives. We all fail from time to time, but that's what being a part of a congregation is all about; the support.
Take care, and thanks for your sharing.
antichrist - doctrines of devils
Sorry for not responding sooner. I shut down early last night due to storms. I only have the laptop up now for the same reason; it's easier to shut down and unplug.
I'm glad your decision was the right one for you. As I've stated in earlier posts, I have friends who, for various reasons, have remained with the ELCA. Most remain because the congregation is a part of their lives and have difficulty making such a drastic move. I can understand that. I will also pray that the decisions of the church don't impair their beliefs.
One couple remain because she is a Synod VP (or was) and he (a retired surgeon) was on the ELCA council that managed the whole 'sexuality' thing. They both are against inclusion. John, however, being a good individual who wants to help, agreed to be on the council but left before it was over due to his beliefs. Its very hard for them both and we pray for them.
Take care, and thanks for sharing.
Most of the members of the ELCA are against inclusion, but the liberals muscle their way into the decision-making positions at the synod and shove their agenda through, criticizing anyone who disagrees as hateful and spiteful.
Thank God for that but I'm sure it will be brought up again and again, ad nauseum. The feminist movement at work!
What's this glory and praise dreck nonsense? God loves it when we sing praises to Him. And it's conservative Christians who enjoy it the most. Put away your biases, my dear.
My Norwegian mother was brought up Lutheran in Norway. When she settled in America, she began to go to the Episcopal church in town. A lot of the older Norwegians did that.
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