Posted on 02/23/2007 3:19:42 PM PST by SirLinksalot
U.S. Episcopal Church Faces Ultimatum
NewsMax.com Wires
Friday, Feb. 23, 2007
NEW YORK -- Three years of emergency summits, nuanced apologies and behind-the-scenes negotiating failed. Anglican leaders this week gave the U.S. Episcopal Church an ultimatum: Halt your march toward full acceptance of gays, or lose your place in the global Anglican family.
Now, Episcopalians are asking themselves whether the cost of membership has become too high.
"We made our 'yes' to gays and lesbians," wrote the Rev. Ann Fontaine of the Diocese of Wyoming, in an examination of the Anglican demands. "Let it stand."
The global Anglican Communion, represented in the United States by the Episcopal Church, has spent years debating how its 77 million members should interpret Scripture on salvation, truth and sexuality.
But for theological conservatives, the time for talk ended in 2003 when the U.S. denomination consecrated its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. To them, the confirmation was beyond the bounds of true Christianity.
Ever since, Episcopalians have had a tough lesson in what it means to be Anglican in the 21st century. The communion was once dominated by its North American and European provinces. But these days, its biggest and fastest-growing churches - by far - are in parts of the developing world where traditional Bible beliefs aren't questioned.
As a result, Episcopalians have found themselves on the defensive.
It's no coincidence that Archbishop Peter Akinola, head of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, is leading the charge against consecrating gays. With its 17.5 million members, the Nigerian church is more than seven times bigger than the U.S. denomination.
Episcopalians who share these conservative views of Scripture are in the minority in their own church. But by putting their time, energy and resources behind overseas traditionalists, they have helped move the communion toward the kind of demands they made this week.
Anglican leaders ended their meeting Monday in Tanzania by giving the Episcopal Church until Sept. 30 to pledge unequivocally not to consecrate another gay bishop or approve an official prayer service for blessing same-sex couples. If that promise is not given, the Episcopal Church could face a much reduced role in the Anglican world.
Many Episcopalians say they're being asked to give up what they cherish most about their denomination: its emphasis on social justice in Scripture, which led them to accept gay relationships, and its democratic policy making that gives lay people and clergy a vote in major decisions.
They look at what they've already done to mend the rifts and consider it more than enough.
The church has apologized repeatedly for failing to more fully consult with Anglican leaders before confirming Robinson - although it hasn't apologized for consecrating him. Episcopal leaders have explained themselves before Anglican panels and in countless private meetings.
If the Anglican family is forcing a choice between rejecting gays or going it alone, the liberal view says, then it may be time to say goodbye.
"If how others view us becomes our consuming concern, our mission will suffer or die," said Bishop Paul Marshall of the Diocese of Bethlehem, Pa., in a letter to his congregations Wednesday.
But the head of the Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, returned from the Tanzania meeting saying the denomination should make the very concessions liberals abhor "for a season" until relationships with fellow Anglicans can be healed.
Jefferts Schori personally supports ordaining gays, and she has upset some with her willingness to agree to the Anglican leaders' demands. Yet, she is not alone in wanting to keep the U.S. affiliation with the communion.
Bishop Kirk Smith of the Diocese of Arizona told his parishioners this week that "my heart breaks" at the thought of stepping back from full inclusion of gays and lesbians.
"However, I believe that we are at a moment in our history when we must remain together," Smith said. "I am committed to a fully inclusive church, but I am also committed to remaining part of the larger Anglican Communion." It's a bond that goes back hundreds of years, with roots in the Church of England.
Anglican leaders said Monday that the Episcopalians' pledge would have to hold until "a new consensus emerges" over sexuality.
But that might never happen, considering the intense differences over sexuality.
Whatever the Episcopal House of Bishops decides over the next seven months, the church can easily survive without the communion. The 2.3 million-member U.S. denomination may be relatively small, but it is affluent - and well situated to continue its missions with other Christians overseas.
In fact, the Anglican Communion itself may suffer more from any broken ties.
A significant chunk of its budget comes from the U.S. church.
Ditto.
Right is right, wrong is wrong. I don't think you get wiggle room just because standing for right costs you some money. I'm sure I read that somewhere.
"Episcopalians who share these conservative views of Scripture are in the minority in their own church. But by putting their time, energy and resources behind overseas traditionalists, they have helped move the communion toward the kind of demands they made this week."
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I left the Episcopal Church two years ago rather than be part of this minority. Prior to that, I spent two hours personally speaking with the bishop and imploring him to embrace Scripture rather than "social justice" to no effect.
It is time for ECUSA to leave the Anglican Communion, and take those who don't believe in Scripture with them.
Perhaps. But it is my understanding that there are individual Christian Episcopal/Anglican churches that are larger than entire liberal dioceses.
Precisely. I'm one of them.
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[Now even NewsMax is covering the news from Tanzania :-) --Huber]
It depends on the state and how the real estate documents were drawn up. They have a good chance in California, a weak chance in Pennsylvania, and a fairly good shot in Virginia.
I've tagged some of the stories with a ' churchproperty ' keyword.
Yet he still took the paycheck while masquerading as a Christian leader.
If sionnsar is around, I'd like to ask him if it's true that the majority of African bishops have turned down any financial aid from ECUSA/TEC ever since Vicky Gene Robinson was ordained as Bishop of New Hampshire.
You rang? *\;-)
Here only via your ping: article remains unread and will remain so at least until after Lent. "Majority"? There have been turndowns, but I do not know any of the numbers. Sorry.
I'd be interested in knowing if he had the guts to make the same announcement in front of his congregation.
I'd bet no.
I would bet that she is straight. I figure that female "clergy" tend to be "progressive" by nature. Just a thought.
That's okay, Lurch, get ready for Lent.:)
Huh? Jimmy Swaggart has nothing to do with the Anglican Communion. Wasn't he associated with the Assemblies of God? Different A/G.
How long before Africa begins sending missionaries to the benighted heathens of North America?
If they break off I hope they take our CINO's with them. Then they can absorb the Unitarians and have a gay old time!
Why are Buddhists leading Christian churches?
Already started.
Yes, my point was that when Swaggart was removed from the A/G (Assemblies of God), his people predicted dire financial consequences for the A/G. But the A/G didn't suffer one bit from doing what was right, in fact after he was removed, the A/G has been doing very well.
Likewise, the Anglican Church will not suffer from removing from it's Communion those who break faith.
What does that even mean?
Why are they "others", Bishop Marshall?
Youhave separated yourself already with your words.
Where can I find that emphasis in scripture?
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