Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Episcopalians separate themselves from Scripture, other Christians, profs say
sbcb press ^ | 6 aug 2003 | Michael Foust

Posted on 08/07/2003 9:16:20 AM PDT by stainlessbanner

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--By confirming the election of an openly homosexual bishop, the Episcopal Church has bowed to political correctness and cast aside the clear teachings of Scripture, several Southern Baptist professors said in statements to Baptist Press.

The Episcopal Church confirmed Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire Aug. 5, making him the first openly homosexual bishop in denominational history. Robinson passed the final hurdle, the House of Bishops, by a vote of 62-43.

Conservatives within the denomination criticized the move, as did other members of the 70-million-plus-member worldwide Anglican Church -- of which the Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch. The Episcopal Church has some 2.3 million members.

Threats of schism and separation abound, although it may be weeks before anything is official. American conservatives within the church have scheduled a meeting for October.

Several Southern Baptist theologians and professors condemned the move.

"This is an issue that is absolutely clear in the Bible -- that [homosexuality] is immoral," said Daniel Heimbach, professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. "It brings us to the position, 'Do Christians get to do and believe whatever they want? Do Christians define what Christianity is, or does the Bible define what Christianity is?'"

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. said the bishops who voted for Robinson "arrogantly denied the authority of Scripture and the clear moral teachings of their own church."

Writing on his Crosswalk.com weblog, Mohler noted that Anglicans affirmed traditional Christian teachings on homosexuality in 1998 during the most recent meeting of the Lambeth Conference -- the once-a-decade meeting of worldwide bishops. A non-binding resolution rejecting the blessing of same-sex unions as well as the ordination of priests involved in same-sex relationships was passed at the conference. The Lambeth resolution even stated that homosexuality is "incompatible with Scripture." It passed overwhelmingly, 526-70.

"That was just five years ago," Mohler wrote. "This fact alone demonstrates just how far the homosexual agenda has advanced in recent years. We are witnessing a moral revolution without parallel in Christian history...."

Rodrick Durst, professor of historical theology at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif., pointed out that bishops from other regions, such as South America and Africa, were the impetus behind the Lambeth resolution.

"Those leaders from the historical mission fields now represent the majority of [Anglicans] and the future of that denomination, and they do so from a plain sense approach to Scripture," Durst said.

The bishop of the 17.5-million member Nigerian Anglican Church previously had called Robinson's election "a satanic attack on God's church," according to the Associated Press.

Following the House of Bishops vote, several conservatives held a news conference in which Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan called upon all worldwide Anglican primates -- who are the head bishops of their respective territories -- to "intervene in the pastoral emergency that has overtaken us."

"This body willfully confirming the election of a person sexually active outside of holy matrimony has departed from the historic faith and order of the church of Jesus Christ," Duncan said, according to the AP. "This body has divided itself from millions of Anglican Christians around the world."

One Southern Baptist professor said the action provides orthodox Christians -- including conservatives within the Episcopal Church -- a biblical reason to separate from the Episcopal Church.

"Virtuous churches will separate themselves from them," said Craig Mitchell, instructor in Christian ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. "They have to."

Any church that gives authority to someone who has "obviously a sinful character ... will lose its ability to be a faithful witness for Christ and to effectively evangelize. You cannot be a good witness without virtue."

Terry Wilder, New Testament professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., said that disobeying biblical commands "invites the judgment of God. One cannot flagrantly disregard what God has said in His Word without paying a price."

Furthermore, Wilder said, the Bible calls on pastors and bishops to be "blameless and above approach."

"According to Scripture, homosexuality is a sin, and thus, those who practice that lifestyle infringe upon biblical standards," Wilder said.

Southeastern Seminary's Heimbach said the Episcopal denomination's decision "will put the church on record declaring that God is a sinner and claiming authority to punish people for obeying things God commands."

Southern Seminary's Mohler called it a "disastrous day for the Episcopal Church," noting that the denomination "effectively declared its independence from the Christian church." Christians must pray for the "thousands of faithful Christians" within the denomination "who fervently love the Word of God and cherish the true Gospel," Mohler added.

"All those who love Christ must pray that God will grant them courage and conviction in full measure, and lead them in a faithful path," he wrote.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: christianity; church; episcopal; episcopalian; fallout; generalconvention; homosexualbishop
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

1 posted on 08/07/2003 9:16:20 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
INTREP
2 posted on 08/07/2003 9:17:56 AM PDT by LiteKeeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
Join the Episcopal clergy...and become your own God.
3 posted on 08/07/2003 9:20:53 AM PDT by At _War_With_Liberals ("they took 2 steps to the left, I took 3 steps to the right")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
Need more voices speaking the truth to these so-called Christians. I guess the Episcopalian's feel they can alter the Bible at will.

4 posted on 08/07/2003 9:23:43 AM PDT by txzman (Jer 23:29)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
The Lefist DemonRats are already framing this in the context of "cultural relativity", where we are viewed as "more advanced" than the "primitive biblical cultures". They directly relate this to slavery and womens rights and are framing this as "the same thing". But of course it is not. And the bible is very specific in condemning homosexuality, not only in the OT but also in the NT.
5 posted on 08/07/2003 9:24:35 AM PDT by dark_lord (The Statue of Liberty now holds a baseball bat and she's yelling 'You want a piece of me?')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
There are nutball linguini-spined conservatives out there who think dis-unity is the worst sin of all...........................
6 posted on 08/07/2003 9:24:53 AM PDT by fishtank
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
Need more voices speaking the truth to these so-called Christians. I guess the Episcopalian's feel they can alter the Bible at will.

Jer 23:29 is a good verse for this - "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?

7 posted on 08/07/2003 9:24:59 AM PDT by txzman (Jer 23:29)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
Not true.According to one VERMONT EPISCOPAL BISHOP,the 8 verses in the BIBLE concerning homosexuality do not address the monogamous loving gay relatioships of today.Those of us who think they do just don't know how to interpret scripture correctly.
8 posted on 08/07/2003 9:32:58 AM PDT by y2k_free_radical (i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: txzman
I guess the Episcopalian's feel they can alter the Bible at will

Correction, they did alter the Bible...

10 posted on 08/07/2003 9:36:16 AM PDT by Zavien Doombringer (Ain't nothing worse than feeling obsolete....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
What I don't understand is why the Episcopal leadership gave this gay a leadership role knowing that his choice of lifestyle goes against the word of God and therefore sinful. That leadership role gave him the opportunity to further his lifestyle choice and his career. That's like welcoming Satan with open arms to head your church. I guess that isn't too farfetched considering the whole situation unfolds like it was written in Revelations.
11 posted on 08/07/2003 9:42:31 AM PDT by lilylangtree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
Good post. Good responses from all. To point out the sheer hypocrisy of some of these Episcopalians, try to imagine what their vote would have been on a bishop candidate living openly with a mistress. I suspect the Episcopalian canonical law was ignored as well as the Bible.
12 posted on 08/07/2003 9:42:32 AM PDT by JeeperFreeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
The true final vote on this subject will be at local churches around the country Sunday. Those who agree with the path their church has taken will show, others who do not agree will not show.
13 posted on 08/07/2003 9:43:38 AM PDT by HRC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner
The Bible is against stealing , Would you appoint a thief to be a Bishop? The Bible is against homosexuality, would you appoint a homosexual to be Bishop? Well ,I guess you will if you are Episcopalian.
14 posted on 08/07/2003 9:48:27 AM PDT by sgtbono2002
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: At _War_With_Liberals
well, from this article, you can tell that it will be a cold day in Hades before the Southern Baptist's give in to this crap. I am even prouder to be a member.
15 posted on 08/07/2003 9:49:02 AM PDT by ohioman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ohioman
As well you shold be proud to be a member of the Southern Baptist Church. I'm a Roman Catholic and I say, "thumbs up" to the SBC, the Missouri Synod, the Presbyterian Church in America. Hold the line, fellow Christians!
16 posted on 08/07/2003 9:50:51 AM PDT by utahagen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: lilylangtree
I heard one Bishop say the scriptures were not the "ultimate authority", it is just one source of authority, including the "Holy Spirit working through community."

Rrrriiiiight.
17 posted on 08/07/2003 9:51:58 AM PDT by Grammy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Grammy
Good grief!
18 posted on 08/07/2003 9:52:48 AM PDT by lilylangtree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: y2k_free_radical
Maybe you missed this para...

Writing on his Crosswalk.com weblog, Mohler noted that Anglicans affirmed traditional Christian teachings on homosexuality in 1998 during the most recent meeting of the Lambeth Conference -- the once-a-decade meeting of worldwide bishops. A non-binding resolution rejecting the blessing of same-sex unions as well as the ordination of priests involved in same-sex relationships was passed at the conference. The Lambeth resolution even stated that homosexuality is "incompatible with Scripture." It passed overwhelmingly, 526-70.

And you are going to take the word of one Vermont Bishop over the majority who believe otherwise?

19 posted on 08/07/2003 9:57:18 AM PDT by ravingnutter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson