Are Episcopalians Still a Church? A Lutheran theologian/journalist examines Robinson confirmation

Christianity Today ^ | 8/7/03 | Uwe Siemon-Netto

[rhema]

The 2.1 million U.S. Episcopalians will have to ponder three urgent questions now that their General Convention in Minneapolis has approved the election of an openly homosexual cleric as next bishop of New Hampshire:

Will their tiny denomination (there are fewer Episcopalians now than convicts in jail) remain in communion with the rest of the world's 70 million Anglicans? Their chances are slim, given the warnings of the Most Rev. Peter Akinola, archbishop of Lagos and primate of Nigeria, who has of late become the world's most forceful Protestant voice.

How will the Minneapolis decision impinge on ecumenical relations with much larger partners, especially the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, to which Episcopalians are in a sense married by a treaty titled Called to Common Mission, or CCM? Great is the danger that it will accelerate the ELCA's expected implosion over the issue of—guess what?—homosexuality.

Is the Episcopal Church USA still a church in the historical and theological sense of the word? Since Minneapolis there are solid reasons to doubt that the ECUSA as a denomination can seriously make this claim (this does not mean, though, that its faithful dioceses and denominations, a minority, should be read out of the Body of Christ).

What is a church? The Greek word ek-klesia defines it clearly: "called out" (of the masses)— by God, not libido. "Church" is not an assembly of the elect chic with the right to decide which political, sexual or other preference, or any fad for that matter, may be considered holy.

"Church" is not an organization whose clerics—representing Christ at the altar—can declare their same-sex partnership "sacramental," as did the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson before his election to the New Hampshire bishopric was confirmed. Protestantism, Anglicanism included, affirms "two sacraments instituted by Christ our Lord in the Gospel-Baptism and the Lord's Supper," we read in article 25 of the Anglican Church's 39 Articles of Religion. Whims of concupiscence do definitely not fall under this rubric.

In article 19 of the same 16th century statement of faith we find these words: "The visible church of Christ is a congregation of believers in which the pure Word of God is preached and in which the sacraments are rightly administered according to Christ's command in all those matters that are necessary for proper administration."

"The pure word of God"—both in the Old and New Testaments—proscribes divorce and certain types of sexual activity. Before Monday's crucial vote, Robinson's supporters spoke much of being guided by "the Spirit." No doubt, they were. But whether it was the Holy Spirit is quite a different question. All sorts of religious fiends, especially those following the example if the 16th-century enthusiasts led by the blood-soaked Thomas Muentzer, claimed adherence to the free-blowing Third Person in the Trinity.

Since Episcopalians are ecumenically wedded with Lutherans—and actually imposed their form of ministerial oversight on them—please let's give Luther a voice here. He said that the only safe way to probe such a question is to test it against Scripture. Had the ECUSA's House of Bishops done so in Minneapolis, the Rev. Robinson would not be given a miter, but the sound advice to repent.

The selfishness and arrogance of the Minneapolis vote are astounding. It was a decision based purely on North American—and perhaps Western European—preoccupations with their bodily wants. Not only did the General Convention of the "Church of Good Taste" ignore the beliefs of fellow Anglicans in Africa, Asia and South America, about whose faithfulness U.S. prelates such as John Spong, the former bishop of Newark, N.J., snigger haughtily.

No, they also disregarded their Lutheran partners whose ministers are ordained on the "sola scriptura" principle, which holds that truth is revealed in Scripture alone. When Robinson is consecrated, a Lutheran bishop must also hold his hands over his head, according to CCM, even though it is still stated ELCA doctrine that homosexual behavior violates the will of God.

Doubtless, there will be a Lutheran bishop ready to comply. But when that happens, it will further unravel the ELCA, whose presiding bishop, Mark S. Hanson, is also the president of the Lutheran World Federation, most of whose member denominations are as opposed to the encroachment of secular and un-Biblical concerns as are African, Asian and Latin American Anglicans—and millions of their faithful brethren in the West as well.

The good news is that this is not a crisis of Christianity as a whole. Most fervent Christians know that worldly concerns and desires are never faith's launching pad. Christians are called to discipleship; they are not called to edit God's will according to their preferences.

As disciples, they will suffer like their incarnate God. For faithful Anglican congregations who feel they can no longer remain within the ECUSA an intense period of suffering is about to begin, which is why they need all the support they can get from like-minded people in other denominations. They will lose their sanctuaries—often very old ones—because the Episcopal Church will turn to secular courts, as it has done in such cases in the past, claiming some very valuable real estate.

That, too, violates Scripture, but who is quibbling now?

If you wish to be a clairvoyant, it's easy to look into the future. While orthodox Christians will worship in school auditoriums or the sanctuaries of other denominations at first, a form of Anglicanism increasingly disconnected from Scripture and tradition will celebrate itself with great splendor in ever-more empty churches and cathedrals.

There will be He-He and She-She couples in the pews and, heck, why not He-and-She-and-She or She-and-He-and-He, and Me-and-Me; all this is sacramental by new Episcopal standards, isn't it? So go bless the gin and tonic and pass it around with finger foods to the folks in front of this new religion's altars.

Pray, what would be a more fitting farewell party for a church in a tailspin?

Uwe Siemon-Netto is religion editor for United Press International.

[Miss Marple]

Fred Barnes attends a dissenting Anglican church in the DC area. I read that some time ago. Of course, it might be out in Virginia somewhere...I don't know where it is. There are some web sites that list alternatives to the Episcopals.

[nightdriver]

The entire sad episode reminds me of the communists gloating about how easy it was to take over the Presbyterian seminaries in the '60s.

Their blatant disregard of Biblical authority only increased continuously after that. I had to leave them because of it.

It looks like the Edwardian Granite Heap is going through the same death throes.

[keilimon]

The Episcopal Church lost it when they refused to discipline (or excommunicate) Bishop Spong for denying the divinity of Christ. The rest has been a slow descent into madness.

[TaxRelief]

Try this link. The American Anglican Council

They are headquartered in DC, so it stands to reason that there must be a local Anglican place of worship.

[narses]

Ping.

[keilimon]

Perhaps a cash cow - our Parish had to buy back it's own property when it split from the ECUSA in 1976. There will be conservative Parishes that will pay the ECUSA to keep the property they already own - I think you can properly call it legalized extorsion.

[infowarrior]

There was a conservative Episcopal church in Akkokeek Maryland, but they've been forced by the Bishop of DC to be more PC, when the leftists of DC, with Bishop Dixon at the fore, utilized the US courts to oust the pastor chosen by the congregation, in a nasty battle a year or two ago...

the infowarrior

[TaxRelief]

Just say you are a "Conservative Anglican", instead.

(Maybe we can sue the ECUSA for "defamation of character" or "violation of a contract". I feel defamed and violated.)

[TaxRelief]

I suspect that the Anglican World Communion could make a valid case in court stating that they have equal rights to the property of the ECUSA. A judge might force a settlement between the two.

[MissAmericanPie]

We have been fore warned many places in scriptures, such as Proverbs 7 and Jude about the orgainzed churches in the last days becoming apostate. These people are "pre-ordained" for this condemnation, Jude. They are having a high old time now, but it will be short lived. Eternity lasts a very long time.

Come out of her my people lest ye be partakers of her iniquities and receive of her punishments. It's time for the tuff to get going, we are in the last days and should draw ever closer to God in order to endure. Something wicked this way comes.

[Calpernia]

You are right in the ballpark as to what I've been trying to rally!

Forgive my rant, but:

Al Qaeda was the organization that empowered all the smaller jihad cells. From newer research, Al Qaeda my be a communist tail wagging...But anyway, the point is:

It provided a centralization for intelligence, financing and supplies. Yet the cells were able to function independently too.

"Since the enemy of my enemy is also my friend", you really could say all these radical leftist organizations that have infiltrated our schools (NEA), left wing grass roots movements (ie., MoveOn), antiwar protestors, right to choose, and even the environmental groups are part of Al Qaeda, or a higher communist organization as recently researched with www.cpusa.org . You follow the money and infiltration up far enough, it leads back to the infiltrators that have come at us from all sides.

The right wing movement isn't as strong as we need it to be. We are all functioning independently of each other. The resources we have are far superior; but weak since we are divided. If there was a way we could pull together and function more on the lines of Al Qaeda, we could stop this left/dem/commie infiltration in its tracks.

What was the strength of Rome? The warriors would copy their enemies fighting tactics and win.

So, let's sue...let's organize. Let's funnel our money better! Or we can sit back and just passively bitch to each other on FR.

[FormerLib]

Sure, they are still a church. They are just not long a Christian one!

[Kay Soze]

Agreed.

They are a church but not a Christian Church.

How can this Bishop help someone struggling with the sin of homosexuality?

Will a Drunkard Bishop be next?

Or a adulterer Bishop?

This Bishop defines himself by his sin rather than his virtue or faith.

[Capriole]

Thanks, I followed this sad story closely while it took place. It was hard to believe that the Lord would permit this great injustice at the hands of the suffragan bishop of Washington.

[TaxRelief]

I've been working on copying one of their favorite tactics: labeling people.

We say "queer is immoral"; they label us 'homophobes'.
We say control illegal immigration; they label us 'zenophobes'.

So in response:

When they say "Christianity is too judgemental"; I'll label them 'Lost souls'.
When they say "Gay is the only way"; I'll call them 'heterophobes' or 'antifamilial'.
When they say "Government control is good"; I'll label them 'elitists'.
When they ridicule the premise that a free republic is the best form of government, I'll refer to them as 'anticonstitutional' or call them 'suppressionists'.

The above is an example of copying one of their tactics. The funny thing is, I can do it, but it doesn't feel like I'm doing the right thing, somehow.

[keilimon]

One can only hope, but there are court precedents that favor the ECUSA position. Strange, in that the ECUSA did not use it's money to build or maintain the Parish.

[Grampa Dave]

I was going to ping you. As I replied to your thesis yesterday, the Episcopal Church Members in Redding found out the hard way who owns the local churches. It ain't the locals. The Bishop and his board the Diocese owns the buildings and the land not the lay members who raised and donated the money to buy the land and build the churches.

[Wrigley]

You know you shouldn't stand in the way of "progress."

[sydney smith]

The question I have is...Why remain in this church? This is a serious question from a Catholic. Why try to salvage it? Do you folks believe that your Church was founded by Christ Himself as we do? If not, why not join a Lutheran or other protestant church? This is not a polemical question.

[TaxRelief]

Why remain in this church?

The simple facts: The worldwide Anglican Communion has close to 70 million members (and growing). The Episcopal Church has only 2.3 million members (and shrinking). They comprise less than 4% of the total--but if you asked them, they think they are The Church.

This tiny faction of the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church, is no longer in the business of saving souls, BUT the Anglican community is a major force in worldwide mission and ministry. Dismantling the entire network-of-salvation because of an errant few would be, well, Satan's dream-come-true.