Anglican church leader to summon bishops

AP | 8/08/03

[kattracks]

LONDON (AP) — The archbishop of Canterbury said Friday he would summon leaders of the world's Anglican churches to consider the impact of the confirmation of a gay bishop in the United States.

Archbishop Rowan Williams said the meeting was planned for London in October, and invitations would be sent this week.

"I am clear that the anxieties caused by recent developments have reached the point where we will need to sit down and discuss their consequences," Williams said.

The U.S. church this week confirmed the election of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, a gay clergyman, as bishop of New Hampshire.

The move provoked outrage in parts of the Anglican communion, particularly in the doctrinally conservative African churches.

"I hope that in our deliberations we will find that there are ways forward in this situation which can preserve our respect for one another and for the bonds that unite us," Williams said in a statement issued by his office.

"I hope we can use the time between now and then to reflect, to pray, to consult and to take counsel," the archbishop added

[Zack Nguyen]

My condolences on your church. The hard fact is that the rot did not begin a week ago but decades ago. You can still find Bible-believing Gospel preaching churches that would rather die than bend to the sinful culture. There are many out there.

Lately I have been sharing an excerpt from an excellent book. Here it is.

You should consider reading this book. It is free (!) on the Internet and is available here:

http://www.freebooks.com

It is called "Crossed Fingers", and is the story of the liberal takeover of the Northern Presbyterian Church that took place in th early half of the 20th century. It hits on many of the same themes that you are no doubt wondering about.

The author is a guy named Gary North. You might or might not agree with all of his theology but his research is excellent.

The excerpt is taken from the FOREWARD.

**EXCERPT BEGINS HERE**

Rotten Wood

This book is about a conflict between two mighty religions, Christianity and humanism. It is also about a third religious tradition that was caught in the middle, whose adherents were forced by circumstances to decide which side to support: experientialism-pietism. Some of them were Christians; others were humanists. This book is about a number of confusions, both theological and institutional, and their subsequent clarification. It discusses heroes and villains, and it acknowledges that the vast majority of the participants were somewhere in between. This is true of every turning point in history except the rebellion of Adam and Eve, in which there were no innocent bystanders. It is the story of a turning point in the history of the United States.

This is a history of the liberals' strategy of infiltration and conquest of the Northern Presbyterian Church. A similar strategy was carried out in the public schools, the judiciary, the colleges, and the media, but this ecclesiastical battle was the most important battle of the war. It had to be won. Why? Because the fundamental covenantal issues of life are always at bottom theological, not political, educational, or economic. The public testimony of the Presbyterian Church was by far the most theologically rigorous testimony in the country--indeed, in the world. Humanists had to silence this denomination, for it was too influential. The capture of the most theologically articulate large conservative Protestant denomination in the United States was modernism's best-publicized success story of the era. The strategy the modernists used to take over the Presbyterians was used, with modifications, to capture the other large denominations.

**ANOTHER EXCERPT FROM THE FOREWARD**

I write for those Christians who fully recognize that in this, the final decade of the second millennium after the birth of Jesus Christ, His Church is in a full-scale war against an implacable enemy: humanism. There can be no permanent cease-fire. This book is written for those Christians who understand this and who are ready to act accordingly. Any other reader is entitled to come along for the ride, but he is not my target. Ethically self-conscious Christians are my targeted audience. Their needs and, more to the point, their vulnerability are my concern. There are still conservative Protestant denominations, and similar liberal strategies are still in effect. The problem is, the conservatives, then as now, have had no strategy.

This book is a strategy manual. It is a manual tracing how an earlier institutional battle was lost. It is not written in the spirit of detached academic inquiry. It is written in the spirit of institutional conquest: to recapture lost ground from the spiritual heirs of the invaders. When the invaders surrender cultural territory, we will regain it--not inside the four walls of liberal churches but in the culture at large. As for liberal churches today, let the dead bury the dead. Large brick churches in declining sections of town are not worth re-capturing. The heating and cooling bills alone would strap us.

Had it not been for the defection of earlier generations of Christians, we would not be in the place we are today: looking in from the outside on institutions that once belonged to God and His people rather than to the covenant-breakers who now occupy positions of institutional authority. But their authority is now fading. The flow of funds--a primary mark of authority--has begun to flow elsewhere.

So has political power. From the foundation of the Federal (later National) Council of Churches in 1908, theological liberals exhorted theological conservatives to get involved in social action and politics. Now that conservatives have begun to do this, great is the anguish inside the hallowed halls of liberalism. God has granted the liberals their request, and like the Israelites after the quail feast in the wilderness (Num. 11), the liberals are now paying dearly for it. They do not have the votes. The Christian Right has the votes. The action today is in places like Colorado Springs and Orlando, not 475 Riverside Drive, New York City.

Liberals committed their strategic resources to capturing mainline Protestant churches at the peak of these churches' influence, 1920 to 1940. They have seen this influence wither away since 1960. They bought close to the top of the market and are now hanging on for eternal life to their portfolio, hoping against hope for a recovery. It has been a primary bear market for a generation, and today looks weaker than ever. The Protestant Establishment peaked with Dwight Eisenhower and his Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles (d. 1959). It has been all downhill since then.

Liberals still seek to recoup their losses however they can. If your church has assets, it is a potential target. If it also has the same judicial and educational structure that the Presbyterian Church had in 1869, it is surely a target. Your denomination has a large neon sign flashing brightly: "Come and get us!" Somebody will. In all likelihood, the subversion is already in progress.

I know, I know: "It can't happen to us." That's what they all say.

[Redleg Duke]

Suggest we form a group of Christians whose churches are under assault by the queers. As a Lutheran, I see the impending attack on the ELCA very clearly.

[EdReform]

"Some may even use it as an opportunity to meet other gays (a pick-up place)."

As they do in the Metropolitan Community Church:

Sex, torture and erotic electrification in America's 'gay' churches

[trad_anglican]

How do we go about this, y'all?

The easiest way is to just start a thread in the religion section on FR. I've been participating in The Neverending Story/Christian Chronicles threads for about two years now. The moderators are pretty cool about letting the thread go on as long as they're not getting abuse hits from it on a regular basis.

[justanotherfreeper]

Thanks for your thoughtful posts -- I hadn't thought about the churches being the ONLY groups right now telling the homosexuals their "lifestyle" is sinful and, literally, damning. It would make sense to take over the churches and force them to approve their behavior. And Redleg, I hadn't thought at all about the financial aspect -- yes, a lot of demoninations have very valuable real estate and other holdings, being able to control those would be a tremendous source of financial power. Very depressing! I just have to keep reminding myself that the Lord is in control.

[EdReform]

"Why are the homosexuals so obsessed with taking over churches?"

"It's quite simple really.....so that the transition of America to the new Sodom will be complete."

The homosexual community's infiltration of the church, in order to undermine and destroy its authority, has been part of a well planned and well funded campaign that has been going on for years.

An excerpt from: The Overhauling of Straight America:

"While public opinion is one primary source of mainstream values, religious authority is the other. When conservative churches condemn gays, there are only two things we can do to confound the homophobia of true believers. First, we can use talk to muddy the moral waters. This means publicizing support for gays by more moderate churches, raising theological objections of our own about conservative interpretations of biblical teachings, and exposing hatred and inconsistency. Second, we can undermine the moral authority of homophobic churches by portraying them as antiquated backwaters, badly out of step with the times and with the latest findings of psychology. Against the mighty pull of institutional Religion one must set the mightier draw of Science and Public Opinion (the shield and word of that accursed “secular humanism”). Such an unholy alliance has worked well against churches before, on such topics as divorce and abortion. With enough open talk about the prevalence and acceptability of homosexuality, that alliance can work again here..."

The homosexual community's focus will now shift to the destruction of marriage.

An excerpt from: In Their Own Words: The Homosexual Agenda:

"Homosexual activist Michelangelo Signorile, who writes periodically for The New York Times, summarizes the agenda in OUT magazine:

...to fight for same-sex marriage and its benefits and then, once granted, redefine the institution of marriage completely, to demand the right to marry not as a way of adhering to society's moral codes, but rather to debunk a myth and radically alter an archaic institution... The most subversive action lesbian and gay men can undertake --and one that would perhaps benefit all of society--is to transform the notion of family entirely." "Its the final tool with which to dismantle all sodomy statues, get education about homosexuality and AIDS into the public schools and in short to usher in a sea change in how society views and treats us."

An excerpt from: Homosexual Priests: A Time for Truth:

"The homosexual movement has a history of trying to claw its way into places its agenda doesn’t belong, not for the betterment of mankind, but simply to legitimize and normalize perverse behavior. This is apparent in the all-too-common need of homosexuals to declare their sexuality rather than simply do the job they sign on to do.

This is extremely detrimental - first, it creates conflict with others as most believe homosexuality to be wrong, and it shows that the full efforts of the employed homosexual are not going towards performing the task at hand but largely to declaring their lifestyle. When it comes to serious concerns such as the Church, schools, and the Boy Scouts that involve our children, we can’t take the risk of giving them this power to destroy the values we as parents try to instill, nor can we put our country’s welfare at stake by turning these pivotal foundational institutions and our military into homosexual social experiments.

The homosexual movement is marked by two major tendencies: the tendency to continually infiltrate all good aspects of society; and once they have achieved that, the tendency to destroy this good. Public education, the Boy Scouts, the military, and now the Catholic Church have been targeted, and all have been hurt by the effects of homosexuality. The media and the Church must break its silence towards this enemy. If they do not, the people themselves must rise up and expose it..."

[trad_anglican]

My research has revealed that there are at least 5 major Episcopal breakaway groups out there -- Reformed Episcopal, Anglican in America, the Rwanda diocese, etc. etc. Forward in Faith,

There are other large groups such as the Anglican Catholic Church and the Province of Christ the King. The Anglican Church in America is a part of the larger, Traditional Anglican Communion which has member churches in Canada, Australia, England, Ireland, Southern Africa, India, Central and South America, Japan, and several others countries. Forward in Faith North America is an organization that includes both parishes of the Episcopal Church and individuals.

All of these groups (except FiFNA) are outside of the "official" Anglican Communion and reject priestesses, as well as (noncelibate) homosexual priests and blessings of same-sex relationships.

[concerned about politics]

The New Age Church, the prophasized apostate, with a doctrine based on mans pleasure.

"Blessed are those who read aloud or hear the words of this prophacy and observe the things written in it , for the appointed time is near.
Comfort one another with these words."

[BlackElk]

Homosexuals are obsessed with taking over churches, most certainly including your and my Roman Catholic Church, because, in their hatred of God or in their atheism or agnosticism which are compatible with their curious abuses of their reproductive systems and nether ends of their digestive systems, they think they can blot out the inconvenient worship of God or obedience to God by those who, of whatever denomination, are Godly people. The lavender gang seems to view this as a secular political exercise of some sort.

Second reason: Miss Marple, a Methodist, if I remember correctly, began a very long and quite informative thread yesterday or the day before as to the financial motives in lavender takeovers of church offices, staff jobs, property, endowments, tax exemptions and other material perks to better facilitate the lifestyles and luxuries and evangelization of evil in lieu of the Christian evangelization commanded by Christ. I am a computer illiterate. I leave it to her or anyone else helpful to post the URL and I recommend her thread as at least the thread of the month and far worthier and more permanent and more interesting by far than all the Aaaaaaaahnold-mania threads.

Our Caholic scandals certainly were and are about homosexuality but they are additionally, in many cases, about pederasty and always about the criminally negligent or actively complicit evils of the leftist AmChurch Kumbaya bishops (not all of our bishops but all too many) who have protected and promoted the evils. Fortunately the purge of the AmChurch chanceries seems to have begun.

You may have missed it but, in other relevant news (which I mention only because it involves an attack on my own Roman Catholic Church), the, ummmmm, Episcopalian bishop of New Hampshire: the Most Reprehensible V. Gene Robinson went straight from Minnesota where he dodged two reputational bullets and was confirmed or whatever as bishop not to New Hampshire, no, no, but to the UNITED NATIONS in New York to appear before some UN Commission of uninvited buttinskies (that is not a sexual allusion whatever he might wish) to vent his complaints about the hideous Church of Rome which has the unChristian nerve not to continue Kumbayaing the clerical faggots and their protectors who are Gene's "Catholic" counterparts.

May I be the first to invite V. Gene Robinson (no one in my neighborhood ever parted their name on the right) or Bishop Genital Gene the Lavender Queen as he must henceforth be known if he insists on attacking the Roman Catholic Church before the United Nations, no less, for being faithful to the teachings the teachings of Scripture in calling homosexuality the abomination that it truly is, to a wide-ranging war of words with actual Catholics over Catholic morality. Yes, yes, it certainly is a mismatch but we can add to the fun by having him recruit his now fellow Episcopalian bishop John Spong to be his second.

For Episcopalians out there who are faithful Christians, take no offense because I am with you on this one.

BUT, as to Genital Gene, call me "non-inclusive". That's just the kind of boy I am. I offer no apologies to him and I am sticking to my principles.

[EdReform]

"I leave it to her or anyone else helpful to post the URL and I recommend her thread as at least the thread of the month..."

What's Really Behind the Episcopal Controversy (Vanity)

[Grampa Dave]

Would you please start a thread in the religion section and ping us.

That would eliminate rebuilding a wheel and wasting time setting up a new process.

I think that your sign on name says it all.

Thanks

[concerned about politics]

Why are the homosexuals so obsessed with taking over churches? That's the part I don't understand. What is it about Christian churches that compels the gays to come in and force their degradation on everyone else?

Because they don't like what the Bible says about them. By becomming leaders, they can "remove Gods hate speach" from the pulpit.
It's like the liberals and the constitution. Destroy it. Get it out of their way.

The homos go after places with moral authority to destroy it, because they know their actions are immoral. They want them silenced.
They went after the churches (who did not stop them), the Boy Scouts (who stood up to them and are now being "punished" for their disobedience), the Salvation Army (Also being punished for not bending over).
Look what they've done to the children in public schools. They teach them how to be homosexuals, and parents do nothing to stop them.!

WARNING: Beware the enemy within -- Log Cabin "Republicans" !!!!

[CurlyBill]

Very depressing! I just have to keep reminding myself that the Lord is in control.

I'm sure it's all part of his plan. Sometimes it takes a crisis to bring about necessary change. Now the reevaluation and reflection begins. There will be a separation in the church....various churches. The sides will be drwan. Sound familiar???

[CurlyBill]

drawn ... sorry for the typo.

[BlackElk]

I am a computer illiterate but Miss Marple had a really great thread on the wealth opportunism and property-grabbing aspects of the lavender infiltration and takeover of churches. Someone more competent than I can post the URL effectively.

[EdReform]

Married gay couple targets Catholic Church

[Grampa Dave]

I have asked by trad_anglican to start a thread for Episcopalians in the religion section of Free Republic.

That way we can post sites for references and alternatives and have someplace to keep the data with creating a large work load for us.

Our Lutherian and Presb. friends might want to join us. They are under the same type of attacks or will be.

Free Republic is one of a kind when it comes to sharing knowledge re problems and maybe opportunities that we can't see by our selves.

[BlackElk]

Thanks so much. I am still one of those who sees the computer as a sort of supertypewriter.

[concerned about politics]

there will be few "real" Christians left

Many will be called, but few will be invited to the marriage of the lamb.

"But...but....Lord! Did we (homosexuals?) not cast out demons in your name?
"Away from me. I don't know you."
(Close enough?)

[EdReform]

See reply #70 above