Posted on 08/21/2003 5:57:30 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Local Episcopal rector resigns from diocesan duties
By Allison Fashek rep8@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE - A local Episcopal rector is stepping down from his diocesan positions due in part to concerns over the Episcopal Church's recent appointment of an openly gay bishop.
Rev. H. W. "Skip" Reeves Jr., rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, sent a letter to parishioners earlier this week confirming the move.
He has resigned from his posts as chairman of the Commission on Ministry, chairman of the Committee on Evangelism and member of the Diocesan Council and from his role in coordinating the $5 million capital funds drive.
But, for the moment, he said he will maintain his role at St. Mark's.
"It's the hardest thing in my life," Reeves said. "I'm not trying to lead any band or parade or anything like that. It's just a personal action I feel I have to take."
Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming Bishop Bruce Caldwell could not be reached for comment.
Reeves said he made his decision in response to the church's confirmation of the first non-celibate gay bishop, the Rev. Gene Robinson of the Diocese of New Hampshire, and the approval of a resolution accepting the blessings of same-sex relationships.
Both groundbreaking announcements were made during the Episcopal Church's 74th General Convention, held in Minneapolis, Minn. from July 28 through Aug. 8.
As the person ultimately responsible for education at St. Mark's, Reeves felt he would be forced to teach and support views on which he disagrees.
During his 34 years of ministry, the last 10 of which has been at St. Mark's, Reeves said he accepted the explanation from gay parishioners that they could not recall a time when they felt another way, and it "was not an orientation they chose . God created them this way."
But, as Reeves wrote in a series of letters to parishioners in the past couple of weeks, his position on accepting gays in the church changed recently after meeting with four local psychologists.
Reeves said that he changed his mind after one of the psychologists told him that pedophiles also report that they have never known a time when they weren't attracted to little boys or girls.
He said he realizes that his position might be offensive to gays.
"I still want to have them in the church," he said. "I'm not chasing them out. But I'm not promoting the lifestyle as a healthy Christian lifestyle."
The Rev. Anne Fontaine, who works with St. John's Episcopal Church in Jackson, said the people in her church predominantly support the appointment of Robinson as a bishop and see it as an act of inclusion and honesty.
"Whether people leave the church over this or not, I hope not," she said. "I hope the tent is big enough for us to stay together."
Tim Solon, who has been a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming for 40 years, said he is sympathetic to Reeves but feels that his decision is a symptom of cultural conditioning.
"He's very aware of the selective use of Bible passages to support his position," Solon said. "What we need now is to try and do the Christian ministry of reconciliation and recognize that there is still room for differences of opinion."
The issue is likely to be a topic of discussion when St. Mark's and St. Christopher's Episcopal Church host the diocesan convention Oct. 3-5.
Since announcing his decision, Reeves said his phone hasn't stopped ringing.
He has spoken with Caldwell, whom he said holds a different point of view.
He also has heard from another bishop in the Episcopal Church who is wrestling with similar feelings.
Reeves said a gay member of his parish also has stated support for his point of view.
The one thing everyone seems to have in common, Reeves said, is a profound sense of sadness about the divide in the church over the issue.
"Instead of being angry, you just want to cry," he said.
Parishioner Shirley Flynn said she was saddened to see Reeves going through this kind of pain.
"All of us are reviewing our positions," she said. "We all are feeling a sense of confusion about what to think."
As for Reeves' future, he said he plans to meet with other bishops, clergy and concerned lay people in Plano, Texas, Oct. 7-9, to consider forming a new Anglican Province in North America under the banner of the American Anglican Council.
While he believes in a traditional interpretation of Scripture and moral values, he said he supports the ordination of women and does not want to return to the use of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.
"I don't know whether I'll find a home there or not, but I'll be at that conference," Reeves said.
Just like every other sinner with his or her particular pet sin, their sins are not made by God; they are the result of Original Sin and Adam and Eve's disobedience to God. And just like every other sinner, they seek excuses and justifications to cling to their sins.
Read C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce -- he explores this concept with creativity and pithy wisdom.
The Bishops of the General Convention and their hangers-on would do well to look at the example of the Clerical Ghost (in gaiters) in that book, his justifications and his excuses. This has all been said and done before by those seeking to excuse their sin . . .
Yep, once you lose those moorings "in Scripture and in Truth," you just keep slipping away . . .
So does this mean that people should always do what they feel? Could a priest-candidate who openly engaged in fornication argue that shouldn't be held against him because he didn't choose his heterosexual orientation?
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