Episcopalian Hopes Anglican Leaders Will Reform ECUSA

Religion Today ^ | 27 October 2003 | Jim Brown

[ahadams2]

Episcopalian Hopes Anglican Leaders Will Reform ECUSA

Jim Brown, Agape Press

A conservative Episcopalian is predicting that her denomination will "seriously hemorrhage" members over the next twelve months.

Last week, the chief leaders of the Anglican Communion expressed "deep regret" over the Episcopal Church's decision to confirm openly homosexual bishop V. Gene Robinson. They warned that consecrating Robinson would "tear the fabric" of the Anglican Communion.

The Anglican leaders told Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold that their worldwide communion would be "put in jeopardy" if Robinson is consecrated as bishop of New Hampshire next month.

Diane Knippers, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy (ird-renew.org), says the Episcopal Church is likely to ignore the warnings of the Anglican primates. She feels Griswold has failed the denomination by not displaying biblical leadership.

"The presiding bishop all along has failed to think through the ramifications of his actions," Knippers says. She contends that Griswold "just doesn't get it -- he simply doesn't understand what is at stake and what he is risking with these actions, and I think over time that's going to be made clear to him."

Knippers says she believes last week's "rebuke" of the Episcopal Church by Anglican leaders was a necessary first step in correcting the excesses of her denomination. Next, she says, the Anglican Communion needs to develop structures of accountability and discipline.

According to Knippers, "the clear witness of the Anglican Communion regarding doctrine of marriage, regarding human sexuality is being ignored by the Episcopal Church. It is virtually an unprecedented situation."

Knippers feels that this flouting of doctrine will continue until the communion makes the necessary changes. "The Anglican Communion lacks the legal structures to discipline one of its member churches. It lacks a way to enforce its clear teaching," she says.

Although the Anglican primates want a commission to address the crisis in the communion and report back in a year, Knippers says many Episcopalians will not be willing to wait that long for reform.

[ahadams2]

Ping.

[mel]

Enough if Robinson backs down, I don't see how conservatives or Bible believing Espicopalians can stay in ECUSA after reading and hearing some of the heretical statements by leading clergy, bishop and our own Primate. It kind of turns one's stomach. Bottom line-when I go to church I want spiritual food, intellectual thought is fine along with it but I want something to nurture my soul. At my church, we have had Palestinians (solid PLO supporter) speak, sheriff speak and other people who had absolutely no topic about Christianity. Some of it was interesting, but give me a break, it is church after all.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

"The Anglican Communion lacks the legal structures to discipline one of its member churches. It lacks a way to enforce its clear teaching,"

Isn't there some reason this is true? Rather is it a good idea to vest authority outside of a province?

[dangus]

is it a good idea to vest authority outside of a province?

If they did, they'd be Catholics.

[VRWC_minion]

Rather is it a good idea to vest authority outside of a province?

Yes, that authority has been in charge for quite a few years now.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

If they did, they'd be Catholics

Not quite, since Anglicans don't really have that type of authority structure. We don't have a concept of 'Vicar of Christ'.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

Yes, that authority has been in charge for quite a few years now.

I should clarify what I am saying here..

I see that ECUSA is apostate now, this is true. However there are dangers to having official powers bestowed on the Archbishops of the world to deal with these problems.

One day it could be that the entire world becomes apostate besides a few holdouts.

[ahadams2]

The proposed structures for enforcement, as I understand them, would vest the enforcement authority in the Primates who would be able to determine, if nothing else, who is and who is not in the Anglican Communion. Yes that authority is needed to stop/reverse the ongoing slide into apostasy and heresy in most of the 1st World provinces.
However there is no proposed equivalent to the pope in the Anglican proposals - more of a magisterium by committee.

[VRWC_minion]

I'll clarify. The outside authority has been scripture. The entire Church is based on scripture, even the episcopate concept. Maybe Jesus didn't really mean Peter and he really meant rock as a concept when he stated what he started his Church on.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

Maybe Jesus didn't really mean Peter and he really meant rock as a concept when he stated what he started his Church on.

Not being RC I have to agree totally here. Christ IMO was referring to Peter's confession of faith.

Ahadams has made it clear that the authority of the Communion Bishops is only in regards to membership within the Communion or not.

[VRWC_minion]

Christ IMO was referring to Peter's confession of faith.

Or both. The problem is that once they start unraveling the fabric based on convienent interpretations the process won't end until the garmet is totally destroyed.

[dangus]

O come on... I was just busting chops :).

[dangus]

It was both: Peter is the representative of the faith on which the church is built. The faith was not built on Peter the Man, but on the office which Peter occupied.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

The problem is that once they start unraveling the fabric based on convienent interpretations the process won't end until the garmet is totally destroyed.

Not really. See it's not interpretation. It's just that the 'spirit' is now telling us to be 'inclusive' to the 'marginalized'.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

O come on... I was just busting chops :).

Oh yeah? Well don't make us say "nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah", again...

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

;-P

[Eala]

LOL!

[VRWC_minion]

It's just that the 'spirit' is now telling us to be 'inclusive' to the 'marginalized'.

Judas is going to be one angry guy.

[dangus]

0:^)>+