Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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Posted on 10/30/2004 8:05:37 AM PDT by sionnsar
Pennsylvania Episcopal Bishop Charles Bennison issues a press release on his diocese's two ordained pagans:
Accusations against two local priests that they are practicing druids and in violation of their ordination vows are extremely serious and merit further inquiries to establish the facts, the Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr., Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, said Friday.
At the same time, it’s imperative to ensure that the Revs. Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk and William Melnyk are treated fairly and not victims of a "where there’s smoke, there’s fire" mentality, he said.
"I am extremely concerned by the charges made against the Melnyks, yet I am also concerned about the reputations and pastoral needs of two priests who have contributed very positively to their parishes and this diocese for four years," Bennison said. "I will not allow this situation to turn into a witch-hunt of any sort."
Bennison indicated that he is looking forward to communication with the lay leaders of St.-Francis-in-the-Fields, Sugartown, where Rev. Ruppe-Melnyk is rector and St. James’, Downingtown, where her husband serves.
The Bishop said he thought it crucial during this process to hear the voices of those now served by the Melnyks.
"The liturgy at the center of this unfortunate controversy was written years ago for study purposes for a small support group of women in a diocese where the priests previously served. Yet to be determined is the extent to which it represents the priests’ present views," Bennison said. "The Melnyks assure me that it has never been used in liturgy or in their prayer life."
The Bishop is not going to jump to conclusions, nor should he. Charges this serious deserve a serious inquiry. But am I alone in detecting a reluctance to do anything at all on Bennison's part?
He seems to have given the Melnyks at least two outs. That liturgy was written "for study purposes" and has never been used at either of the Melnyk's churches or "in their prayer life." All the Melnyks would have to do to continue their activities is to claim that all their various rituals, not just the one that made it to ECUSA's Women's Ministries web page, were created "for study purposes" and that we never use them in church.
We don't really believe all that stuff. No, no, no, no.
And Bennison wants to hear from the two congregations. One presumes that if the congregations say that they're not bothered by what the Melnyks do in their off hours, then the Melnyks' bishop won't be either. But we shall see.
The issue is very simple -- if either or both of the Melnyks are practicing priests of a non-Christian religion, then they should not be accepted as Episcopal priests.
20 some odd years ago, our new priest moved the altar from the back wall forward so he and the others at the altar could celebrate the mass facing the members.
We had a couple of wing nuts who went bonkers, called him a heretic/pagan and eventually quit the church over that.
So we need to be careful today not to paint someone as a pagan without specifics.
You're right. I had planned to put "alleged" in the title, but forgot until it was too late.
Excerpt: "The readers of the Rev. Kendall Harmon's blog Titusonenine have been hard at work, and have established that the "Rev." Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk did not plagiarize the neopagan "Women's Eucharist" from the Druid site Tuathe de Brighid and the author "Glispa." That's because she is the Druid author. Here's the connection, courtesy of "Nicholas":
Okay I’m convinced now. I did find the link via the husband. This link identifies the druid "Oakwyse" as being Bill Melnyk. This one identifies Bill Melnyk and Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk as a couple. This one links the two again and gives Melnyk’s email address as being oakwyse at aol dot com. And several links such as this one link Oakwyse and Glispa."
I followed some links it gets....amazing. Like this: are practicing Druids. Here's one article, and try following the links in it: Oakwyse & Glispa .
Excerpt: "The readers of the Rev. Kendall Harmon's blog Titusonenine have been hard at work, and have established that the "Rev." Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk did not plagiarize the neopagan "Women's Eucharist" from the Druid site Tuathe de Brighid and the author "Glispa." That's because she is the Druid author. Here's the connection, courtesy of "Nicholas":
Okay I’m convinced now. I did find the link via the husband. This link identifies the druid "Oakwyse" as being Bill Melnyk. This one identifies Bill Melnyk and Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk as a couple. This one links the two again and gives Melnyk’s email address as being oakwyse at aol dot com. And several links such as this one link Oakwyse and Glispa."
I followed some links it gets....amazing. Like this: Scared Druid.
Excerpt:
"By the way
… Bill Melnyk, the Episcopal priest who goes by the name OakWyse when he's a "Druid" or "Wiccan" priest, is apparently concerned that news about his activities has leaked out. A frantic message appeared on the Druidry.org message board today (registration is now required, but the message may no longer be there). No proof that Melnyk is actually the author, but here it is:
My Dear Friends—
Raven [apparently Glyn Lorraine Ruppe Melnyk, the Episcopal rector and author of the "Women's Eucharist"] and I have come under vicious attack from Anglican fundamentalists re our connection to druidry. Hour by hour the attacks are spreading on fundamentalist BLOGs across the country. For our protection, we must end all internet connection as soon as possible.
I ask Kernos to leave this one notice up for a day or two, but then to do a universal delete of all references to Druis. Please delete my membership. I cannot stress how serious this is. If you respond, please do not use my name in your response.
I will not be posting again.
You can see a summary of the issue at www.christianitytoday.com
Kernos - the polls will take care of themselves—please note the winners when they are over.
Peace to all. Pray for us.
Druis
Pray for them, indeed."
Thank you very much, Admin Moderator!
Oh sorry, I did a lousy job posting in #6 and double-copied one excerpt.
The admin moderator is our best friend when we error or make what could be perceived as an error when we post a thread or a reply.
Kristin had the AM change an error in the date of a thread he just posted.
I would submit that a literal witch hunt is exactly what is needed.
That is creepy.
I'm sorry to say this, But I don't think that Bishop Bennsion is going to do anything about this.
My editing job, or the quotes?:D
It's okay, no harm done. Wow, he really cut and ran!
I'm not in a good position to remark, but I spsect you may be right. Bennison has come up before -- when searching to see if this had already been posted, I saw prior material posted by Arlin Adams.
Ummm.......with all due respect, nobody is putting a carrot on their noese and yelling that they are witches, ala Monty Python.
If you read similar threads to this, you will find all too real links to pagan/wiccan/druid websites, with evidence that the Melnycks have and do actively participate in such rituals within such groups. Also that they write, and lecture on the same.
Someone who regulalrly goes to Finhorn Bay, and Stonehenge for Druidic ceremonies, is not just going there to tour the pubs!
The quotes! These people are freaks.
Sorry, Grampa, this isn't even in the same ballpark. The old chestnut about altar placement is an issue of "churchmanship." It's not a salvation issue. There is nothing in Holy Writ that prescribes altar placement in a Christian church. There is, however, abundant Scripture (OT and NT) about worshipping other gods and conducting pagan ceremonies - and how God deals with such abominations. Having read the dozens of reports on these "Episcopagans" from various resources and having followed all the links and leads - I'd say more than sufficient "specifics" exist so that reasonable people can conclude that these two individuals need to be defrocked (no pun intended) and excommunicated from the Episcopal Church. When is the rest of the Christian world going to get a belly full of the black eye that the ECUSA is giving our faith and our God? Spit these people out and "be not yoked with unbelievers."
Bennison's ran other "investigations" like this? How fruitless were they?
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