Why I am an Episcopalian and Why that Frightens Me

titusonenine ^ | 3/11/2005 | Eric Dudley

[LauraleeBraswell]

Oh and my mother told me that the Episcopalian Church was the US branch of the Church of England. Is my mother wrong?

(You can tell me my mother is wrong, I won't be disillusioned or anything)

[unbalanced but fair]

You might read my post #14. It's too late in the evening for me to repeat it as I have to work tomorrow. Good night.

[secret garden]

She's wrong.

[LauraleeBraswell]

can you tell her that?

thankyou

[PetroniusMaximus]

***made this choice seventeen years ago***

Let's see, 17 years ago was 1988. the Episcopal Church was solidly liberal.


***I became an Episcopalian, then, for three reasons:
1) I wanted a church that was committed to the historic Christian faith.
2) I wanted a church with Eucharist at the center.
3) I wanted a church that had a liturgical standard, The Book Of Common Prayer, with a clear biblical basis... and roots in the practices of the early Christian Church.****


Hmmm, sounds like the Episcopal Church..... YEA RIGHT!


***I am now so deeply distraught over the many changes that have begun to reshape the Episcopal Church***

Wake up time!!! These "changes" were well under way in the 70's!

Sounds like this guy didn't do his research and is suffering from buyer's remorse.

(Do lemon laws apply to churches?)

Really, he should have known what he was getting into.

[hellinahandcart]

but thats what I learned in school.

Surely you didn't learn this in school, "little girl":

then he beheaded his next 5 wives.

It's simply not true.

[sionnsar]

Sounds like this guy didn't do his research and is suffering from buyer's remorse.

I'd give him a break, at least initially. A lot of this is hidden at the parish level, and the Internet as we know it didn't exist then (and not a lot of people even knew about Usenet). However, by the time he'd reached the priesthood he must have known.

[sionnsar]

can you tell her that? thankyou

Got a phone number?

[AlbionGirl]

This was a very good and moving read.

The classic theological rootedness which drew me to the Episcopal Church has all but been replaced at the national level by a trendy American theology rooted in cultural experience rather than historic faith. The commitment to Eucharist and the liturgical standard of the Prayer Book seem farcical as many parishes clearly disregard the liturgy altogether, and have so learned to read the creeds and Eucharistic rites from a metaphorical perspective that they have no real meaning. As a result I find myself in ongoing turmoil.

Excepting that I'm nowhere near the caliber of this individual, he speaks for this Roman Catholic who is also frightened.

[LauraleeBraswell]

Theres another type of Roman Catholic, Mel Gibsons branch that rejects the pope's changes- and only recognises the pope up to a certain point,

And then of course, you could learn Greek and convert to Greek Orthodox, or one of the 5 Bzyantine Eastern branches.

[AlbionGirl]

I know there are a few variants, but one can't be just a wee bit with the Pope. It's kind of all or nothing. And, as a RC, you are warned that any willful deviation from the Church's prescribed teachings, as defined by the Pope, results in your self-excommunication which more than likely will result in your eternal damnation, should you not be made to see the error of your ways, repent, reject and return. It's quite a kettle o' fish! ( ; < )

[Clint N. Suhks]

My son, while he was in 6th grade, had to memorize the Apostle's Creed for Sunday school. We belong to St. Johns in DC, where our President worships BTW, as PC a church as Episcopals get.

He learned the first rite version. And when he recited it that next week he was told he was wrong. I'm still bitter to this day.

[jude24]

The Episcopalian Church was founded because Henry the 8th a gluttonous monarch who bankrupted the England wanted to divorce his wife, and then he beheaded his next 5 wives.

True enough.

At one time or another, there have been downright slugs at the helm of every denominational branch. Corrupt popes, corrupt Episcopalian leaders, corrupt Baptist leaders. Across the board, Christ's church has suffered from leaders that didn't treat her with the respect she deserved - but that has no bearing on the truth or falsity of Christianity.

[PetroniusMaximus]

*** I'd give him a break, at least initially. ***


Yea, your probably right. I guess I was a bit harsh. As an Anglican returning to America in '91 it was readily apparent to me that the ECUSA had been overwhelm by a form of liberalism far worse that what I had seen in Europe. (Anglicanism on the Continent still seemed like the old liberals. ECUSA seemed to be onto a new, post-liberal, liberalism.)

His statement:
"Even though I had already received degrees from Vanderbilt- a Methodist school- and Berkeley Divinity at Yale University- an Episcopal school-"

indicated to me that he was already swimming in the larger world of theology. He must have had his eyes closed. Either that, or growing up in the Methodist church kept him from recognizing the dangers of liberalism.

[secret garden]

:-)

[sionnsar]

You've got a good point there.

[Tribune7]

I wish him luck.

[altura]

Oh, yes, you are so right. I became an Episcopalian 32 years ago. I have been in the same parish, 5 different priests, last two women, but very good.

I only became conscious of what was going on in the last 4 or 5 years.

I just knew I loved my parish and still do.

Please don't bother to tell me that I am a heretic by staying in the church. (Unless, of course, you left the United States when Clinton was President and the dems were in charge.)

[altura]

I didn't mean you, sionnsar, with the comment about heretic.

I just know that there are always some people on these threads who start attacking anyone who says they are staying in ECUSA.

It is totally uncalled for as many, many Episcopalians are very conservative and very spiritual. I don't plan to abandon the church, but I do pray every day that Frank will grow up and get some sense.

The diocese of Dallas no longer sends money to the nat'l church. Some parishes wanted to, some didn't. They got tired of the bookkeeping and have now proclaimed that if a parish wants money to go to ECUSA, they should just reserve it from their diocese donation and send it directly.

The winds of change are blowing and when they blow away the chaff, I'll still be here in my dear little church.

[ApesForEvolution]

I need to get new Episc. joke material.

All I have is the "Why's it so hard to play chess with an Episcopalian..?"