Posted on 03/17/2005 6:10:35 PM PST by sionnsar
Judging from the following press release in response to the House of Bishops' statement, Integrity is pretty clear about a couple of things:
1. If everyone can't get on board with its agenda, then everyone should be made to suffer.
2. There will be no moratorium on same-sex blessings.
In other words, they no longer wish to remain part of the Anglican Commuinion.
The Windsor Report and the Dromantine Communique make it crystal clear: The Anglican Communion requests that ECUSA, in the interest of maintaining unity in the communion, cease developing or performing same-sex blessings. It's unlikely that a lady as smart as Susan Russell would miss that point, so her reminding us that C051 is "still in effect" - and thus, presumably, trumps the request from the Primates - can be read only as a transparent rhetorical shenanigan, and a call to defy the request of Windsor and the Primates.
We wish Integrity well as they chart a new course apart from the Anglican Communion.
17 March 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Integrity appreciates the House of Bishops' efforts at Camp Allen to balance the Episcopal Church's desire for the continued unity of the Anglican Communion with its prophetical call to do justice. Therefore, Integrity
supports a pause in the election and consecration of new bishops until General Convention 2006. We perceive this as a bold move that brings the whole Episcopal Church into solidarity with those who suffer because of the sin of homophobia.
Integrity understands the portion of the statement on same-sex blessings to mean that the bishops will not authorize new rites within their dioceses, nor personally preside at blessings, until General Convention 2006. However, resolution C051 from General Convention 2003--which recognizes that "local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions"--is still in effect. It is inevitable that that clergy across the land will continue to respond pastorally to the needs of same-sex couples by conducting public blessings of their relationships. Any step back from the blessing of unions communicates a second class status to LGBT people-which Integrity believes grieves the heart of God and hampers the church's evangelism efforts.
Integrity remains committed to nothing less than the full inclusion of all the baptized in the Body of Christ. We will continue to advocate in every way possible for the equality of same-sex couples in the church and civil society.
(The Reverend) Susan Russell, President
president@integrityusa.org
Doug Ball, Executive Secretary
800-462-9498
info@integrityusa.org
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. And I am beyond having tolerance for your broad brush remarks about someone's religion. Knock it off.
You got it .. buh bye.
It isn't necromancing. "Integrity" is part of the disease that is killing ECUSA. And with all due respect to the orthodox still in ECUSA (some of whom are on this list), IMHO ECUSA needs to be removed from the wwAC so a new American Anglican church can take its place.
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