Posted on 07/22/2005 2:35:43 PM PDT by sionnsar
July 18, 2005
Andrew D. Smith, Bishop
Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut
1335 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105-2295
Dear Mr. Smith:
After following the events of the Episcopal Church USA for the last ten years and learning of your recent inhibition of Father Hansen and the take-over of St. John's Church in Bristol, the following word stands out in my mind:
HYPOCRISY
Hypocrisy: taking a vow that the Bible contains all things necessary to salvation, and then by your words and actions, rejecting those things with which you now disagree;
Hypocrisy: Entitling your Bishop's Column from the April-May edition of Good News: "Life! . . . Together" and then proceeding to tear St. John's apart;
Hypocrisy: stating that marriage is between one man and one woman and then advocating the blessing of same-sex unions and installing as “priest-in-charge” a woman who openly advocates same-sex unions.
I read the following passage from Isaiah 3 this afternoon. The prophet’s words are just as appropriate today as they were they on day when they were written. I substitute “The Bishop of Connecticut” for Jerusalem and “The Presiding Bishop and his adherents” for Judah:
8 Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the LORD,
defying his glorious presence.
9 The look on their faces testifies against them;
they parade their sin like Sodom;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
They have brought disaster upon themselves.
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!
They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
12 Youths oppress my people,
women rule over them.
O my people, your guides lead you astray;
they turn you from the path.
In addition, the Gospel reading for this past Sunday was Matthew 13:24-30, the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds. How ironic and prophetic that this passage was read, given the weeds which have been sown for so long by those who have vowed uphold the Word of God.
Mr. Smith, by your words and your actions you have abandoned your ordination vows. Your persecution of the faithful in Connecticut, your desire to sanctify relationships which are contrary to God’s stated design and your participation in the consecration as bishop of a man living in an adulterous relationship with another man testify to this.
Therefore, for the duration of the period of your inhibition of Father Hansen, I will not recognize you as a bishop in the Episcopal Church or as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I will not refer to you as Bishop Smith, but as Mr. Smith. I will not participate in any function in which you participate. You are not welcome in my home.
I pray that during this time you will seek the Lord and the guidance and counsel of the Holy Spirit. I pray that the Truth of Jesus Christ will be made known to you and will indeed set you free.
I pray that the faithful in Connecticut, the ‘wheat’, will remain true to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and His Word. I pray that by the lives and witness of these dear saints, those who have been deceived into becoming ‘weeds’ will know the transforming power and boundless love of God and desire transformation in their own lives before it is too late.
As Jesus so clearly pointed out in Matthew 13:30:
“Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”
The hour is growing late and we are one day closer to harvest. Each of us has a decision to make – to be wheat or to be weeds. I have made my decision. Have you?
In Christian Love,
/s/ Uncle Dino
Diocese of Virginia
BTW, I did signed the letter with my real name, not with "Uncle Dino", which is my blogging Nom de Plume!
Dennis "Uncle Dino" Egan
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Great letter, BTW!
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Good letter. I would cheer louder if one of the other Bishops had sent it.
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