Posted on 08/29/2005 5:52:18 PM PDT by sionnsar
The Bishop of Eastern Michigan, the Rt. Rev. Edwin M. Leidel, Jr., has commended to the clergy of his diocese an internet petition that supports the teaching of evolution in public schools.
Approximately 7,200 clergy from across the United States, including 25 retired and 13 active Episcopal bishops, as well as a large number of clergy, have endorsed the “Open Letter Concerning Science and Religion.”
The active bishops joining Bishop Leidel are: the Rt. Rev. David Andres Alvarez-Velazquez, Bishop of Puerto Rico; the Rt. Rev. Joe Burnett, Bishop of Nebraska; the Rt. Rev. C. Christopher Epting, Presiding Bishop’s Deputy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations; the Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, Bishop of Southeast Florida; the Rt. Rev. Wendell N Gibbs, Jr., Bishop of Michigan; the Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., Bishop of Ohio; the Rt. Rev. James Kelsey, Bishop of Northern Michigan; the Rt. Rev. Rustin Kimsey, acting Bishop of Navajoland; the Rt. Rev. Robert Moody, Bishop of Oklahoma; the Rt. Rev. F. Neff Powell, Bishop of Southwestern Virginia; the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefforts Schori, Bishop of Nevada; and the Rt. Rev. Keith Whitmore, Bishop of Eau Claire.
While the petition affirms scripture as being “authoritative in matters of faith and practice,” it calls for a non-literal reading of the Bible as “Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts.”
According to the petition, “the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests.” The petition further rejects attempts to treat evolution as “one theory among others” and urges public school boards to “preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge.”
Prof. Michael Zimmerman, dean of the College of Letters and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, initiated the ‘Clergy Letter Campaign’ in 2004 in response to a “series of anti-evolution policies” passed by a Wisconsin school board.
“The misperception that science and religion are inevitably in conflict has created unnecessary division and confusion, especially concerning the teaching of evolution,” Prof. Zimmerman said. “I wanted to let the public know that numerous clergy from most denominations have tremendous respect for evolutionary theory and have embraced it as a core component of human knowledge, fully harmonious with religious faith.”
Prof. Zimmerman endorsed A Catechism of Creation: An Episcopal Understanding, a document produced by the Episcopal Church Network for Science, Technology, and Faith as an appropriate teaching resource in support of the petition.
Bishop Jefferts Schori, who earned a doctorate in Oceanography from Oregon State University, told National Public Radio on Aug. 8, “creation and revelation continue in divine-human partnership as God works in the minds of scientists, inviting us all to share in discovering the wonderful mysteries of creation”. For this reason she finds “no difficulty in holding together my faith and the best of recent science.”
Free will, Bishop Jefferts Schori said, applies equally “to the contingent nature of all creation.” The Darwinian theory of evolution, she suggested, “is fully in accord with a contingent understanding of the nature of all things.”
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. And this is supposed to help their church ... how?
By purging anyone who dares to differ?
Gee, how did I know these would be Episcopalian bishops from the subject line alone?
Very perceptive. Sadly. The number of good ECUSA bishops is dwindling.
One might suspect it's a test to see if any of the clergy believes in the authority of the Bible. (And if they do, they can be Zotted!)
The persecution of Jesus didn't start with the government, but within the religious commununity. The persecution of Christians in America is beginning the same way. Even "People for the American Way" has been headed by so-called ministers.
Given the flack I took for posting my last article, I post this one with a little trepedation. I know that the Episcopal Church does not have a repuatation orthodoxy, even a reputation for theological liberalism.
I post it nevertheless, because it seems interesting.
Curiosity's disclaimer: just because I post an article does not mean I fully agree with author or agree with any of the author's theological views.
By removing the stumbling block that prevents someone with scientific understanding from following their faith.
Some people think that a few sentences in the Bible contradict science. I think they've interpreted their verses wrong.
God created evolution. His most powerful creation, and the one most misunderstood.
Thanks for the ping!
The article says that the Bishop is requesting that the clergy agitate regarding the public school curriculum. This is not a matter of personal belief, or of religious doctrine, but of the church heirarchy requiring a particular stance on government education curriculum.
Do you think this activity is appropriate or beneficial to the Episcopal Church?
Revelation 4:11
See my profile for info
That's my question.
Why can't they stick to religion and leave social engineering and stuff like this alone.
Translation: I measure the Word of God by the learning of men.
Since there is nothing accomplished by this, I conclude that it is purely a political move.
Absolutely......and good point. There is no lack of freedom to teach evolution, nor any need to call for it.
In that way it is a bizarre article. The only attempt to suppress the freedom of ideas and scientific research and discovery is coming from evolutionists, not from Christians.
Most likely, it is the effort of political liberals to distance themselves even further from the President, who came out in favor of academic freedom.
But, more importantly, it is another evidence that the 'leadership' of the present Episcopal church has no regard for Biblical truth in any area, and are taking yet another step away from being part of the Church of Jesus Christ universal.
Twisted, I'd say.
"In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth" resounds throughout Scripture..........not just a 'few sentences' in Genesis, as you would like to believe.
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