The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont has met the Enemy:
Resolved, That the 173rd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont support the creation of the Episcopal Coalition to Abolish Biblical Literalism (ECABL), provide funding for ECABL for a period of three years (2006-2008) at a minimum of $1.00 each year, and receive a report from ECABL regarding its activities while it is supported by the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont;
A whole dollar? Well, I guess money is tight in ECUSA these days what with Frank's plane fares here and there, Middle East fact-finding missions and first-class hotel rooms in San Juan. But you'd think they'd find a little more than that considering how important this is.
Resolved, That we of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont support every effort to free our Episcopal and Anglican Church from the slavery of Biblical Literalism which might be used to separate us from our sisters and brothers made in the image of God and used to marginalize persons who may be different from us: persons of color, women, and gay and lesbian persons;
We know what it says about You Know What so we really have to get people to quit reading that stupid book. We'll tell them what it means. Oh and slavery. Have to work that one in.
Historic Anglicanism has been based on the authority of Scripture, Tradition, and Reason, and the use of these authorities leads to wise, healthy, and holy Biblical Literacy (for example, in William Wilberforce’s Evangelical understanding that human slavery is antithetical to God’s Word as revealed in Scripture). It is also true that Biblical Literalism has been used to support unjust and immoral positions by the Episcopal Church (including within our diocese when our own first Bishop, John Henry Hopkins, used Holy Scripture to support the practice of slavery even after the Emancipation Proclamation).
We think it's a sin that people who lived in the 1860's couldn’t see 140 years into the future.
We are a diocese that embraces its diversity and has been able to learn from past mistakes. The fact that we live peacefully and respectfully with Civil Unions and Holy Unions while not all agreeing is an "outward and visible sign" of God’s work with us and our work on these issues together with God.
In other words, we don't have serious beliefs on any kind. But the coffee's good and sometimes there's Danish.
This resolution asks that we continue that work by looking through the "lens" of how Biblical Literalism can harm the Christian faith and be used to deny human rights to various classes of people who are different and how Biblical Literacy can help us clarify what God’s Word is for today’s Christians.
Tomorrow's as well since we're the sum total of all human existence.
Good luck with setting this thing up, Vermont. I can think of a lot of people who would love this sort of approach. I mean, there were lots of fine-looking ladies back at my old ECUSA outlet that I wouldn't have minded hooking up with. Most of them were married but since we're doing away with Biblical Literalism, I guess the part about not committing adultery is a dead letter.
And I know that Jesus said that one commandment on which literally hang the Law and the Prophets was the one about loving your neighbor as yourself. So I guess I'm free to spend that money I was going to send to a Katrina relief fund on a bottle of Scotch.
Don't know how you're going to finesse those literal Bible verses that literally say that Jesus literally rose from literal death, though. Get rid of those and there doesn't seem like there would be a whole lot of point to getting up in the morning. Or sending you any money at all.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
When is a church not a church....
Translation:
We, the week-kneed, linguine-spined probable French descendents, in order to get along with everyone, do hereby reject the teachings of God, because he didn't really mean it. It was just a joke he played on those people a long time ago...
My apologies for commenting on this as a non-Episcopalian but if they do not believe in the truth of the Scriptures, what is the point of being a Christian?