Posted on 05/03/2006 5:21:14 PM PDT by sionnsar
As GC2006 runs at us with all the grim, joyless determination of yet another Tom Cruise movie, it’s pleasant to behold the extent of the revisionist agenda creeping out into the open. I ususally don't like to use such phrases as "revisionist agenda," but I think there is enough evidence to support the use this time. This weekend, of course, we’ll see if the 49ers decide to gently toss down the gage of challenge; I expect that they will. Not long ago we could see on Susan Russell’s blog the committment to “continue the radical reformation of the Church.” I had a hunch that they were up to that, but it’s helpful to see it in print. Part of the “radical reformation” seems to involve considering just ‘bout everyone a minister, subject to the revised disciplinary canon if it passes. Mr. Dague’s analysis can’t be bettered; I add only that in my previous bureaucratic life, I had a fair amount of experience with the various standards of evidence. “Preponderance of evidence” is a low standard indeed, just about whatever the decision maker wants it to be. Then we have Mr. Robinson’s speech to a friendly forum last week. It was nice to see that Mr. Robinson made his contribution to good Anglo Catholic relations in calling Benedict XVI a hate criminal. We have Mr. Naughton’s conspiracy theory (hey, can I get some of this right wing gravy? Or at least a chicken dinner?), and lastly Bishop Charleston’s call to reconciliation (I’m saving that one for later, as part of a new project. Maybe a new project).
The point of this tedious recitation is that those who have been in charge of ECUSA this long while have no intention or wish to change their course. That's the cadre, the group with goals, focus, momentum, and power. Thanks to them, ECUSA has become an organization that (to use one of the cadre’s favorite terms) privileges innovation over tradition, the transgressive over the devout, assertion over proof, ideology over scholarship, sentiment over reason, and canon over gospel. Indeed, the very term “gospel” has become so lightly tethered to anything you might find in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John that the next puff of breeze will send it soaring to Cloud Cuckoo Land. For this group, this revolutionary cadre, the Anglican Communion is useful only so long as it doesn't get in the way. While there may be some whose feet feel a chill; this group will be disciplined and brought into line. Compromise is not part of the agenda; useful temporizing may be. There won't be a change in course.
PS: Someone else has also noticed certain, er, tendencies. This could be fun. Grim fun, but fun.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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