Posted on 06/18/2006 9:07:48 PM PDT by sionnsar
What are we to make of the fact that, of all the Presiding Bishop candidates in the field, ECUSA has just selected the most religiously radical and most confrontational, in-your-face candidate vis-a-vis the rest of the Anglican world that it possibly could? Couple Schori's election with ECUSA's fraudulent "moratorium" resolution described below and I think the answer is obvious.
ECUSA cannot and will not do what the Windsor Report asks of it. It knows that whatever resolutions emerge from this convention will not be acceptable to the rest of the Anglican world and that its Anglican days are numbered. So like the petulant child that it is, ECUSA intends to go out on its own terms.
Has the Anglican Communion Network strategy of remaining part of ECUSA been vindicated? That remains to be seen. If Bob Duncan gets an invitation to the next primates meeting while Katharine Schori does not, then the answer is yes. But that's down the road.
I don't expect the legal situation to improve any time soon. Schori, a devotee of Jack Spong, doesn't seem like the sort of person inclined to amicable divorce settlements, so, if anything, ECUSA may get even nastier. But I and many others wanted clarity and, with the election of Katharine Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop, we now have a great deal more than we've had in some time.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Chris Johnson over at MCJ sums it up pretty well. The Episcopal Church as the representation of Anglicanism in America is done.
We live in one of the remaining conservative parishes in one of the remaining diocese (San Joaquin) and lament the decline and fall of this once great institution. In the end however, it is an institution made of man. Christ's church will live on long after this abismyl episode is ancient history.
My only concern is for my children. What example am I giving them by remaining a part of an institution that has forsaken the love and commandments of God?
dung.
Indeed...what example ARE you setting for your children? Moreover, what sort of Anglican Christian witness are you to your family, friends, & neighbors? It's an old & much-used expression that bears repeating...if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
I think you have some real soul-searching & discernment to do. Choose this day whom you will serve...
Your conservative parish will NOT stay that way, because the national church controls the seminaries and who is given a license to preach. Your vestry may want to call a conservative rector to replace your current one when he retires, but they won't be able to find any. (That, and a takeover of the vestry by the libs, was how our formerly rather conservative ECUSA parish went out.)
I would talk it over very candidly with your children, assuming they are old enough to understand. We made ours - who were 15 and 13 at the time - part of the decision process. Fortunately everybody was on the same page and liked the Catholic parish to which we now belong.
I left 3 years ago and I want to tell you my stomach isn't upset now and my daughter has found a wonderful youth group that really teaches the Bible.
I'm sure that her liberal politics are impeccable, though, and we know that's what matters most of all.
She's been elected, then? Run screaming.
I understand your concern. We are struggling with the same issue here. Pray it through.
That said, I'm devoted to my parish, and there's absolutely no cost -- here or in the next world -- to waiting to see what happens next. IOW, I'm not ready to run screaming away.
Here is my dilemma. Our parish remains steadfastly orthodox. I'm on the vestry, serving as treasurer and a lector. Our rector and Bishop have faithfully ministered to our family for years. My kids are 6 and 11 and our church family has always been here.
I see the larger picture and it causes me great pain, but for my family these issues are vague and far away. Do I remain faithful to my local family or break these relationships over "larger" concerns?
dung.
I admire people who don't throw in the towel and are willing to fight the battle. At my particular former church, I was never that fond of besides it being two blocks from my home. Okay I admit, I am lazy and don't like to drive, but I think I learned my lesson
Since this thread began ECUSA/TEC has clearly indicated it's desire to walk apart.
The news today is that Bp. Schofield will be seeking alternative "primatial" oversight as did Bp. Iker in Ft. Worth. It now appears there will be four ECUSA (uh, TEC) diocese seeking the same. I suppose we will now enter some form of provincial limbo while the communion decides what to do about TEC.
The whole thing is just sad, very sad.
dung.
Agreed.
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