Posted on 11/11/2006 8:50:00 AM PST by sionnsar
Canon John Peterson has met the enemy:
As secretary general of the Anglican Consultative Council from 1995 to 2005, the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson worked tirelessly to forge closer ties among the 38 autonomous provinces in the worldwide Anglican Communion. That legacy is in jeopardy as a result of theological disagreements, according to Canon Peterson, who now serves as canon for Global Justice and Reconciliation at Washington National Cathedral.
"The geographical areas that have given structural authority to the provinces in the Anglican Communion are breaking down and this could weaken the entire Church. What we have here is a serious breakdown in provincial authority … how this will play out, I have no idea,” said Canon Peterson, who spoke during an Oct. 30 dinner.
And you're on it right now.
According to Canon Peterson, the internet allows a decision made by one church to be immediately known by all other provinces. Thus when The Episcopal Church consecrated an openly gay bishop, that action was instantly noted around the world and triggered protest from some of the provinces which disapproved on theological grounds.
“No longer are we a family in isolation...no longer does it take three months to get a message from New Zealand to the United States or four months to get a letter from Southern Africa,” Canon Peterson said.
It hasn't taken four months for a letter from Africa to get to the United States since roughly the Taft Administration. But why should Peterson find anything wrong with people getting information? Because it makes them fight about things.
While faster communication is a positive technological development, at present it is feeding divisive disagreements among provinces, including The Episcopal Church, he said. These disagreements create a splintering lack of unity and lack of harmony.
“Why it makes a difference is that we as a Communion can have far more influence as a Communion instead of as individual churches," he said. "When one acts as a communion, one can really make a difference. That is why these divisions sadden me. The body of Christ seems weakened.”
In case you don't know what's going on here, what Canon Peterson actually means is this: had we had the opportunity to spin Gene Robinson, Peter Akinola himself would have put the pointy hat on Robbie's head. Thanks to that damned Internet, people find stuff out before we have a chance to tell them what to think about it. But since that genie's out of the bottle, what should the Anglican Communion do now? You get three guesses but you're only going to need one.
Instead of arguing about theological differences, Canon Peterson urged Episcopalians and members of other provinces in the Anglican Communion to work together for the alleviation of poverty, hunger, infant mortality, diseases such as malaria and HIV/Aids, human exploitation and suffering of all kinds. He said the Church, not the United Nations, should have set the Millennium Development Goals aimed at alleviating global human disparities.
“It is scandalous that it was the U.N. that came up with the Millennium Development Goals when they are really the core gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Works righteousness, ladies and gentlemen!
Any day now, whenever Episcopal leftists mention the Millennium Development Goals, they're going to start adding, "Peace and blessings be upon them." Don't get me wrong; helping the poor and alleviating suffering are important, of course. But neither is unique to Christianity
What is unique to Christianity is what I always thought that the "core gospel of Jesus Christ" was. The fact that He came into the world to save men from their sins. I guess I still believe that because I haven't attended a liberal Anglican seminary and had my Christian faith educated out of me.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Waterboard Canon Peterson and he probably would admit that he thinks of the Incarnation as a useful fiction that helps spread the true Gospel of liberalism and the Church as a means thereof.
The spirit of this letter is what one would expect to hear from a
Communist Party official in East Germany as The Berlin Wall was cracking.
I guess Canon Peterson must have missed class when "...and the truth
shall make you free." at seminary.
(I'm not Episcopalian or Anglican. But I've seen/heard similar
Bravo Sierra from church leaders in another religional body.
That's why I was bold enough to comment.)
Hi there! I have to put in my nickel's worth (inflation, you know?). (P)ECUSA is no longer the Church of Jesus Christ. If they practiced truth in advertising they should post an "ICHABOD" sign above their doors. The truth is that(P)ECUSA has wholeheartedly embraced the "vain pomp and glory of this world" renounced at baptism (Book of Common Prayer, 1928, p. 277) and repudiated the true gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Gospel according to St. John, Chapter 3)- unto Him be all Power, Majesty, Dominion, Glory and Praise, world without end, AMEN. But you'll NEVER hear the truth from their bishops or their clergy, let alone from the sheep they have led astray. Surely they will answer to Christ Jesus himself when he comes again to ask them for an accounting.
Correct.
I'm not ready to write them all off. Think of +Schofield...
I stand corrected. There are a few of the "righteous remnant" among them. I pray daily for their protection, and that they may find a home apart from ECUSA.
This is the root of the problem. Ignoring theological differences is extremely short-sighted...and prehaps a bit humanistic.
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