Another Reporter Doesn't Get It [Susan Russell and the TECleft]

Stand Firm ^ | 1/13/2007 | Greg Griffith

[sionnsar]

It's one thing when a mainstream reporter from Palm Beach shows a profound lack of understanding of the debate. It's another when someone as familiar with the debate as Susan Russell thinks this is an accurate summary of the problem.

Cut through all the verbiage, and their issue is sex, specifically homosexuality in the church's leadership, with a side order of bias against women.

The clergy in Truro Church and Falls Church in northern Virginia led their flocks out of the American Episcopal Church last month. In an extraordinary expression of self-righteousness, they aligned themselves with the Anglican Church of Nigeria and created a jurisdictional nightmare.

They joined a renegade mission of the Nigerian church called the Convocation of Anglicans in North America that now boasts 21 parishes, according to The New York Times.

The group is under the insensitive direction of Nigerian bishop Peter Akinola, who reads Scripture literally and claims it says what he wants it to say. He equates gay leadership in the church with "a satanic attack."

Akinola supports a bill in Nigeria that would make any public expression of homosexual activity a crime punishable by five years in prison.

He wants to bring his prejudices to this country. To that end, he has consecrated an American priest, MartynMinns, rector of the Truro Church, to be a bishop in the Convocation. Minns will work under the authority of his Nigerian master in the vineyard of the American Episcopal Church.

That is the height of ecclesiastical arrogance borne of mind-numbing hubris. Bishops of different jurisdictions do not muck about in another bishop's territory, but this sanctimonious crowd observes no such niceties. They alone, they claim, know the truth and read Scripture accurately.

Of course, for Russell and the rest of the Episcopal left these days, this debate is no longer about living into our differences, or tolerating wide ranges of Anglican expression, or struggling together along our individual spiritual journeys. For them, it's about depicting in as poisonous terms as possible those who want nothing more than to practice the same faith Anglicans have for the last 450 years.

So prepare yourselves, folks, if you haven't already: This is how the Episcopal split will come to a close - with taunts, mischaracterizations and accusations of the wildest and foulest sort being hurled at us by those on the left who insist on tolerance and diversity from everyone but themselves. Here is one small opportunity to show them that you'll have none of it.

[sionnsar]

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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[LiteKeeper]

Bishops of different jurisdictions do not muck about in another bishop's territory,

Unless "another bishop" has turned apostate!

[LiteKeeper]

Notice her koolaid mustasche!