Sweetie, I’ve been an Episcopalian for almost 40 years.
For the last 20 of those years, I’ve hated the national church. the agenda is totally political. they support gay rights, abortion, everything I hate. The woman they elected as head of the church couldn’t even bring herself to support Christianity as being any better than other religions, claiming she didn’t profess to know the mind of God.
I stay because my own local parish is good and I like the people and I’m too old to change. If I quit this church, I’m afraid I would find myself not going to church at all.
We don’t hear this stuff on Sunday. If one didn’t keep up, you’d never know it.
However, my Bible class teacher, a screaming leftist made the following statement two weeks ago. “I’m more afraid of the radical Christians than I am of Muslims.”
I haven’t been back to that class, but will try to go back.
The problem is, I cause a lot of dissension in the class when I speak my mind and I can’t seem to help doing so.
Find a good Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and you will be happy and comfortable.
The LCMS just elected a new very conservative president.
I mean no offense but your church is supporting in numerous ways things that are both unchristian and detramental to liberty and freedom. I personally know fine spirit filled members of your church body but they are what they are inspite of the church, not because of it.
If you wouldn't dream of donating your resources to the communist party or a non-christian religion, then what are you doing in a church that takes your resources and supports this kind of activity?
If you are afraid that by leaving your church you would give up on your faith altogether, then may I suggest that the problem you have is your faith, not your church?. Being a christian is a wonderful thing, a joy, but if it is anything less than joyful, then might I would recommend that you consider a good deep look into a mirror.
By the way, I left a mainline (left behind position and power) in the mid 1980s. I didn't think I could do it and I thought that my life would never recover the loss of friends. But to my surprise, the opposite has happened. I also went from being Mr. Knowledgable in my old church to almost a theological infant and it took many years before anyone asked me to take a serious leadership position, but now that I have one I realize that I'm not as mature in the faith that I thought I was.
I'm not picking on you, really I'm not. But I cannot see a whole lot of hope for the bulk of the mainline churches in this country. 50 years from now I believe half of them will not exist as they do today. Liberalism in the seminaries, mergers and declining membership is eating them alive.
Perhaps that is exactly what God has in mind.
First - everyone - thank you for your comments. Going to my church, you would never know that the National Church is so far left. I was shocked, and yes, naive. That said, I don’t want to give up the fight. So, I’m not leaving until I talk to the pastor and other members. If my concern falls on “deaf ears”, then we will leave because I can’t allow my tithes to go to such radical views. (They support women’s reproductive health in the health care bill). Can you believe this? It’s like a nightmare! But, altura, my experience and opinion seems to fit yours. Thank you all. I have learned a lot from your comments.