The Religious Statement the Houston Chronicle Refused to Print

private discussion list | 17 August 2003 | REC leadership

[ahadams2]

The following was sent out earlier tonight with request for wide distribution...it seems to speak for itself. -------------------------------------------------

The bishops of the Reformed Episcopal Church recently released a statement on homosexuality in the wake of the ECUSA general convention. It was been fairly widely published both on the onternet and in local newspapers by of our parishes. It is printed below for reference.

Recently the REC parishes in Houston attempted to run the ad in the upcoming saturday Religion section of Houston Chronicle( a left leaning paper which has been notoriously unsupportive of traditional anglicans for years). The cost we were intially quoted for the 8 x 10 ad was $2,000. However, after submission we were told that the ad violated the paper's editorial policies and could not be run.

The only exception would be as a full page "political advocacy ad" in the main section (not the religion section) for a price of $10,000.00.

Since the Houston Chronicle bought out its competition (the Houston Post) in 1994 (for $93,000,000 for the sole purpose of closing it down) so as to establish a near monopoly, Houstonians have endured repeated increases in ad rates, a sharp shift to the left politically, and more and more reliance on wire service stories.

While Richard Vara, the religion editor, who is Roman Catholic, is respected and appears to be a fair minded individual , the same cannot be said for the higher authorities that decide the over all slant of the paper editorially.

The paper is humorously known as the Houston Comical or the Houston Barnicle by the more conservative parts of the public.

Here is the "offensive" statement which the Chronicle refuses to print lest the Les/Bi/Gay lobby be offended:

A Reformed Episcopal Response to ECUSA General Convention

August 8, 2003

The Reformed Episcopal Church disagrees with and is saddened over the Episcopal Church's confirmation of a divorced, practicing homosexual to the Episcopacy and their failure to condemn the blessing of same sex unions. At the 46th General Council of the REC (1990), the following statement on sexuality was written based on the authority of the Holy Scripture and historic Christian beliefs and ethics:

A Resolution regarding Christian Sexual Ethics

RESOLVED, that we, the 46th General Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church, reaffirm the biblical standard given for the well-being of society:

1. That sexual intercourse should take place only between a man and a woman who are married to each other.

2. That fornication, adultery, and homosexual acts are sinful in all circumstances.

3. That Christian leaders are called to be exemplary in all spheres of morality, including sexual morality, as a condition of being appointed or remaining in office.

4. That the Church is called upon to show Christ-like compassion to those who have fallen into sexual sin, encouraging them to repent and receive forgiveness, and offering the ministry of healing to all who suffer physically or emotionally as a result of such sin.

(Adopted by the 46th General Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church, meeting at St. Mark's Reformed Episcopal Church, Jenkintown, PA, Wednesday, May 23, 1990.)

The Articles of Religion, doctrinally subscribed to by the Reformed Episcopal Church and most of the worldwide Anglican Communion, speak at two particular points on the Scriptural parameters of the Church and its councils. Article 20, "Of the Authority of the Church," states, "It is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word written, neither may it expound one place of scripture that it be repugnant to another". Also Article 21 "Of the Authority of General Councils" adds, "Forasmuch as they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed by the Spirit and the Word of God, they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God... unless it may be declared that they be taken out of Holy Scripture." Extending the principles stated in Article 21,The error embraced at the Episcopal Church's recent convention, pertaining to matters of sexuality and the authority of Holy Scripture, should not be understood to be the expression of the will of the Holy Spirit and therefore moves that branch of Christ's Church away from the Historic Christian Faith.

Consequently, ECUSA's decisions will surely impair and impede substantive ecumenical dialogue with the Reformed Episcopal Church. These discussions have been recently chaired by the evangelical Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina, the Rt. Rev. Ed Salmon, along with the competent administration of Dr. Tom Ferguson of the Ecumenical Office of the Episcopal Church. The following resolution was the result of over sixty years of meetings and discussions between the Episcopal and the Reformed Episcopal Church:

Resolution 006 Ecumenism: Dialogue with the Reformed Episcopal Church Resolved, That the General Convention receive with thanksgiving the start of ecumenical dialogue with the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) and the Anglican Province of America (APA), occasioned by Resolution D047 of the 73rd General Convention. Be it further, Resolved, That the 1940 Report of the Committee on Approaches to Unity of the Episcopal Church and the Report submitted to the Bishops of the Anglican Communion by this Church concerning the validity of Holy Orders of the Reformed Episcopal Church be referred to the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations for study during the 2003-2006 triennium and that the Commission report back to the 2006 General Convention on the validity of Holy Orders of the Reformed Episcopal Church.

Explanation: The 1998 Lambeth Conference (Resolution IV.11) and the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church (Resolution D039) have both requested that Anglicans initiate ecumenical dialogue with "a view to the reconciliation of all who own the Anglican tradition (Lambeth IV.11.b)." The recognition and reconciliation of ordained ministries is part of the Episcopal Church's commitment to seeking visible expression of unity and a means to foster common mission and witness in the world. The status of the Holy Orders of the Reformed Episcopal Church will be an important component in any ecumenical discussion with that church. This issue was first addressed in the 1940 Report of the Commission on Approaches to Unity. This commission produced a favorable assessment of the Holy Orders of the Reformed Episcopal Church. The Report was circulated to Bishops of the Anglican Communion in December of 1941. The Second World War precluded discussion of the report. Since no official action was ever taken by the General Convention, this resolution asks the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations to study and update, if necessary, the previous report.

In early October of this year, the Reformed Episcopal Church will have Bishops and General Committee meetings. A significant part of the agenda will concern the negative impact of the Episcopal Church's recent decisions regarding human sexuality on its relationship with the REC, as well as the REC's potential relationship with the larger Anglican Communion as expressed at the 1998 Lambeth meeting seeking, "A view to the recognition and reconciliation of all who own the Anglican tradition" (Lambeth IV.11.b). In the interim, the REC remains in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ in ECUSA that they will come to a better mind. We also most especially support and pray for the Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons and Laity in ECUSA who stand for the Historic Christian Faith, under the authority of Christ, who revealed His will and commands, by the Holy Spirit, in Holy Scripture.

We will continue to honor our developing relationship with the American Anglican Council, and our fellow participants of the U.S. Anglican Congress, from which the Atlanta Covenant was derived, by supporting "orthodox Anglicans" in any way that we can.

Respectfully,

The Most Rev. Leonard W. Riches, Presiding Bishop and Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of the North-East and Mid-Atlantic

The Rt. Rev. Royal U. Grote, Jr. Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of Mid-America

The Rt. Rev. James C. West Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of the South- East

The Rt. Rev. Ray R. Sutton, Ph.D. Chairman, of the Interchurch Relations Committee, REC

[ahadams2]

Conservative Anglicans are requested to spread this statement around as far as possible.

[rogator]

Suggest you look into weeklys or advertising circulars. Cheaper, and you could headline your add -
"The Religious Statement the Houston Chronicle Refused to Print"

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP - ECUSA

[thoughtomator]

Here's an even better statement to pass around!

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Leviticus 18:22

[trad_anglican]

The REC is a solid, traditional Anglican church in the evangelical tradition.

Episcopal/Anglican ping

[Alex Murphy]

Ping! Note the last signature - Rev. Ray Sutton

[drstevej]

Ray and I graduated from Dallas Seminary together. Good for him!

[Salvation]

bump to the top for you! Keep going!

[j.frank.dobie]

Good for the REC and the other faithful out there.

Will the REC (or the AMIA or any of the "Continuers") have a seat at the table in organizing the new "Orthodox Jurisdiction", or will it just consist of current disaffected ECUSA diocesesan groups?

[ahadams2]

You wrote "Will the REC (or the AMIA or any of the "Continuers") have a seat at the table in organizing the new "Orthodox Jurisdiction", or will it just consist of current disaffected ECUSA diocesesan groups?"

Good question - as far as I know and in spite of the fact that some of the ecusa folks I run into are still in the "we can still save the ship, cap'n, the water is only up to our necks!" mode [my response 'at least try to find a wooden deckchair and pray that it floats!'] I expect at least AMIA will be represented there since their bishops are recognized and openly supported by several of the Asian and African provinces who will be involved in the process. One would hope that the REC and at least some of the Continuing Church groups will be present as well; but I have no information on that one way or the other.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Just read that the ELCA voted not to break ties with the Epicopal church...gee what a surprise. ELCA will release sexuality statement in 05 not 07. Why are they even spending money on the subject?

[ahadams2]

You wrote "gee what a surprise. ELCA will release sexuality statement in 05 not 07. Why are they even spending money on the subject?"

Actually the answer to that is surprisingly easy (though only if you've seen what the heretics have done to ecusa) they want to cash in on the momentum they perceive to have been caused by ecusa leaving the Church, but they don't want to do so *too* quickly since they still want to soak as many orthodox Christians in the ELCA for as much money as possible first. I say this with more than just a passing interest since my elderly Mother is a member of a *relatively* conservative ELCA parish in Wisconsin (though they all look upset if I mention the Word Alone network or anything like that).

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

What is Word Alone saying about the ELCA's defense of the Episcopals? I'm staying with my ELCA church for now & launching an assault on the liberal pastors from the congregation.If the Pastors shared what ELCA was doing at the national level with the congregation, 95% would leave. Poor sheep.

[ahadams2]

you asked "What is Word Alone saying about the ELCA's defense of the Episcopals?"

Remember now, I'm *Anglican* the only reason I know about Word Alone Network is that I have Lutheran family members (and the congregation my father pastored when I was born also happens to belong to WAN). None the less this is what I've found so far:

http://www.wordalone.org/daily.htm

August 15, 2003

Will we accommodate ECUSA?
By Paul Andell

WordAlone Board Member

Pastor, Saint James Lutheran Church

Philadelphia, PA



Earlier this summer I was in London walking past Westminster Abbey when an Anglican priest came alongside me. I said hello and introduced myself as a Lutheran pastor from America. As we continued together he told me that he had been visiting with colleagues about the theologies of Paul. "We just can't decide on one that stands out. Of course," he added, "I know you Lutherans don't have that issue." I answered that we didn't and then thought to myself, "Oh God, I don't know that it's true anymore."



Why do some traditions seemingly take pride in their theological ambiguity? I don't get it. Recently I had a phone visit with an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pastor who shared with me that he'd come out of the Episcopal Church. He was drawn to the Lutheran Church he said because of its “theological integrity and doctrinal loyalty.” Then, reflecting the anguish of many in the ELCA, he paused and said, "This church is in a major drift."

I cringe whenever I hear those words.



Another pastor, a real insider with synodical leadership until now, in this synod Southeastern Pennsylvania who came from another faith tradition announced, out of the blue this week in a pastor's meeting, "We've been hijacked.” A couple years ago he remarked to me that, as a WordAlone supporter, might I be trying to undermine the church? I answered, "No, only trying to bring it back to its center—and senses."



Recently I watched the interview on Fox TV of an Episcopalian rector from California queried by commentator Bill O'Reilly about the election of an openly gay bishop. What I heard from the rector in response was that the Episcopal Church doesn't have to depend on one book, that is, the Bible. "We have the Holy Spirit and our church family," he said. In other words, they are being guided to do a new thing. The Word isn't their authority for faith and life. Isn't this the clear definition of an apostate church?



The ELCA has, in my opinion, a theologically illicit affair going on with a renegade church.



Our church, outside its present leadership, which is out of control, has to make a decision. Will we—with this accommodation—continue to isolate and marginalize ourselves from much of the Christian world or find our theological integrity once again and build bridges with everyone from a position of doctrinal, not structural loyalty?

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

THanks

The ELCA has not been hijacked....its founders in 1988 had this in mind all along. Its disgusting.