Respecting the dignity of every human being (Bishop Warner defends ordination of Gene Robinson.)

The Seattle Times ^ | Friday, October 31, 2003 | By Vincent W. Warner

[Friend of thunder]

Friday, October 31, 2003 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

Guest columnist

Respecting the dignity of every human being

By Vincent W. Warner

Special to The Times

This weekend when the Rev. Gene Robinson becomes the first openly gay person to become a bishop in the history of Christianity, the effects will be felt worldwide. I hope the ultimate meaning of the event is that the world realizes that in the Episcopal Church, absolutely no one is barred from full participation.

Why is the world paying attention to the consecration of a priest in New Hampshire as a bishop of the Episcopal Church?

It is my hope you will pay attention to the event not because Robinson is an openly gay priest, but because his consecration is a signal that the Episcopal Church acts on the promise made in baptism "to respect the dignity of every human being." It is in our relationships that we learn the true meaning of this phrase.

I have known Gene for 20 years as a friend and a priest and a human being. The Diocese of New Hampshire elected him for the person he is, not just as a symbol for the church.

The election of Robinson by the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, which was confirmed by the Episcopal Church's General Convention this summer, has brought into the forefront both the way the church functions and the vast differences of opinions within the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican Church around the world. Ultimately, it rests on our understanding of the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves.

The Episcopal Church is an inclusive church where all are welcome. Scripture, tradition and reason are held together as the foundation for the way we understand God working in the world. The struggle comes when the views of understanding Scripture collide.

One view is that several statements in Scripture simply make it impossible for the church to embrace a gay person in ordained leadership. Not now, not ever.

The other view sees Scripture as a living guide for our lives, which, along with tradition and our God-given human reason, serves to help the church and its members faithfully live into God's new future.

As a church leader, I have always followed this second way of understanding God's will for the church, and I believe in our own time God's will is that the church put no obstacles before faithful gays and lesbians as they seek to serve in the church.

Our church has engaged in 30 years of study and dialogue about this issue. We can talk and debate but at some point we have to take a stand. That is what the Episcopal Church did at its convention. We approved Robinson to be a bishop and we recognized that in our church some pastors are offering same-sex blessings to lifelong homosexual relationships.

With the consecration of Robinson, the challenge to the church is to move beyond this event and to take up the work we are called to do in the world. It is our work to help the homeless, bring care and compassion to those who are marginalized or oppressed, to work for justice and peace and to truly see the world at our doorstep as the neighbor we are called to love.

In my role as bishop of the Episcopal Church in Western Washington, I am clear that we are about ministry and mission. Our primary energy in the days ahead will be poured into bringing the reconciling Gospel of love to the world. We want to say to the wider community that in the Episcopal Church, absolutely everyone is welcomed and affirmed.

There are no outcasts. There are no second-class citizens. That is Gospel truth.

The Right Rev. Vincent W. Warner has been bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, covering all of Western Washington, since 1989.

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company

[AmericanVictory]

As a former Episcopalian who spent most of his religious life in that Sect, I can say from personal experience as well as observance of the clear record that the Episcopal Church abandoned scripture long ago and has lost membership steadily ever since. In its place they have taken a noble tradition and changed it into hedonistic trendyism. As one highl-collared, purple vestmented pomposity put it when asked by a Fox reporter on the original go round, the Bible is "just one of many documents." I identify with the conservative Southern Maryland pastor who said he did not know what his livelihood would be or what he would do, but he was unable to go along with this decision by a church he aptly and accurately described as "in a coffin flying to Hell."

What sacrifice is left for those who have known the Lord and have thrown him away?

[Friend of thunder]

So let the Epicopal Church be the "gay church".

I grew up in the Episcopal Church and still have hope (faith) that it – or some part of it – can be redeemed.

[Saundra Duffy]

You forgot to include a BARF alert. I'd leave this church in a heartbeat if I were a member.

[MinuteGal]

The propaganda and spin campaign from the liberal church hierarchy continues apace.

These Episcopalian clerical writers and speakers are highly educated as well as long-experienced and talented in employing smooth and soothing words.

Robinson WILL be ordained amidst much fanfare and churchly pomp and circumstance.

I'm afraid the break-away movement will collapse. In fact, I would bet on it.

The laity loves high-sounding rhetoric. They buy into it even if the rhetoric is tinged with covert, implied guilt trips on those concerned about a gay bishop who abandoned his wife and children to openly cohabitate with a gay lover.

Most people tend to go along to get along, but we knew that a long time ago.

Leni

[tessalu]

Why even pretend to have a church, if the leader choses to follow Satan? No one even needs a church to do that. This is an affront to the dignity of all mankind. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man. In the days of Noah, God looked down from heaven and saw only 8 people that could be considered righteous, and he destroyed all of the wicked. And God still has a remedy for the wicked.

[concerned about politics]

Why even pretend to have a church, if the leader choses to follow Satan?

Homosexual indoctrination and money.

[StonyBurk]

And even as they did not like to retain God in their minds,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convienent.(RO 1:28) Paul-and the Apostles
had proper respect for all human beings. They also were obediant to Christ(Matthew 22:37) How any can claim obediance yet promote that which the Bible teaches is "Abomination" is beyond my comprehension.

[Friend of thunder]

I'd leave this church in a heartbeat if I were a member.

There are many members of the Episcopal Church who do not agree with this decision; many, like me, have spent our whole lives as members. For a number of reasons I have been attending church much more regularly recently. I enjoy the service. I realize that The Gospel of Christ is what important (it is preached at the church I attend) but I think there is hope, with Gods help, to save the Church. At some point, it may be time to leave, at this point I still feel called to stay.

[concerned about politics]

How any can claim obediance yet promote that which the Bible teaches is "Abomination" is beyond my comprehension.

They use the new Marxist version, the Book of Holy PC.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

This turns the true meaning of Christianity on its head. There is not a single righteous man in the world. There is not a single soul who could stand in the presdence of God but for the sacrifice of His Holy Son.

There is no dignity of man. There is simply forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ. Forgiveness requires, first, admitting to sin, and then asking for forgiveness.

These apostates consider sodomy to be no problem. If a man denies his sin, he is a liar and the truth is not in him.

[I got the rope]

Good post. I wonder how these people explain away the numerous verses in the Bible that condemns this behavior. It must really take a "LEAP" of faith(to the point of mental illness) to justify their conduct.

[RobbyS]

Or the first atheist bishop. You have already had a few of them.

[AngrySpud]

" .. sees Scripture as a living guide for our lives."

See the parallel with the U.S. Constitution? He sees the Bible as a "living document", to be interpreted in the time one lives in. Nothing is constant, interpret it anyway you want.

[concerned about politics]

See the parallel with the U.S. Constitution? He sees the Bible as a "living document", to be interpreted in the time one lives in. Nothing is constant, interpret it anyway you want.

Keep the stuff you like, throw the rest away. He knows better than God - or so he thinks.

[LiteKeeper]

The Episcopal Church is an inclusive church where all are welcome

Most churches are inclusive...they just don't the most blatant sinners in leadership positions. This article is an apostate absurdity.

[It's me]

I was listening to NPR this morning (I know, please foregive me!) Someone was being interviewed (can't remember the name) and he said that the first thing that should be concidered is the fact that Robinson is a divorced man, let alone a homosexual, and that no divorced man can become a bishop.

I thought that was interesting. We only hear about him living openly as a homosexual. The church teaching is apparently quite clear about this.

[Reactionary]

Strange. "Affirming the dignity of every human being" only extends to the sexual proletariat the liberals so adore.

Everyone else gets their feeding tube removed.

[MHGinTN]

The depravity applies to other 'classes' of clergy also, as in adulterers, etcetera. To scrutinize only homosexual degeneracy is to wink at the other degeneracy destroying the Church.

[Eala]

This is the diocese (though it was prior to Warner) where I could not find an Episcopal church home and left, after (quite by accident) finding a good home in a local Anglican ("Traditional Episcopal") church.

Oh, yes. Ping.

[Eala]

These are troubling times for the Episcopal Church U.S.A., I am not sure what we can do but wait, watch and, pray.

I have tried to collect lists of resources, for those remaining in ECUSA as well as those who choose to leave, and have posted them on my Traditional Anglican Directory page.