Posted on 11/02/2003 11:14:29 AM PST by 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
Absolutely no one is barred? Is this man even slightly in touch with reality? I can see the line at the church door - the pedophiles (they've already convinced academia that they are a-ok), bestiality-afficiondos, brother and sister teams, necrophiles (I mean, it isn't *hurting* anyone!), S&M folks pulling each other on chains (Oh wait, homosexuals are already into that). Then Satan worshippers, regular avowed atheists, santeria and voodoo practitioners, etc etc - he said "Absolutely no one is barred." The dude is a lunatic, and worse, a lunatic playing "let's pretend" in a religious suit.
Major doublespeak. As though the "sex" acts that homosexuals engage in (no need to go into details, just keep in mind that such acts include but are not limited to the employment of urine and excrement) in any way "dignify" human existence. Just the reverse, homosexual acts are the most degrading miserable and humiliating anyone can imagine.
Bishop Warner has always tried to get the lead on this issue. He was the first, I believe to have an openly gay Cathedral dean (Robert Taylor).
A former Rector of my previous parish was afraid for the last five years of his ministry that Warner would fire him over his objections to homosexuality.
While I disagree strongly with Warner, our Rector has been very outspoken and has not expressed concern about loosing his job because of his belief. He has expressed concern about what might happen if we cut – or in any substantial way alter – ties with the diocese of Olympia; but that is different. I think it is important to differentiate between homosexuality, which is a sin, and homosexuals in positions of leadership, which is an endorsement of sin.
We are all sinners, we are all hell bound, except for the fact that we are washed in the Blood of Christ.
Some Christians – and I am not implying that this includes you or your former Rector – seem to hold homosexuality as a sin apart from all others. As you may know there is a web site called God hates fags. com (all one but I will not link it) this is promoted (I believe) by the Rev(?) Fred Phelps and is at least as heretical as anything Vincent W. Warner or any of the Bishops have said or done. God hates no one. That does not mean no one goes to Hell.
I am ranting now. I have spent most of the day condemning this ordination, and felt a need to proclaim Gods Mercy and Grace. Again this is not directed to you or your former Rector, although from my limited knowledge he may have mistaken in his concern over his job.
Cut and paste from my reply on a thread about an hour ago:
I profoundly disagree with homosexual practice being taught as normal in churches especially. God accepts repentant sinners willing to carry His Son's cross. I don't like the Phelp's group and think they are vile. God hates the sin of homosexual practice, not the sinner who sins. This is the crucial difference.
The newest leader in the New Age Apostate Church
And the peoples' contributions will be paying for it.
Yes, exactly, God hates all sin but no sinner; that is (in part) the Good New.
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