Posted on 06/23/2005 1:15:56 PM PDT by GMMAC
Anglicans 'expel' Canada
Clergy barred from key bodies over gay marriage
Bob Harvey; with files from Natalie Alcoba
CanWest News Service, with files from The Daily Telegraph
NATIONAL POST
Thursday, June 23, 2005
The fierce battle within the Anglican Church over homosexual clergy and same-sex marriage has brought the Canadian and American branches of the faith to the brink of banishment by the Church's ruling bodies meeting in England.
The controversy flared up at the Anglican Consultative Council session in Nottingham yesterday, pitting the liberal, pro-homosexual Canadian and American congregations against a hardline coalition of African and Asian wings that bitterly opposes homosexual involvement in Church affairs.
At the root of the dispute is the consecration of openly gay clergyman Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire and the decision by the diocese of New Westminster, B.C., to authorize the blessing of same-sex marriage.
The same-sex confrontation in the Church comes as the Parliament of Canada is locked in an equally bitter showdown over government legislation that would make Canada only the third nation in the world to legalize formal same-sex marriage.
Yesterday the Consultative Council rejected the North American rationale for homosexual participation in Church affairs and voted to banish both Canada and the U.S. from the council and its central finance and standing committees.
A watered down resolution that stopped short of demanding North American banishment from all Church bodies, requested "that the Episcopal Church [U.S.] and the Anglican Church of Canada withdraw their members from the council's standing committee and the inter-Anglican finance and administration committee."
The resolution passed 30-28 in a secret ballot, with four abstentions, behind the closed doors of the council's session at the University of Nottingham.
Although somewhat milder than the original version, The Times of London noted "it amounts in effect to a punishing expulsion."
"If there was any doubt left about the serious nature of this rift, this week's meeting has made clear how far from agreement both sides appear to be, and the extent to which neither is willing to compromise," said The Times. "The deepening anger on both sides means the 2008 conference in Canterbury could see savage theological conflict."
The newspaper added that the events of the week moved the Church "closer to schism."
The Church's official policy declares homosexuality "incompatible with scripture."
The Canadian and U.S. branches of the Church had already agreed to refrain from participation in the governing council until 2008.
Nigeria's Archbishop Peter Akinola has been the loudest of the Asian and African critics of the North American churches and submitted yesterday's resolution. Both U.S. and Canadian leaders came to this week's council meetings to explain why they had taken stands that marred their relationships with sister churches.
However, Canadian delegates, including the church's primate, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, refused to drop their support of the blessing of same-sex unions in Vancouver.
Reverend Peter Elliott, dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver and the deputy chairman of the Canadian church's governing body, its General Synod, told the Consultative Council on Tuesday, "I am a gay man. I am in a committed partnership myself."
He said he is able to hold such a visible position in the Church because of the support of his partner, his family, his bishop and his diocese.
In a letter to the international Anglican Consultative Council, Archbishop Hutchison expressed regret over strained relationships with other Anglicans and agreed that until Canada's General Synod meets in 2007, there will be a moratorium on the blessing of same-sex unions.
The Canadian delegation told the meeting in Nottingham that the Church exists in a social, cultural and political context where seven of 10 provinces have already authorized same-sex marriages. But Bishop Sue Moxley of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island said that despite their differences, Canadian leaders continue to see themselves as part of the worldwide Church.
The Right Reverend Catherine Roskam, the suffragan bishop of New York, called on other Anglican churches to learn to live with different approaches to sexuality. In a 130-page document, the U.S. Episcopal Church argued that its members have found holiness in same-sex relationships and have come to support the blessing of such unions and the ordination of homosexuals.
Charlie Masters, national director for Anglican Essentials Canada, a group that represents conservative Anglicans, welcomed yesterday's decision, calling it an opportunity for the Canadian church to change its direction.
"It shows that the Anglican communion is strong in its resolve to call the Anglican Church back to Anglican beliefs," he said.
The meeting of delegates from the 38 Anglican churches will continue until June 28. National churches must then decide whether to accept or reject any decisions made at the meetings.
© National Post 2005
Not a single individual at the core of this problem gives a damn about the Church itself; they are only interested in justification of their personal choices beneath the blessing of the Church. Separate from the fact that their Scriptural basis is completely lacking, why would they force their Church to be made a laughing stock because of their personal agenda. Their selfishness boggles the mind.
Memo to all American and Canadian Episcopalians:
In Leviticus Chapter 18 God is laying down the moral law to Moses. In verse 22, God says, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
How much simpler does it need to be than that?
Exactly, this was my biggest problem with Gene Robinson. What an utterly selfish man, to bring an entire worldwide communion of Christians to its knees just to legitimize his dirty sex habits.
When one observes the damage done by this individual's consecration, the fact that he does not step down as bishop to avoid any further damage is simply more proof that he is unworthy of being a member of the clergy, let alone a bishop.
As if we really needed any more proof!
A most unfortunate choice of words there!
Of course, you are correct. But I believe this is what his master chose him to do.
It would appear they also require pictures with a big universal NO on them, preferably signed by the Savior Himself.
They must have a different definition of "holiness" ... I'd better stop there.
So I guess that since abortion is legal in all 50 states, that the church should also get on board and say that it's now OK to have one in the eyes of God.
What idiots these Canadian and U.S. church elders are. Here's a little news flash for you:
God's Law always trumps man's law.
Learn it, live it, or find a different church to attend.
Best Regards
Sergio
FYI
Robinson also spoke at a pro abortion rally. He is pure evil.
Who are the other two nations?
I was asked to help lead a discussion in "sexuality" at my Lutheran (ELCA, the blue state guys) church (they wanted me to help to show how diverse they can be).
We studied the Leviticus scripture plus a few others in the New Testament. Bottom line is that wherever homosexuality is mentioned, it is not really looked on in a very favorable light.
However...!!! our helpful manual (provided by the ELCA) makes the case that "Well, you know, Christ really freed us from all those ridiculous old testament laws (we no longer worry about the dietary restrictions or resort to stoning adulterers, etc) and his bottom line is that we should all love one another and not be judgmental, so, it's cool."
By the way, the ELCA voted to kick the can down the road and make no changes to existing policy regarding gay clergy and blessing of gay relationships.
Episcopal parishes elect whether to accept a priest presented to them. As it stands in my diocese, we're insulated for the moment from this diabolical phenomenon, because our bishop is very straight and conservative, even though he's retiring fairly soon.
All I know is, I'm hanging in there, and if the day comes that a gay priest takes over my church, I'm gone, along with about 98% of the rest of the parish.
I'm considering what someone else on this thread said: Join the Catholic Church. They may have had some terrible incidents in their recent past, but they're not promoting it like Griswold and others are.
Conservative Episcopalians in the U.S. had better act fast to dissociate themselves with the ECUSA and set up a separate denomination and be recognized by the worldwide Anglican Communion as the representative of the Anglican Church in America. If they do not act quickly, they might as well close up shop and ask the Catholics to take them in.
What about joining a different denomination?
Pukey!
The Netherlands is one...can't recall the other. Spain is gunning to be number 3 before the Great White North though.
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