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
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (typically 3-7 pings/day).
This list is pinged by sionnsar and newheart.
Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15
1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [shall inherit the Kingdom of God].
1 Timothy 5:20 Rebuke before all those who sin, that others also may fear.
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself.
Titus 3:10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning.
The Anglican Council has done well.
They left us behind 27 years ago. We're still here, but they get the press...
...doesn't take much to figure why.
In Christ,
Deacon Paul+
bookmarked. wake me when they move on excommunicating the heretics
Question: does your parish church have a board set up to govern its finances, or is the structure owned by the diocese? How does that work?
In many areas the libs not only take the church but take the property conservatives have put money into. You should inoculate yourselves if you can by controlling whatever boards are out there so the property could transfer to a conservative church.
Gene Robinson and the other homsexual clergy represent exactly what the queer agenda is all about: It's all about them and what's between their legs. They are obsessed with homosexual behavior and in forcing normal heterosexual men and women accept their unnatural behavior.
The fact that most Eastern Orthodox priests are married and have families, sort of helps to keep a certain homosexual group out of the clergy.
I cannot go into all the details but the young lady and her sister who have left the R.C. have a close relative who was molested by somebody connected to their former Church. By the way, the family did NOT sue the Church. They simply left THAT Church.
It is not up to he who adheres to commandments, statutes, and ordinances to compromise with he who strays. Such a compromise only results in both being astray.
Something about there being no compromise with evil, lest there be naught but evil.
What it comes down to is, the Anglican Consultative Council needs to tell the US & Canadian communions that they can let their gays have all the tail they want, but they can't let them use it to wag the Church.
But it said they were expelled... I was disappointed. :(
no.
I suppose they stole my birthright too, but the Catholic church is the real thing... the piskies are just pretenders. Come home to Rome. You'll be glad you did.
Except according to Acts 15, sexuall immorality is still a no no.
Exactly: People are the same, evil and good, in every church, but when the church itself calls evil good, it's time to go.
BEnedict 16 has called for civil disobedience. It is a most fascinating situation.
I love him. But dang, sometimes he looks downright scary.
McGavin, it's obvious you haven't been listening, and discerning enough. We must have integrity, and prayer, and discernment, and love, and integration, and the blessings of the Holy Spirit to anoint the discernment Process so we can come to a mutual integrated conclusive dialogue that is inclusive of the whole refractive range of the rainbow of diversity that IS the Episcopal Church of the USA.
Same with the Piskies. If it doesn't help the homos, it doesn't make the news.
Scary?
Not 'God's Rottweillor' - LOL!
-
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.