ECUSA's Incoming Leader: Homosexuality Not a Choice, Jesus Not the Only Way

Agape Press ^ | November 2, 2006 | Jody Brown and Allie Martin

[Sopater]

ECUSA's Incoming Leader: Homosexuality Not a Choice, Jesus Not the Only Way
Comments by Jefferts-Schori During Interview Appear to Contradict Scripture

By Jody Brown and Allie Martin
November 2, 2006

(AgapePress) - She says she doesn't consider Jesus Christ to be the only way to God. She says she believes God makes some people "gay." And she's soon to be the leader of a mainline Protestant denomination in America.

In his letter to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul writes that "in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Col. 2:9, NIV). But in an interview this week with Associated Press, Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori -- who is to be installed on Saturday as the first female presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA -- stated that Christians should not say that Jesus is the only way to God. "If we insist we know the one way to God," she said, "we've put God in a very small box."

In John 14:6, Jesus -- in responding to a question posed by the disciple Thomas -- said: "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." But Jefferts-Schori says she disagrees with the idea that salvation comes only through trusting in Jesus Christ. "It's this sense that one person can have the fullness of truth in him or herself, rather than understanding that truth is -- like God -- more than any one person can encompass," stated the soon-to-be ECUSA leader.

Jefferts-Schori says she views salvation as the healing of all Creation through holy living. "I understand salvation as being about the healing of the whole creation. Your part and my part in that is about holy living," she offered. "As Christians we understand [salvation] as relationship with God in Jesus, but that does not mean that we're expected to judge other people's own commitments."

Where does she stand on the issue of homosexuality? The Episcopal Church has been embroiled for years in a debate over the ordination of homosexual clergy and "blessing" ceremonies for same-sex couples. Jefferts-Schori supports both -- and in fact, she voted in 2003 to confirm her denomination's first openly homosexual bishop, V. Gene Robinson. She told AP that she does not believe the Bible condemns "committed" homosexual relationships. God, she says, made some people "gay."

"Sexual orientation is pretty clearly defined at a very early age, before the age of reason. It's not a choice," she said. "In that case, a person of faith would need to say that it's a piece of how one is created." Consequently, she says, the Church should offer what she calls "a sacramental container" to help homosexuals find "holy ways of living in relationship."

Scriptures in the Bible about homosexual acts being sinful, she says, are misunderstood. "They're not about what today we see as mature human beings entering into committed relationships with each other on a full and equal basis," says Jefferts-Schori, who believes such "committed" relationships can be blessed. "The religious community's job, really, is to help all human beings find healthy and whole and holy ways of living in relationship."

Run, Don't Walk
Canon David Anderson is president of the American Anglican Council, a group of conservative clergy and lay people from the Episcopal Church. Anderson says he's not surprised at the recent comments by Jefferts-Schori, and offers what he sees as the only option for those still in churches aligned with ECUSA.

"I think they need to run, not walk, to the exit and find an orthodox Episcopal church," suggests Anderson.

According to Anderson, the Episcopal Church cast off biblical beliefs long ago in favor of postmodernism. Jefferts-Schori's comments, he claims, is merely in harmony with that. "Her remarks with regard to the plurality of ways to God are consistent both with what she has said before and with what the top level of leadership in the Episcopal Church has been saying now for probably a decade," says Anderson.

Associated Press reports that eight Episcopal dioceses have asked Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who heads the world Anglican Communion, to put them under a leader other than Bishop Jefferts-Schori. But the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas says it is not one of those dioceses asking Williams to appoint a conservative national leader to oversee them.

Dallas Bishop James Stanton said in a statement earlier this week that he still disagrees with the direction of the Episcopal Church, but that the language in the request from the other dioceses rejecting incoming Jefferts-Schori and seeking an alternate leader had "caused confusion and some anxiety" in his diocese.

---

Associated Press contributed to this story.

© 2006 AgapePress all rights reserved.

[skeeter]

And the orthodox churches continue to wonder why they are hemorraging members.

[flynmudd]

Does anyone have a feeling that the world is going crazy?

[Argus]

Scriptures in the Bible about homosexual acts being sinful, she says, are misunderstood. "They're not about what today we see as mature human beings entering into committed relationships with each other on a full and equal basis," says Jefferts-Schori

Hey, maybe that stuff in the Bible was just a botched joke that the Jews and Christians were too dumb to get.

[skeeter]

meant to say episcopal, not orthodox.

[TBP]

Interesting comments.

First, let me pose a question. About 25 percent of the world's population says it's Christian. (We won't debate teh merits of that claim for teh moment.) Do you believe that God condemns 75 percent of God's creation?

Nw, as to homosexuality not being a choice: the whole case for homosexuality being genetic and immutable is based on a phony study years ago with bad methodology that showed that if a man was homosexual, his identical twin was homosexual 50 percent of teh time.

Now, if it were purely genetic that number would be 100 percent, wouldn't it? (Taht's assuming the methodology is valid.)

Now, I do believe that there may be a genetic factor, i.e., a predisposition that only some people have, without which you don't become gay. But I also believe that environmental factors, upbringing, and other choice factors contribute to the person actively becomeing homosexual. Nobody would choose it consciously, perhaps, but we all make a lot of subconscious choices all the time.

And teh fact that certain people who were active, practicing homosexuals have been able to become active, practicing heterosexuals, with no further homosexual urges (according to them) shows that choice is at least a major factor in homosexuality.

[ken5050]

FYI

[ken5050]

"...her comments appear??? to contradict scripture..."

[Enosh]

\\\"The religious community\\\'s job, really, is to help all human beings find healthy and whole and holy ways of living in relationship.\\\"

It is?

Okay, everyone... ~ Kumbaya Oh Lord, kumbaya ~ ...

[polymuser]

Does anyone have a feeling that the world is going crazy?

As predicted.

[Kolokotronis]

"Jefferts-Schori says she views salvation as the healing of all Creation through holy living. "I understand salvation as being about the healing of the whole creation. Your part and my part in that is about holy living,"

I find it fascinating that this raging heresiarch can, here and there, recite fundamental points of orthodox Christianity, like what I have snipped above. "Salvation" as the West puts it, is indeed for all Creation because all Creation is distorted by the accumulated weight of sin since the Fall. It is as deformed as we are by our sins....But then she goes off the rails. I have wondered about this since I started reading what she has said or written. I found it odd that a woman who indeed does have a grasp of Patristic theology could otherwise be so wrong. Then I remembered this:

"Just as the fishermen hide the hook with bait and covertly hook the fish, similarly, the crafty allies of the heresies cover their evil teachings and corrupt understanding with pietism and hook the more simple, bringing them to spiritual death." +Isidore of Pelusium in his letter to Timothy the Reader.

[wagglebee]

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[Sopater]

First, let me pose a question. About 25 percent of the world's population says it's Christian. (We won't debate teh merits of that claim for teh moment.) Do you believe that God condemns 75 percent of God's creation?

Sorry buddy, I don't make the rules...

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

-Acts 4:12

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

-1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

-Revelation 21:8

[gidget7]

Of course choice is a factor. If anyone really steps back, and puts common sense and rationality to the question, it really is pretty clear. Humans have free will, we are all susceptible to temptation, of all kids. Why, once exposed to the idea of homosexuality, is a human who delves into any curiosity about it, or is attracted to one of the same sex, or both, is it considered any different from any other temptation. Eroticism of all forms can preoccupy peoples minds. Have we never heard of people "addicted" to porn? to sadomasochism? To voyeurism? Why do people of any education level suppose that the perversion that is homosexuality is any different?

It's not different! Sometimes people will even search for the ever more and more erotic form of sexual deviancy, all in a quest for the ultimate orgasm, or whatever. In a lot of cases, it is progressive, but not always. In cases where it is, it is a case of pushing the boundaries of the forbidden further and further. It is just common sense.

[sionnsar]

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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[fwdude]

[Jefferts-Schori] told AP that she does not believe the Bible condemns "committed" homosexual relationships.

Even if not, the homosexual community at large sure does. The right to promiscuity is their chief sacrament. No one has the right to "box" them into be committed.

[DarthVader]

Katharine Jefferts-Schori = apostate heretic

[ThirstyMan]

absolutely shocking!!!

I really can't believe what I'm reading. She's a heretic and the next presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church of America.

Maybe she'd like to become a Druid priest-ess like the Archbishop of Canterbury did before taking office?

[GeorgiaGuy]

"Does anyone have a feeling that the world is going crazy?"

Going? How about "gone?"

[Unam Sanctam]

Homosexual activity is always a choice, and a choice for sin.