Wednesday, October 8, 2003
Episcopal schism watch.
Best line in Michael Paulson's unusually good Boston Globe article on Sunday about a Southern Episcopal church's uncertainty about how to express its displeasure with the election of a gay bishop in New Hampshire:
"I've heard people say they don't know if they still feel comfortable taking Communion, and I think to myself, 'Give me a break,'" said [Cecil H. Nelson Jr., the chair of Christ Church's $15 million capital campaign]. "Is it Bishop Robinson in the Communion, or Jesus Christ?"
In today's Globe, Paulson reports the most telling fact about the gathering of outraged conservative Episcopalians in Dallas this week. If you thought they were looking for solutions rather than trying to generate a media circus for the culture war, read this:
In a clear sign of their alienation from the national church, the organizers of the Dallas conference refused to allow the denomination's presiding bishop, Frank T. Griswold, and the president of the denomination's House of Deputies, George Werner, to send a delegation of observers, which was to include two bishops, a seminary president, and a priest . . .
Conference organizers said they were not allowing any observers other than the news media.
A photograph accompanying the article provided a delicious example of false consciousness, too: A woman priest at the conference, applauding a speaker who was attacking the Episcopal Church's deviations from tradition. For her sake, I hope the schismatics don't elect one of the bishops from Dallas to head up the break-away traditionalist church, or she'll have to give back her collar.
Copyright © 2003 by Philocrites | Posted 8 October 2003 at 5:52 PM
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Next: Schism bias watch.
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Philocrites
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Commentary by Chris Walton on Unitarian Universalism, liberal Christianity, American religion, and liberal culture. Contact me.
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2 comments:
Bruce E. Matthew:
January 4, 2004 08:45 PM | Permalink for this comment
It is nothing to celebrate when a church itself has dismissed the word of God in favor of the glorification of man. It is another sign that the postmodern theism (the worship) of self is on the march. Paganism and theologies of human glory are indications that Christianity is threatened as we know it. We Christians are truly heading for dark ages.
May we cling to the truth that is found in the word of God and seek only His approval. Remember, the Kingdom of God is not dependent on man's acceptance, and the Holy Trinity has never met in emergency session. God is still in control. Read about man in the end times in 2 Timothy.
Richard Hurst:
January 4, 2004 09:09 PM | Permalink for this comment
You're right, Bruce, paganism and theologies of human glory do threaten Christianity. I wish those with particular cultural and societal biases would stop propping up their own dislikes and distastes as if they knew definitively that these were the unchanging will of a God who ever lives and ever loves. I cannot think of much more that glorifies the human than that to choose the hatred of humankind over the love of God.
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