The Anglican Church is in deep, deep crisis today, following the schismatic actions of the Episcopal Church in America. In direct defiance to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and in full knowledge of the pain and anger such action would cause, the General Assembly of ECUSA voted overwhelmingly to allow practising homosexuals to serve as priests and bishops.
As if causing hurt and controversy wasn’t enough, the uber-progressive Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts-Schori, then felt the need to offend all reasonable Christians by declaring belief in personal salvation a heresy. Quite how she justifies that is beyond me, but once you have abandoned scripture and doctrine, I guess your own opinions count for a lot.
What an embarrassment the American branch of the Anglican church has become. It is now so far removed from conventional Christianity that it would be funny were it not so very destructive. The church who, by ignoring scripture, invented women priests and practising gay divorcee Bishops and who is currently spending millions litigating against orthodox Christians (that is those poor souls who dare believe what the bible says and who haven’t already left) seems utterly unmoved by the mind of Christians throughout the world and down throughout the ages.
But then this uncaring huberis should not really surprise us. After all it is very easy to vote for what you want, once you have chased every conventional Christian out of your church. We might consider Godly souls like +Ackerman SSC, currently being deposed (church language for sacked), who even experienced threats against his family from this group of people who have the audacity to pretend they are Christians. His crime being to refuse the wacky non-biblical innovations and defend the faith as understood by orthodox Christians worldwide. Having met him on more than one occasion I can vouch for his integrity personally.
It is therefore a truly sad day for Anglicanism. Sad because the liberal innovators in America are proving utterly disinterested in Church unity. Sad because they have used the arena of sexuality to promote their progressive theological cause, hurting good people in the process (for the record I have a lot of respect for gay Christians and would want to support them in trying to lead a chaste life, as ALL are called to live- failures being the business of penitent and confessor alone). A sad day because I really cannot see how the church can hang together any more. A sad day because the image this sends out to the world is lamentable. A sad day because so many within the Anglican church no longer have even the vaguest concept of what ‘obedience’ means. A sad day because if this type of theology -read heresy- catches on in England then we at S. Barnabas will find ourselves even more at odds with the establishment.
This is not a story about homosexuality. This is a story about a branch of a church who foolishly believed they had the authority to change the scripture and doctrines of the faith throughout the ages. Surely now is the time for Rowan Williams to grow a spine and publically expell ECUSA, whilst siding with the newly formed ACNA (those who left the American church in recent years). Such firm action would cause much harmony within the wider communion, avoid schism in this land and leave the real heretics out there on their own. Pray God he will do something and not just wring his hands in lament.
Some thoughts on your blogpost.
I should pray that the ECUSA is expelled from the Communion ?
Would it be better to pray for peace and unity ? One catholic church etc… ?
Praying for Williams to include ACNA whilst keeping ECUSA would seem to be a more charitable and Christian option.
Or are you saying that by their actions the ECUSA bishops are no longer Christians ?
You need to be clearer in what you are saying in your article: it sounds like you are talking to yourself and people who think like you without being more open to the world is more the Christian message.
Best wishes and apologies if this comes across as aggressive – it is not meant as such !
Father,
Agree with everything you have written.
My reflection this morning is to wonder what it is about the Orthodox churches which have kept them all faithfull without the papacy keeping them in check. They seem to know instinctively how to continue the ancient church in the present. It is not as if there is no homosexuality going on either. from what I read of Mount Athos.
It is often suggested here that the choice is an Anglican Church run by the “Synod” debating society or if not then Rome. Could we learn something from the Eastern churches about continuing the faith of the first millenium here in England?
I doubt I am alone in finding papal infalliblity etc very unappealing.
John one of the reasons I am saddened is that such inflammatory action on behalf of ECUSA makes it harder, not easier, for moderate liberals and conservatives like ourselves to find unity John. It raises the stakes further and people will retreat into corners.
With a heavy heart I do now think the time has come for firm action and that expulsion from the communion needs to follow. Schori and her team have now rejected the doctrine of salvation through Christ, persecuted mainstream Christians, caused schism in America, promoted many non biblical innovationsformerly and is peddling an increasingly secular line that is so very far removed from a normative Christian expression of faith as to be a new religion of sorts.
Put a different way, what have they said and done to warrant membership? How was this vote in keeping with the promises made at the last few meetings of the Anglican worldwide leadership?
Expulsion might be tough, but so is scripture in it’s handling of heretical teaching. Bang the dust from your shoes was Christs own advice
Very confusing. I’m a different John, in fact the usual John.
I think your reaction is way over the top and very one-sided.
‘The Anglican Church is in deep, deep crisis today, following the schismatic actions of the Episcopal Church in America. In direct defiance to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and in full knowledge of the pain and anger such action would cause, the General Assembly of ECUSA voted overwhelmingly to allow practising homosexuals to serve as priests and bishops.’
There isn’t an ‘Anglican Church’, there is an ‘Angican Communion’.
Why no mention whatsoever of the ‘schismatic actions’ of ACNA, Rochester, Jensen, and many in FiF, who can’t even bring themselves to acknowledge that they’re in the same church as the rest of us? Why no recognition whatsoever that the Americans have a different ‘polity’, that in England too synodical government means that RW doesn’t automatically get his way? ‘Defiance’ is toe-curlingly obsequious: some of us count ourselves Reformed as well as Catholic. Why no recognition either of the quite disgusting sentiments about homosexuality voiced by Akinola and many other ‘orthodox’ priests?
‘As if causing hurt and controversy wasn’t enough, the uber-progressive Presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts-Schori, then felt the need to offend all reasonable Christians by declaring belief in personal salvation a heresy. Quite how she justifies that is beyond me, but once you have abandoned scripture and doctrine, I guess your own opinions count for a lot.’
Her formulation was provocative, but it was a paradox, designed to reinforce her general insistence on the need for corporate Christian furthering of ‘the kingdom’. There is (some) NT warrant for it (Jesus on care for the poor as care for himself).
‘What an embarrassment the American branch of the Anglican church has become. It is now so far removed from conventional Christianity that it would be funny were it not so very destructive. The church who, by ignoring scripture, invented women priests and practising gay divorcee Bishops and who is currently spending millions litigating against orthodox Christians (that is those poor souls who dare believe what the bible says and who haven’t already left) seems utterly unmoved by the mind of Christians throughout the world and down throughout the ages.’
I’m not embarrassed by this church – I’m proud of it, as are many in the C of E and in the RC Church (check out Spirit of Vatican II). Have you ever been to a TEC service? I have – many times, you’d be surprised by how ‘orthodox’ it is, even in such ‘liberal’ bastions as St John the Divine, New York. They haven’t ignored scripture, they did not ‘invent’ women priests (actually the good old C of I was one of the first to do that), Gene Robinson was not ‘at fault’ in his divorce, as had been endlessly, endlessly pointed out, and is admitted (even) by Kendall Harmon.
‘But then this uncaring huberis should not really surprise us. After all it is very easy to vote for what you want, once you have chased every conventional Christian out of your church. We might consider Godly souls like +Ackerman SSC, currently being deposed (church language for sacked), who even experienced threats against his family from this group of people who have the audacity to pretend they are Christians. His crime being to refuse the wacky non-biblical innovations and defend the faith as understood by orthodox Christians worldwide. Having met him on more than one occasion I can vouch for his integrity personally.’
I know nothing about the circs of this case. If it is as you say, it is wrong. On the other hand, you guys give no value to reciprocity (except when you think you’re being oppressed). There are ‘conservatives’ in the US who keep attacking their ‘liberal’ brethren and then are surprised and outraged when the latter bite back. Sound familiar?
Your sentiments on gay Christians aren’t too bad. But your attempt to drive a wedge between ‘liberal innovators’ and gays is largely fraudulent.
And of course I (like many, I believe, most Anglicans) think it’s wholly unreasonable to insist on gay abstinence.
‘This is not a story about homosexuality.’
You’re kidding. You think Akinola et al. aren’t concerned about homosexulaity in itself? Of course, it is ALSO ‘the presenting issue’.
The time RW should have grown a spine was the first Jeffrey John affair.
‘Such firm action would … avoid schism in this land.’
You’re kidding. Many, I believe, most C of E people would DISapprove and, of course, the C of E would look even sillier than it does now.
Best.
With respect John, I do not see that I am over-reacting. This WILL cause division on a major scale. If it is as unimportant as you suggest you might explain why my sentiments are shared by Rowan Williams, a moderate and a man not prone to panic.
As stated clearly this is not about sexuality, which is just a presenting issue. Schori has in the last few years, demoted the role of Christ to ‘a vehicle TO the divine (rather than divine himself), and negated the fundamental Christian doctrine of personal salvation in Christ. How can you brush this remark off? Furthermore she has stated her desire to open communion to the non-baptised….inclusive desire trumping the sacraments. Deomonstrably ECUSA, whilst claiming to be Christian, is actually basing itself on Unitarian Universalism….and that is not, and never has been, Christian.
I think any open minded person, with even the most basic grasp of Christian doctrine, could see that ECUSA has now moved far outside the bounds of normative belief. That is sad and it is gravely serious. How many gay men and women will be drawn to this church out of delight in acceptance, only to be fed with half truth and quasi Christian belief?
You state that it is unreasonable to expect abstinence for gays. Do you extend this to single heterosexuals? Widows? Widowers? Monks? Nuns? And how about married people who fall for someone else? Please provide scriptural arguments to back up your claim.
I will concede that many tradionalists are obsessed with sex, especially of the gay variety and I lament that equally. Just because I belive ECUSA to be in grave heresy does not mean that I applaud Akinola. For the record almost every gay Christian I know, including many priests, agree with me on this point. They understand the real issues here.
I suggest your post demonstrates a fierce yearning for ECUSA to be ok – because you -quite justifiably- have a passion for human rights. I like that and think it demonstrates a loving, compassionate heart. I would however ask if the version of rights for which you fight are based on Christian principles or human principles of ‘have what you want’
With respect I stand by every word I typed and not in over the top hysteria but heavy hearted aknoweldgment of how tragic this decision was.
Thanks,
Father Ed., I wasn’t denying the seriousness of the situation: only pleading for a bit more evenhandedness in discussing it. I won’t reply in detail because I am tired and dispirited (mostly about this). Basically, I think: it will be a tragedy if the Anglican Communion and the C of E collapse, and so I try in my little way to keep things together. This includes talking to people like you!!! But in the end I think people will do what they think right. I haven’t the slightest doubt that the TEC hierarchy and most of its priests and people are absolutely sincere in believing that monosexual homosexual relationships (including sex) are justifiable within Christian ethics (not traditional, orthodox ones, but Christian ethics as part of a developmental process that takes account of the Holy Spirit, progressive revelation, and increasing knowledge of all kinds). I agree with them. In the end of the day, though, I don’t know that any of this matters much. You once wrote something to the effect: ‘What difference does it make? I will still be celebrating mass, hearing confessions, running the church, etc. etc.’. I too will still be going to my church. I hope one day to visit yours. I am confident you would not feel out of place in ours (occasional woman celebrant aside). Another thought: rigid pursuit of a certain version of orthodoxy can land one with some pretty strange bed-fellows (witness you and your friends the other day). There’s a lot to be said for benevolence, though I realise yours is tempered by a certain verson of orthodoxy.
Best.
Thanks for this John, I hope we can worship together one day as brothers in Christ. I too pray sincerely for church unity and an end to all the division. I recognise the sincerity of opponents but cannot justify what passes as theology, that aside, I also desire inclusion for gay people and try to be compassionate and understanding in the confessional if feel unable to altar doctrine on this matter. If I am more concerned than some it might be because conservative Anglo-catholicism faces extinction if synods treatmet of us remains as it was last July
None if which was helped by yesterday
Thanks also.
On your penultimate sentence, I understand fully your position and (to a degree) empathise with it. Unless the whole thing goes up in smoke, I think you will get what you and your friends need. If and when that happens, I think we ALL need to be more friendly to one another, while respecting non-negotiable differences over WO.
Also ‘verb. sap.’:
FiF ordinations are very weak. No doubt, this is partly due to the unresolvedness of the situation. If it is satisfactorily resolved, you guys will need to look to this problem.