Episcopal Leaders Seek Church Healing At English Conference

(cringes and covers head for barrage of frothing mad posters who believe I am "bashing" the Episcopal church)

I guess I missed the in depth coverage of this. As it's written, I had one impression of what the situation was and then I got to that second to last paragraph. Second to the last paragraph, with hardly any details, comes this: "the province will be hosting an event for Robinson, who was not invited to Lambeth."

Ok. So it's an event meant to promote church healing by excluding one of the church leaders. Not what I got out of the article up to that point. I mean, presumably what I got up to that point could include that possibility I suppose. I think the issue is that it seems if that possibility were the case (i.e., excluding the NH bishop), then it seems relevant enough to both the stated purpose of the conference and the point of the article to have not been buried at the very end.

I don't mind writing which challenges my assumptions, or which even forces me to question them. I mean, I may get a little cranky (not "grampy" level cranky but a bit terse nonethelsss) but there's a point for that kind of writing. But that's not what was happening in this article. This article is either poorly written or very, very shamefully edited. Which is it Ms. Hamilton?

No surprise it was New Hampshire that voted to elect Gene Robinson their bishop and remain loyal to him. If people forget about labels and look at the person they will see more than a cause for division and anger. How many of the African and American leaders have met Gene Robinson? The only difference is Gene Robinson is open about his sexuality and life instead of the many gay or bisexual church leaders who hide their orientation. How many wonderful priests have done such great things for the church and happened to be gay?

Miss Anthropic wrote: "This article is either poorly written or very, very shamefully edited. Which is it Ms. Hamilton?"

I would say poorly written fits with the norm of most Courant writers.

There can be no compromise with sin. This church is guilty of "another Gospel," which seeks to drag the Holiness of God into the gutter of the Homosexual lifestyle. The churches that agree with allowing homosexuality to be accepted as "normal" behavior and allowing marriage are apostate churches and the Bible says the wrath of God will come upon those who do such wicked acts, and on those who openly give sanction to it. I applaud those conservative churches that have taken a stand against the US Church. You cannot walk with the Lord and run with the devil.

LIVE FREE OR DIE wrote:

No surprise it was New Hampshire that voted to elect Gene Robinson their bishop and remain loyal to him. If people forget about labels and look at the person they will see more than a cause for division and anger. How many of the African and American leaders have met Gene Robinson? The only difference is Gene Robinson is open about his sexuality and life instead of the many gay or bisexual church leaders who hide their orientation. How many wonderful priests have done such great things for the church and happened to be gay?

Here is the Word from Jesus on the subject.

Matthew 7

13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

I'm sorry, being nice, and doing good works cannot excuse living in a sinful relationship which the Bible CLEARLY condems.

This is a - heads I lose, tails you win - situation for the diocese. They "won" in Bristol against Trinity church. The church now stands empty. The rump church doesn't have enough to justify opening the church's doors and so continues to meet at a Lutheran church. The diocese will pay for the considerable expenses of the physical plant, quickly eating up any money they can get IF they can sell it.

Just plain idiocy on the part of the diocese and Mr Smith.

The Rev P Jackson forgets that Jesus also said that we should love God with all our hearts, souls and minds and love one another. Maybe he's forgotten his seminary training or is no christian at all.

The imposition of a foreign religious authority on local churches was the fear of our Founding Fathers. A minority in the Episcopal Church has chosen to suspend their religious freedoms and become followers of a foreign religious authority. Are you willing to accept all of the local traditions out of Africa and treat women as inferior and even take two wives? Are you able to pick and choose what you like out of Africa as you are doing in the United States?

Laddie wrote:

The Rev P Jackson forgets that Jesus also said that we should love God with all our hearts, souls and minds and love one another. Maybe he's forgotten his seminary training or is no christian at all.

Yes! Jesus does say love everyone. We are all sinners and are also called to repent those sins. In this case Bishop Robinson is a practicing homosexual in a committed relationship. If he were to be hired into a leadership position in a secular corporation I'm sure it would be fine. The problem is that his lifestyle is in conflict with the same teachings (rules) he is expected to lead with.

Now I am no theologian, but one can see how this issue can create division in the church.

Imagine that someone takes something from you every day. You ask them about it, but they deny it. They keep taking, you keep asking, they continue to deny. But then...you need to put them in a position of trust and you don't because there is no trust. Sure, they will be hurt. They don't see their stealing as a problem. They might even tell their friends how you have not helped them. In reality they have a problem they need to come to terms with. They may be fantastic in every other way, but to sometimes there is one issue that puts the kibbosh on the whole deal.

BTW, I am a cradle Episcopalian. I believe the church has gotten itself into a corner with a do as I say not as I do position. The church needs to repent. They need to say to Bishop Robinson we love you as a brother, you are a true resource and loving Christian example. But we cannot have you lead our church. Hate the sin, love the sinner!

What a bunch of sad sacks, defending an indefensible choice of a man to the episcopacy who practices an indefensible "lifestyle."

If the ECUSA is still in business by the end of the year, it'll only look as relevant as the Congregationalists and Unitarians.