Four dioceses (of about 80) and dozen or so parishes, for maybe a total of 100,000 souls (of a total membership beween 2 and 2.5 million) are formally leaving the Episcopal Church over what we could just call the gay thing. These few dissenters are going to form their own "Anglican" church and may ask for its recognition from other Anglican churches. Most other churches in the Anglican communion will probably not do so for institutional reasons, although some will do so. Recognizing this move would be a license for further splits elsewhere.
But before the National Review gets carried away by this "bold conservative" move, let's take a step back. This is not a schism or a "reformation" as some are calling it. It's just a few people walking out the door. The only question left is the disposition of church property. The position of the Episcopal church is that members can leave the church, but they can't take the buildings with them. In the end, although it may take time, this principle will likely be upheld.
Also, this isn't just about the so-called gay agenda. Two of these dioceses refsuse to ordain women also. It's sort of fun that these four aren't a happy marriage. The Ft. Worth diocese with its Anglo-Catholic bent won't recognize the women ordained by the Pittsburgh diocese with its Evangelical bent. This is not a recipe for a happy new church, but probably a swift disintegration.
I'm sorry it has to come to this, because it's easier to teach to those within a group than outside of it, but it will actually free up the Episcopal church to some extent. With these people absent, the Episcopal general convention in February 2008 will probably go the final mile to embrace gay clergy and parishioners. No need to try to compromise when the other partner has left the building. This is way overdue.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Anglican Communion Update
Posted by The Law Talking Guy at 2:06 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb_qHP7VaZE
"SPLITTER!"
The Archbishop of Canterbury has the opportunity to take a stand here. He should refuse to recognize the splitters as a formal part of the Anglican Communion.
Likewise, the Episcopalians stand to benefit here. Young people accept gays and lesbians and will be drawn to a church that supports them. If you believe that inclusion is the future, then the Episcopalians are making a smart move.
Going the other way is a road to nowhere. As James Naughton of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington was quoted in the NY Times,
"[T]here are already a lot of churches in the United States for people who don’t want to worship with gays and lesbians. That’s not a market niche that is underserved."
THIS Archbishop of Canterbury has all the moral firmness of a bowlful of jelly. I have wondered aloud before whether his appointment by Prime Minister Tony Blair was a final kick in the teeth before he went and signed up with the Roman Catholics.
The good news is that the Episcopal Church has made a moral commitment the full participation of gays and lesbians in the church, and this is going to continue and grow regardless of what happens with these recalictrant haters.
Post a Comment