Comments on: Episcopal Church Chooses Gay Christians Over Foreign Appeasement

By: “As Christians, WE’RE SORRY.” » Noty.bz

“As Christians, WE’RE SORRY.” » Noty.bz — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:27:01 +0000

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By: Burr

Burr — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:59:35 +0000

That’s great to see. I went to an Episcopal middle school and it was eye opening to see a form of Christianity wholly compatible with reality instead of throwing a temper tantrum at it.

By: Birdie

Birdie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:51:12 +0000

I am thrilled with this news. The Presbyterian Church USA lost the chance to join them this year, but only by a 51-49% margin. Almost half of the positive votes were newly so, historically negative in two prior votes. The question has already been put to the Assembly for approval in 2009, once again to be voted upon by presbyteries in 2010. Forces are being gathered and plans are underway to make sure that the PCUSA acknowledges God’s loving grace for all.

By: tavdy79

tavdy79 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:38:17 +0000

Eventually the parent church, the Church of England, may find itself in the position of fighting for its own inclusion in the body to which it lends its name.

Actually, I think it’s far more likely to be fighting for its very survival before long. The CofE is haemorrhaging congregants faster than a severed carotid, and one of the reasons is its blunt refusal to permit gay marriage. The CofE is one of the last major roadblocks to legalisation, albeit one with decreasing significance, especially given the Queen’s senescence. In a predominantly secular nation like Britain, especially one with over 60% public support for the legalisation of gay marriage, opposing marriage equality is not a survival trait.

The irony is that the Archpillock of Canterbury is know to be privately supportive of gay rights. His reason for opposing gay rights publicly is to preserve the unity of the Anglican Communion. In other words, he’s allowing morality to play second fiddle to political expediency, and in the process subjecting liberal Anglicans to the theology of the wingnuts like Primate Akinola. The various Churches that comprise the Communion should not be able to do this, but through the Archpillock’s spinelessness they’ve become able to.

The Episcopalians will be better off out IMO.

By: Johnson

Johnson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:19:59 +0000

I thank God each and every day for the Episcopal Church.

By: Lindoro Almaviva

Lindoro Almaviva — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:09:27 +0000

This is beautiful news. Finally, a church that behaves in the same radical way that Jesus did. Thanks for the post

By: Richard W. Fitch

Richard W. Fitch — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:54:59 +0000

Tim: Thanks. That was a knee-jerk reaction, I’m afraid. I had read the earlier report yesterday on the House of Deputies vote from the EC-USA website and didn’t realize this was the results from the House of Bishops. So it is indeed a reason for celebration! The prelates of Africa and third-world nations are in the process of hijacking the Anglican tradition in much the same way evangelical radicals have been with Protestant traditions. As I see it, a new structuring by EC-USA will not be all that detrimental. The American province has provided a disproportionate amount of financial and human resources to the world-wide communion for a long time. Stands that have been taken by Anglican leaders in Nigeria and Uganda run counter to the beliefs of most in the US and Canada. Luther said something about the church reformed but always being reformed. That may be where we are now – a new Reformation based on the knowledge we have received in the present.

By: Pomo

Pomo — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:38:37 +0000

When I had a chance to talk to Bishop Robinson, he told me there were other gay bishops in ECUSA but they are not “out”. People have been following these Godly men for years and when they eventually decide to be honest people will feel deceived and believe the bishops are no longer Christian.

It is a sad state of affairs. Refusing to even have the communion meal because people don’t follow some form of Dogma. I thought communion was a meal of sinners anyways…

By: Ben in Oakland

Ben in Oakland — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:26:50 +0000

Who woulda thunk?

Christians acting like Christians…

instead of, well, like Christians.

Kudos to EC-USA.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:17:54 +0000

Richard,

Perhaps I was not clear.

The House of Bishops voted in the affirmative by 99 to 45 with two abstentions.