MOre on the anglican Church - This from BRAZIL!
As Eye See It : “What is right & fair?”
by Miguel Uchoa
26th May 2005
*As I write these remarks I am not doing it to communicate only a personal view of the facts and history of the situation, I represent here the whole Diocese of Recife. Behind me there are thousands of faithful Anglicans
Anglicanism, as a part of the world wide church was, and is strongly affected by each of these events… But probably nothing has affected Anglicanism in the last 3 decades more then liberalism.
Until 1949, evangelicalism was the primary vision, but changes started around 1960 through the influence of ECUSA and the WCC. Clergy were sent to the USA to liberal seminaries, with offers of scholarships, and a growth in publications etc… Less then one decade was enough to takeover the whole church and liberalism has dominated it since then.
Today we, as a Diocese in Recife, with our orthodox position and clear evangelical faith are an isolated body in the Province of Brazil. For the Brazilian province and for us, Christianity seems to be two different things:
- For them, the Bible is not the word of God, nor His primary means of revelation …for us it is.
- For them, the Church is a social and cultural environment where moral and ethical issues should not be discussed
- For us, Church is a community for the transformation of society. Spiritually, morally, ethically, and socially, we work to restore creation to the image of God through Jesus Christ.
- For them Faith is an expression of the spirit of the age… and the multi-faith vision is accepted. Jesus is just part of God’s revelation
,
but never the only one…
- For us, Faith is our only reason to live, faith in Jesus Christ alone as Saviour and Lord…
- For them ecumenism should be broad and includes all creeds and religions. Recently we became aware of one bishop in Brazil attending voodoo cults …
- For us, ecumenism is a relationship with those who profess their faith in Jesus Christ as the only son of God, and the only Saviour…
- For them, evangelism is a very horizontal teaching of the justice in earth. One must never help someone of another faith come to Jesus…this would be totally wrong.
- For us, evangelism is the proclamation of the good news of God, to the whole human being and to all human beings. It is good news by bringing people to the faith in Jesus Christ
- For them sexuality is a personal subject. Hetero, or homo-sexual are equally suitable for the church and for the clergy and there is nothing considered sinful in this matter…The biblical standards are not relevant… Because for them the Bible is not relevant
- For us, homosexuals are loved by God and should be loved by all of us, but we teach that this is an attitude that goes against the will of God, as shown in His Word…
I could keep giving you more and more significant differences that today we find within the Province of Brazil.
In the end we come to a point where we have… two churches, two different and two different visions of God almighty … is it right and fair that we will be judged by those same people who totally disagree with our orthodox doctrinal positions, and have historically oppressed the evangelicals?
The Brazilian province depends financially on the ECUSA and Canada. Over 40% of the province budget comes mainly from these two churches. The Episcopal church of Brazil is largely an “empty pews” organisation. It is a tiny church and the only denomination that is not growing in Brazil today. There is little hope for the near future. The exception is the Diocese of Recife. By the grace of God, in the church of the Holy Spirit where I am the rector, there are probably more active members than in
any single diocese in the whole province. 6 of the 7 bishops in the province voted against Lambeth Resolution 1.10 The ordination of gays and lesbian priests in Brazil today, is a regular practice. There is no bishop, beside Cavalcanti that has not ordained an openly gay or lesbian priest in recent times.
Is it right and fair that the unique and only part of the Church in
Brazil that is growing and staying faithful to Anglicanism today, is to be judged by those who are in steep decline and acting against the Anglican Communion guidelines?*
anglican-mainstream.net/news05052602.asp
Pray for the embattled Diocese of Recife - That they say “Enough!” and either join us in the LIFEBOAT or simply make the Trip to Rome themselves.
May God bless those those who save His Little Ones. Michael