Episcopal Church Will Not Cease Its Support for Gay Marriage, Says Bishop Curry
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theropod
Guest
Can we then agree to fast forward 3 years and deal with this?
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LittleFlower378
Guest
Not good. The only thing that will make the other denominations whole is to be reconciled with the Catholic Church.
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Padres1969
Guest
Looks like the Communion has their answer 3 years earlier than they anticipated. And can’t say I’m surprised Bishop Curry spoke out so quickly, clearly, and decisively. Obviously we’ll have to wait 3 years for the response. And in the interim I fully expect the ACinC and likely the CoE to follow the ECUSA in allowing SSM as well. The communion will look a bit different when, or if, the prelates meet again which may finally be the last straw for GAFCON seeing as they’ve already got their own hierarchy in place.
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ChurchSoldier
Guest
This is why my thought is the Primates would have followed Scripture and made the suspension conditional upon repentance. The situation is the same as it was Jan 11th. Better to do what needs to be done when needed.
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ChurchSoldier
Guest
That’s the reason my opinion is the suspension should have been continued until repentance.
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jaimeleglise
Guest
Sounds like a formal schism on their part. Doctrines not based on the word of God but the thoughts of man.
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ChurchSoldier
Guest
Saddened; not surprised.
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SJacob7
Guest
Can someone explain to me what they use in defense to allow SSM but still call themselves Christian? I just don’t see how they or even some protestant churches justify allowing it. What do they base it on? 
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theropod
Guest
Their feelings. They typically don’t even try to use the Bible.Can someone explain to me what they use in defense to allow SSM but still call themselves Christian? I just don’t see how they or even some protestant churches justify allowing it. What do they base it on?
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commenter
Guest
Regardless of what your, and my, position on the issues that caused the division, or disagreement, I think we can all agree on the need for prayer for the TEC and AC as a whole.
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Padres1969
Guest
You admittedly don’t hear it that often, but I’ve read refutations of the traditional interpretations of Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians that wouldn’t discount homosexuals or SSM. I doubt most Catholics would agree with them granted, but there are some who use more than feelings to back their position.
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Brendan
Guest
That statement would include just about every Greek scholar as well.
The ‘refutations’ hinged on rejections that arsenokoitēs refer to any homosexual act, but neglect to note the same roots in the Levitican rejections of homosexuality in the Septuagint.
It would be interesting to hear the Biblical defenses that you are referring to.
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LordHaveMercy
Guest
It’s very sad to see that some people will cause massive, painful divisions in a centuries old institution in their mission to promote sexual perversion. It seems that nothing is more important, it doesn’t matter who is harmed. What interesting times we live in.
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Aslan10
Guest
Yes
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commenter
Guest
The argument against the Magisterium is that Christians in other communions can prayerfully look at Scripture, in the light of Tradition, and with other developments in knowledge and understanding, and come to “now” conclusions. They can say we won’t be bound by decisions made in a dusty book before our new insights, the Spirit led us to this year. God has not stopped speaking…
But Bishop Curry seems to rule that out. He is saying “Our mind is made up, we are not open to change, not today, and not tomorrow.” In other words, God has stopped speaking as of 2016. No new insight from the Spirit, no future understanding of Scripture or Tradition, not even any new knowledge from the wider society will be listened to. Our ears are plugged.
But Bishop Curry seems to rule that out. He is saying “Our mind is made up, we are not open to change, not today, and not tomorrow.” In other words, God has stopped speaking as of 2016. No new insight from the Spirit, no future understanding of Scripture or Tradition, not even any new knowledge from the wider society will be listened to. Our ears are plugged.
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IgnatianPhilo
Guest
If the Episcopal church were to be thrown out of the communion would the conservative anglican churches be admitted into union with world wide anglicanism? Or are they already in communion?
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theropod
Guest
Well, there is a difference between being in communion with the churches in the Anglican Communion and being a member of the “Anglican Communion”. Some people care about the latter, and some people don’t. The ACNA is in communion with almost all the worldwide Anglican Provinces, but is not (yet) a member of the Anglican Communion. At this point, with the direction of the Church of England, most probably don’t care anymore.
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Sy_Noe
Guest
Although I am not a member of TEC but merely a soul looking from the outside in, as I keep in mind that all who have been baptized, have put on Christ, I indeed have been impressed with the decisiveness of Bishop Curry as well as quite heartened to see he appears to remain steadfast in proclaiming the outstretched arms of Christ and a message of love and hope for so many who otherwise may feel rejected. And remains called to proclaim an inclusive house of worship, a place where all of God’s children, regardless of whether created straight or gay, male or female, have a place to call home. A spiritual home in which they can be nurtured. Where they can be fully part of their worshiping family, engaged in every aspect, to serve and to be served in their faith. Irregardless of views on some issue such as homosexuality. Christ rises so much beyond. So as we each walk our earthly walks along our journey, in faith, hope, charity and hopefully in peace, it is my prayer that God may continue to bless this fine man, this Bishop Curry, and all of my Episcopal brothers and sisters along their walks as well. In the words of Christ, peace be with you.
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catholic1seeks
Guest
This is true. Many Christian churches that have become open and affirming have used Scripture for their reasons. Just read the book God and the Gay Christian, for example.
I personally do not find the scriptural texts mentioning homosexuality to be very conclusive – especially for the fact that the concept of homosexuality did not exist then; neither did the word “homosexual.” Gay activity is condemned, of course, but the church incorporates these condemnations as sexual acts that are objectively, intrinsically wrong. That is an assumption based on our church’s understanding of natural law. It may be the right understanding, but many of the biblical texts are referring to activity under certain circumstances that don’t apply in the same way today.
For example, the ancient world predominately saw sex in terms of the active, penetrative male, and the passive female.
And this leads me to something else I wanted to say: Yes, we should pray for the Anglicans and the Episcopalians. But let’s not judge in the process or assume we know motivations. Surely most of the Episcopal leaders are doing what they think is right.
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