Episcopal Church Will Not Cease Its Support for Gay Marriage, Says Bishop Curry

[GKC]

GKC of course has read* Orthodoxy*. But I am guessing the other people on the Thread perhaps have not.
I challenge them to read it. I can’t think of any easily readable book written in English that better sums up the “Tradition” position - formerly taken by the TEC and still held by some Episcopalians and others. You don’t have to agree with Chesterton to benefit from the book. Think of it as discovering the secret strategy book from the other side. All your (friendly) opponents’ playbooks reflect the thinking summed up here.

If you want to understand the intellectual positions of Pope Benedict, Mother Theresa, and most other compassionate, caring conservatives, including Anglicans like C. S. Lewis and GKC of CAF fame, of the past hundred years, trust me, they either read this book or were shaped by people who read it.

I should have known I had revealed myself, long since. First read of Chesterton in 1960. Bought my first 4 Chesterton books in 1965. Image paperbacks of ORTHODOXY, EVERLASTING MAN, ST. FRANCIS, St. THOMAS. Added Belloc, Lewis, Tolkien, Sayers, Williams, Lunn, Dawson, others, to the list. Chesterton the main man.

I don’t suggest everyone mess up the house with such like book collecting manias (got lots of them, I do), but yes, Chesterton is always suggested.

Thanks for the post.

 

[Padres1969]

Meanwhile the Archbishop of Canterbury has published his reflections on the Primates’ Meeting:

archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5659/archbishop-justin-reflects-on-the-primates-meeting-canterbury-

His perspective is interesting. It definitely seems he found the outcome to be good considering a schism was on the table and they chose ultimately to stay together with the previously reported sanctions against the ECUSA. Also interesting was his emphasis on that the ECUSA was suspended, but they’ve only asked that the ECUSA not make any more doctrinal determinations during the 3 year suspension (though I can’t recall any being considered to be on the table during that time period). He doesn’t seem to focus any thought toward the ECUSA having to apologize for any positions taken or recant them. It seems the “slap on the hand” was more for making the changes unilaterally, not for the content of the changes or as a warning to roll them back.

 

[rinnie]

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.

But where I can agree with much of what you have said, Could he not do this without supporting gay marriage?

 

[Peter_J]

Saddened; not surprised.

Not surprised either.

To be honest, the statements I’ve read from the conservative Anglican churches seemed not so much likely to pull TEC closer to their way of thinking, but rather to push it further away.

 

[Sy_Noe]

But where I can agree with much of what you have said, Could he not do this without supporting gay marriage?

I’m hard pressed to see how. That is if you agree with what I said about a spiritual home “where they can be fully part of their worshiping family, engaged in every aspect, to serve and to be served in their faith”. I just can’t see how a SS couple can be fully part of the family in all aspects, to serve and to be served, unless they are able to receive communion at the table and to be married in their faith community. But you said you agree with much of what I said. That may be the part you do not.

 

[jschwartz]

In North America, it must be understood, that all “protestant” traditions basically are divided into liberal and conservative organizational bodies. For instance: American Baptist and Southern Baptist; ELCA and LCMS; UCC and NACCC;and so on. The way things are going, I don’t see why there can’t be the same among Anglicans. The main issue that stands in the way are disputes over church properties. I believe the former Primate, Bp. Schori, was mistaken in floundering church finances on legal fees to cling to properties. I say that conservatives should be allowed to form their own unified denominational body that will be part of the Anglican Communion. Most conservative Anglo-Catholics I know would prefer this to becoming Roman Catholics for a variety of reasons. I see no reason why both TEC and ACNA, for instance, cannot be both seen as the constituent bodies of TAC in the US.

 

[GKC]

In North America, it must be understood, that all “protestant” traditions basically are divided into liberal and conservative organizational bodies. For instance: American Baptist and Southern Baptist; ELCA and LCMS; UCC and NACCC;and so on. The way things are going, I don’t see why there can’t be the same among Anglicans. The main issue that stands in the way are disputes over church properties. I believe the former Primate, Bp. Schori, was mistaken in floundering church finances on legal fees to cling to properties. I say that conservatives should be allowed to form their own unified denominational body that will be part of the Anglican Communion. Most conservative Anglo-Catholics I know would prefer this to becoming Roman Catholics for a variety of reasons. I see no reason why both TEC and ACNA, for instance, cannot be both seen as the constituent bodies of TAC in the US.

Your assessment of the gracious Katherine’s policies matches mine. The issue of both ACNA and TEC being the Anglican representative province in the same area is contrary to the Anglican Communion’s organizational principle. One Province for one territory. One can certainly have multiple Anglican bodies, nestled and intertwined, amongst each other. But only one will be the formal, official Communion representative. I see no likelihood of this changing. But I rarely make predictions about the motley and protean Anglican zoo.