Episcopalians...Are you Happy?

[aidanbradypop]

I love the Anglican faith. Many in my family are Anglican Catholic. I love the hymns and their beautiful homilies. However, I see the Episcopalian faith going away from the core of Anglicanism. I went to a few Episcopalian services as was very surprised at how “wordly” they have become. They welcome gay marriage services and often march in the local Gay Pride Parade.

What do Episcopalians think/believe on this subject? Are you happy with the changes that are occuring in your faith or would you like for the Episcopal faith to go back to a more Anglican Orthodox view of doctrine?

 

[Lisa1967]

I think it depends very much on the individual.

I have attended Episcopal churches in Lansing, MI and Eagan, MN. I had a talk with the rector (now retired) of the Lansing church about this. He told me that some members of his congregation had left over the gay issue.

I don’t know what people in the Eagan church think as I haven’t asked them.

I’m more familiar with the struggles in the ELCA Lutheran congregations over ordaining pastors in same-sex committed gay relationships (previously gay pastors had to be celibate). The Lutheran church I was attending in Rosemount, MN broke off from the ELCA over this reason and affiliated with another Lutheran organization.

 

[englishredrose]

I am anglican by the church I go to and yes I am happy being I am free to worship God in the way I can and not feel tied to sin as some of the posts on here are worried about.

I do not get involved with the politics of Anglicanism because whilst at levels they may need to be discussed, who and what they are alongside of me in church is irrelevent when we are worshipping God together as a community.

I am very unhappy about some of the postings here about protestants versus Catholics and I am very unhappy about some of the postings about the worries people have about sin and the sacrament of reconciliation. These are serious worries people have and I don’t decry that but if our God is a loving God then why is there all this anxiety over sin when if we are sorry God forgives. Yes we need to hear that being said to us as often as we hear God loves Us said to us but the amount of concern here over the sacrament of reconciliation does strike me somewhat as - as well, it makes me very happy indeed that I am Anglican and would not want to swap anytime even if Anglicanism happen to decline so much it was stopped or something, my priest has taught me enough to Love God at home in my own way 24/7 without worrying about rubics of doing so.

So in answer to your original question are you happy. As Anglican, yes I am very happy. Am I happy about the changes? I do not worry about what societal boxes people are labelled as. I am happy that they found and know God. God is interested in what is in our heart and soul, and is there loving everyone for who they are, not what others want them to be.

I certainly wouldn’t want to swap my religion at all and not to a Roman Catholic one because from what I read here there are too many worries and concerns about getting it right.

 

[aidanbradypop]

too many worries and concerns about getting it right.

Thanks englishredrose! Nice to hear someone give an honest view!

I quoted the above bacause I am wondering what you mean by getting it right?

I believe we should be worried about getting our faith right and not going down a wrong path. Some Catholics can get a bit carried away with it, but we should always strive to do our best at making sure we are living as Christ commanded. Right? Or are you talking about something else?

 

[codefro]

I love the Anglican faith. Many in my family are Anglican Catholic. I love the hymns and their beautiful homilies. However, I see the Episcopalian faith going away from the core of Anglicanism. I went to a few Episcopalian services as was very surprised at how “wordly” they have become. They welcome gay marriage services and often march in the local Gay Pride Parade.

What do Episcopalians think/believe on this subject? Are you happy with the changes that are occuring in your faith or would you like for the Episcopal faith to go back to a more Anglican Orthodox view of doctrine?

The Anglican Communion as a whole is a mess. Basically becoming more and more a group of individually structured communities. This was a problem for me when I was confirmed in an Anglican Catholic Community. I pray for the Ordinariate and Anglican Use parishes which are carrying the flag of Anglican Patrimony into the Catholic Church and they have much much much to offer the Catholic Church today!

 

[Lisa1967]

I am anglican by the church I go to and yes I am happy being I am free to worship God in the way I can and not feel tied to sin as some of the posts on here are worried about.

I do not get involved with the politics of Anglicanism because whilst at levels they may need to be discussed, who and what they are alongside of me in church is irrelevent when we are worshipping God together as a community.

I am very unhappy about some of the postings here about protestants versus Catholics and I am very unhappy about some of the postings about the worries people have about sin and the sacrament of reconciliation. These are serious worries people have and I don’t decry that but if our God is a loving God then why is there all this anxiety over sin when if we are sorry God forgives. Yes we need to hear that being said to us as often as we hear God loves Us said to us but the amount of concern here over the sacrament of reconciliation does strike me somewhat as - as well, it makes me very happy indeed that I am Anglican and would not want to swap anytime even if Anglicanism happen to decline so much it was stopped or something, my priest has taught me enough to Love God at home in my own way 24/7 without worrying about rubics of doing so.

So in answer to your original question are you happy. As Anglican, yes I am very happy. Am I happy about the changes? I do not worry about what societal boxes people are labelled as. I am happy that they found and know God. God is interested in what is in our heart and soul, and is there loving everyone for who they are, not what others want them to be.

I certainly wouldn’t want to swap my religion at all and not to a Roman Catholic one because from what I read here there are too many worries and concerns about getting it right.

Thanks for sharing. I agree with a lot of your points.

I feel sad when I read posts that are so focused on sin and scrupulosity, and whether people are doing things “right”. I also get upset when posts get to be about Protestants vs. Catholics. We’re all Christians and I think we should accept each other.

To me, God is a loving God. Since I returned to attending Protestant churches, I have experienced God’s love more and more. I don’t worry so much about sin.

I have met lots of great gay people, including some gay Episcopalians, and I don’t judge anyone. Jesus welcomed all.

I should clarify what I mean by getting it right. To me, that means following rules and regulations, worrying about whether I am in a state of grace, and comparing my faith to others.

 

[jrtrent]

To me, God is a loving God. Since I returned to attending Protestant churches, I have experienced God’s love more and more. I don’t worry so much about sin.

I have met lots of great gay people, including some gay Episcopalians, and I don’t judge anyone. Jesus welcomed all.

The same Jesus who welcomed all also said go and sin no more. I found a little article that states it better than I could, so here is a quote from it:

The words “repent” and “repentance” occur 56 times in the New Testament. It is similar in meaning to the word translated “convert” or “turn”, which is also common. The main theme of the preaching of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the coming of Jesus, was: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2). The first recorded words of the public ministry of Jesus are also “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17). Jesus declared that the purpose of his coming and ministry was to call “sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). When Jesus sent out his disciples to preach, we read that “they went out and preached that people should repent” (Mark 6:12). After his resurrection from the dead, he declared that “repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:47). He declared that unless people repented they would perish, and in order to enforce the message, he repeated it (Luke 13:3,5). In each of Peter’s two recorded sermons after the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given, he told people to repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19). In Paul’s recorded sermon to the Athenians he said that God “commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). He said that the message he declared to both Jews and Greeks was that “they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21). Peter declares that God is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). It is obvious from the above references that if Jesus and those he trained knew what they were talking about, none of us will find a meaningful relationship with God unless we do what the Bible calls “repent”. christianity.co.nz/repent1.htm

I have friends and relatives, some of whom are still in ELCA churches and some who have left, but they all loved their churches and the people they’ve known, in some cases for their entire lives. It’s hard to leave, but it’s also hard to stay knowing that their church is accepting of a practice the Bible calls an abomination. No one’s perfect, and James reminds us that if we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us, but we have a duty to struggle against sin, and I can’t help but think it a dangerous thing when a church is accepting of unrighteous behavior.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11

 

[MonasticHeart]

I am born and raised in the Episcopal Church (US) and I love it. I’ve been practicing my entire life, very active in parishes as well as on a national and international level. The church is broad, so there is a home for everyone. If you more liturgically minded, you can find a community. If you are from a conservative bent, you can find a parish home. Sometimes I shake my head at the frustrations of governance and how we work out our theology, but that is the way we do it. It is not the strict hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, nor the congregational style of many Protestant communities. That is why we are the ‘via media’. And it is gladly where I know and worship the Lord.

 

[aidanbradypop]

I am born and raised in the Episcopal Church (US) and I love it. I’ve been practicing my entire life, very active in parishes as well as on a national and international level. The church is broad, so there is a home for everyone. If you more liturgically minded, you can find a community. If you are from a conservative bent, you can find a parish home. Sometimes I shake my head at the frustrations of governance and how we work out our theology, but that is the way we do it. It is not the strict hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, nor the congregational style of many Protestant communities. That is why we are the ‘via media’. And it is gladly where I know and worship the Lord.

Good to hear! Thanks

 

[masuwerte]

Am I happy to worship God in the Episcopal Church? Yes, very much.

Am I happy with everything the leadership of the Episcopal Church does? Not really. If things get too wacky at my local parish, I’ll probably find another.

I also am discouraged by the lack of respect and even outright hostility many Catholic laypeople (online and in person) have for the Episcopal Church. At first I was surprised by this, but not after attending weekly mass with my Catholic wife and son for several years. I’ve never known a Catholic priest who was openly hostile to the Episcopal Church, but most are dismissive and condescending. Just my observation. Seems like our two groups have a lot in common and should get along better.

 

[aidanbradypop]

Am I happy to worship God in the Episcopal Church? Yes, very much.

Am I happy with everything the leadership of the Episcopal Church does? Not really. If things get too wacky at my local parish, I’ll probably find another.

I also am discouraged by the lack of respect and even outright hostility many Catholic laypeople (online and in person) have for the Episcopal Church. At first I was surprised by this, but not after attending weekly mass with my Catholic wife and son for several years. I’ve never known a Catholic priest who was openly hostile to the Episcopal Church, but most are dismissive and condescending. Just my observation. Seems like our two groups have a lot in common and should get along better.

I’m sorry for that. The amount of grief we get for being Catholic should allow us to know how it feels. I have many Anglicans in my family so I guess I am a little more understanding than some

 

[AbideWithMe]

The amount of grief we get for being Catholic should allow us to know how it feels.

Amen. I wish more Catholic posters at CAF would say things like this.

 

[Indifferently]

As an Anglican, I am extremely concerned about these developments. Our faith is supposed to be scriptural, primitive, traditional, and patristic. ‘O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness’. What you’ll find, is that the Anglican parishes which stick to this formula are the ones where worship remains beautiful - the music is excellent, the preaching is learned and directive, and the liturgy is dignified and orthodox.

Unfortunately, quite a lot of allegedly Anglican priests and bishops have dispensed with these things, in favour of the religions of our modern age - political correctness, the gay agenda, ‘gender’ politics - which has wrought awful consequences on how the Christian faith is taught to and understood by people who think themselves Anglican. A militant minority has been fighting on these fronts for years now. The Church of England in some quarters could be described as more or less apostate for this reason.

I continue to pray for some sort of reconciliation, but I think women bishops will eventually unleash a cancer on the English Church, but God will not abandon his faithful people, so my fear is tempered with the divine assurance, and nothing is a surer foundation than that.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

As an Anglican, I am extremely concerned about these developments. Our faith is supposed to be scriptural, primitive, traditional, and patristic. ‘O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness’. What you’ll find, is that the Anglican parishes which stick to this formula are the ones where worship remains beautiful - the music is excellent, the preaching is learned and directive, and the liturgy is dignified and orthodox.

Unfortunately, quite a lot of allegedly Anglican priests and bishops have dispensed with these things, in favour of the religions of our modern age - political correctness, the gay agenda, ‘gender’ politics - which has wrought awful consequences on how the Christian faith is taught to and understood by people who think themselves Anglican. A militant minority has been fighting on these fronts for years now. The Church of England in some quarters could be described as more or less apostate for this reason.

I continue to pray for some sort of reconciliation, but I think women bishops will eventually unleash a cancer on the English Church, but God will not abandon his faithful people, so my fear is tempered with the divine assurance, and nothing is a surer foundation than that.

In the United States, while the Episcopal Church has essentially become apostate, after much of the chaos a lot of conservative Anglican groups emerged, some of which are growing rapidly, welcoming many disaffected Anglicans who previously had nowhere to go.

Perhaps the same might happen in the UK once the Church of England succumbs (which seems like an inevitable trajectory at this point).

 

[aidanbradypop]

In the United States, while the Episcopal Church has essentially become apostate, after much of the chaos a lot of conservative Anglican groups emerged, some of which are growing rapidly, welcoming many disaffected Anglicans who previously had nowhere to go.

Perhaps the same might happen in the UK once the Church of England succumbs (which seems like an inevitable trajectory at this point).

It rings true with reform begets reform. Where does a reform stop? As we see more reforms, I find comfort in seeing group trying to gain more Orthodoxy and of a social faith.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

It rings true with reform begets reform. Where does a reform stop? As we see more reforms, I find comfort in seeing group trying to gain more Orthodoxy and of a social faith.

That is one of the main reasons in which I am uncomfortable with any proposed change. Because once you allow one, you basically open the door to more. I’m sure most of the early proponents of women priests in the Episcopal Church probably never imagined that the tide of reform would arrive to where it has today. But of course, once you break with one time-tested belief, what stops you from challenging them all?

 

[aidanbradypop]

That is one of the main reasons in which I am uncomfortable with any proposed change. Because once you allow one, you basically open the door to more. I’m sure most of the early proponents of women priests in the Episcopal Church probably never imagined that the tide of reform would arrive to where it has today. But of course, once you break with one time-tested belief, what stops you from challenging them all?

My mother-in-law is or was and Episcopalian. I am not sure where she stands at the present. I was speaking with her the other day and she told me that her father would not be happy with the church today. She stated that if you bend the knee for one group, you have to continue to bend for each group after that.

I love the Episcopalian faith. I believe it to be so beautiful and full of faithful Christians that love God and fellow man, but I also see many priest and deacons here in my area are converting to Catholicism because of how far TEC has moved away from Orthodoxy.

I will be attending an Anglican Use Catholic parish soon. I look forward to singing the beautiful english hymns!

 

[FabiusMaximus]

My mother-in-law is or was and Episcopalian. I am not sure where she stands at the present. I was speaking with her the other day and she told me that her father would not be happy with the church today. She stated that if you bend the knee for one group, you have to continue to bend for each group after that.

I love the Episcopalian faith. I believe it to be so beautiful and full of faithful Christians that love God and fellow man, but I also see many priest and deacons here in my area are converting to Catholicism because of how far TEC has moved away from Orthodoxy.

I will be attending an Anglican Use Catholic parish soon. I look forward to singing the beautiful english hymns!

It’s hard to see a church in which you grew up fall so far from the original faith.

And your mother-in-law was correct. Once you give way on one issue, the rest fall like dominoes.

I’m sure nobody, when the Episcopal Church began it’s first overtures on certain issues, believed that they would begin to climbdown on the inspiration of the Bible. Heck, the Episcopal Church has debated on whether a clergywoman who made the Muslim profession of faith could still be in the clergy.

The inevitable end is that the Episcopal Church will no longer recognize the primacy of Christ and will move to be fully apostate. In essence, it already has. And it’s disheartening, since it is one of the earliest Christian groups in America.

 

[aidanbradypop]

It’s hard to see a church in which you grew up fall so far from the original faith.

And your mother-in-law was correct. Once you give way on one issue, the rest fall like dominoes.

I’m sure nobody, when the Episcopal Church began it’s first overtures on certain issues, believed that they would begin to climbdown on the inspiration of the Bible. Heck, the Episcopal Church has debated on whether a clergywoman who made the Muslim profession of faith could still be in the clergy.

The inevitable end is that the Episcopal Church will no longer recognize the primacy of Christ and will move to be fully apostate. In essence, it already has. And it’s disheartening, since it is one of the earliest Christian groups in America.

There is an Episcopal parish here that had over 400 families. That is rather large for a Lutheran/Catholic area. A few people made a fuss about certain social issues and now that parish has about 20 people who attend every Sunday. Those 20 people for the most part are the ones that created all the fuss. Sad to see so many leave for the “needs” of a few.

That is what I love about the Catholic Church. The Church does not bend to the will of the people, rather the people bend to the will of Church and God.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

There is an Episcopal parish here that had over 400 families. That is rather large for a Lutheran/Catholic area. A few people made a fuss about certain social issues and now that parish has about 20 people who attend every Sunday. Those 20 people for the most part are the ones that created all the fuss. Sad to see so many leave for the “needs” of a few.

That is what I love about the Catholic Church. The Church does not bend to the will of the people, rather the people bend to the will of Church and God.

The Catholic Church in America seems rather flimsy to me on many issues. Perhaps they condemn it to an extent, but I never see action taken against pseudo-Catholic politicians, and more of a great resignation when they lose on a great social battle.

Even Cardinal Dolan seems rather uncomfortable with confronting the gay marriage issue, trying to walk on egg shells.