|
A congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
|
|
Saint John’s Church |
|
Saint John’s Episcopal Church 920 Belvedere-Clearwater Road North Augusta, South Carolina 29841
Church Office: (803) 593-5662 Vicar’s Cell Phone: (803) 341-0075 Email address: RobHartley@comcast.net website: saintjohnsclearwater.org
|
Originally Prepared by the Reverend Rob HartleyOctober 31, 2004Updated April 26, 2006 |
|
Contact webmaster: webmaster@saintjohnsclearwater.org |
|
For Printable Version |
|
The Crisis in the Church Today |
Understanding and Responding to theCurrent Doctrinal/Ethical Challengeto the Episcopal Church |
Introduction I know that all presenters have a perspective which colors even the presentation of facts and history, which is what this document is primarily intended to be. The reader therefore needs to know that perspective. It is that of a priest firmly grounded in the classical, traditional doctrines of the faith and belief of the Apostolic Church. I understand Scripture to be God’s revelation of himself and a source for knowing God’s good and perfect will for us. I firmly uphold the primacy of Scripture on that basis. These are important facts to know because the struggles in the Episcopal Church ultimately deal with Scripture and the Apostolic Faith in the modern world. I am not a literalist and I am not a fundamentalist, as I understand these terms, but I do consider myself orthodox and moderately conservative both theologically, ethically and socially.
The Current Situation in the Church
1. The Actions of ECUSA’s General Convention, 2003 (referred to as GC2003) ¨ Agreed to the consecrations of an openly active homosexual as a bishop of the church. ¨ Affirmed that blessing of same-sex unions is consistent with who we are as a church. ¨ Called for the development of liturgies for the blessing of same sex marriages.
2. The Response of Dissenting Groups within ECUSA Dissenting organizations and structures have formed within the ECUSA, such as the Anglican Communion Network and the American Anglican Council. They have espoused such things as: ¨ Dissenting people and parishes need to remain in the Episcopal Church and stand with the broader Anglican Communion, provide a witness to orthodoxy with ECUSA, and work for the theological renewal of the church. They have in the past seen themselves as a way of stemming the hemorrhage of Orthodox Episcopalians from ESUSA. ¨ Opposition should proceed within the Canons of the Episcopal Church. ¨ Structures and methods of mutual support and encouragement need to be in place for orthodox parishes. ¨ Biblical and Apostolic Christianity needs to be upheld. ¨ Love, pastoral care and sensitivity needs to be extended to everyone, regardless of theological stand and sexual orientation. ¨ The reality of realignment , however, seems more and more likely to their affiliated people, parishes and dioceses. Their rhetoric is reflecting this. This is based on: * ECUSA’s continued position on Lambeth Resolution 1.10 * The prospect of ECUSA’s noncompliance with the Windsor Report. This is particularly clear to these groups in the recently proposed resolutions for General Convention 2006 * The unlikely prospect of a resurgence of orthodoxy within ECUSA ¨ These dissenting groups are theologically in solidarity with the broader Anglican Communion and considerably alienated and shunned within most of ECUSA; therefore, if they have to choose between Anglican Communion or the Episcopal Church, they will chose the Anglican Communion to the greatest extent possible. This is further true since the majority of the Anglican Communion claims a theology aligned with a broader sweep of global Christianity and the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. This registers as an important consideration in terms of unity within the Body of Christ for these groups.
3. The Response of the Anglican Communion ¨ Prior to GC2003, the Lambeth Conference 1998 produced Resolution 1.10, and this resolution was re-affirmed consistently by the Communion after GC2003. In summary it states… * Homosexuals have a place in God’s church, as we all do * Homosexuality, however, is incompatible with Scripture and the apostolic understanding of the Faith ¨ Following GC2003, approximately half of the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion have declared a state of impaired Communion with ECUSA, because . . . * They are offended by ECUSA’s disregard for their counsel. In this sense, ECUSA has "walked away" from the Communion * Confounded by the lack of biblical integrity * Concerned about their own evangelism and the reaction of militant Islam along side of whom most of the Anglican churches live and work ¨ Some third world Primates (lead bishops or archbishops) have intervened by providing Episcopal oversight to ECUSA parishes that are in conflict with their bishops over this issue. This is ecclesiastically out of order in Anglican polity and was greatly resisted and objected to by the ECUSA ¨ The Archbishop of Canterbury had suggested the formation of a network of orthodox parishes within ECUSA as a place to stand for those disagreeing with the Episcopal Church’s action. This reportedly led to the ‘Anglican Communion Network’ (ACN) ¨ In 2004 the Primates of the Anglican Communion established the Lambeth Commission which led to the Windsor Report (more below) ¨ In February of 2005 the Primates gathered in Ireland to consider the recommendations of the Windsor Report. The report was generally accepted and ratified as presented and this led to the following action on behalf of the Anglican Communion: * The Primates of the Anglican Communion labeled the theological innovations of ECUSA as contrary to the Anglican teaching * The Primates were clear in upholding the tenets of Lambeth 1.10 (see below) as the Communion’s teaching on human sexuality * They also recognize the sexuality is on the presenting symptom. The core disease is a challenge to the authority of Scripture and received Christian teaching * Therefore, ECUSA was requested to withdraw from participation in the councils of the Anglican Communion until Lambeth 2008 or when the dichotomy is addressed
4. Response of other churches · Roman Catholics * Theologically and ethically critical * Ecumenical relationship has been impaired · Lutherans * Silent · Eastern Orthodox * Theologically and ethically critical * Ecumenical relationship has been impaired · Evangelical Protestants * Generally see us in error at best, in heresy at worst * That we are listening to the spirit of the age and not the Holy Spirit * That we have capitulated to culture * The Episcopal Church is no longer driving culture; culture is driving us · Other Protestants * Depends on who we are talking about, but a few of the more progressive and theologically liberal churches wonder what has taken us so long
How Did We Get To This Point?
We have for some time now had two Christian worldviews and theologies at work in the Episcopal Church. Although this is as old as the Enlightenment itself, it has particularly taken form and expression on the life of the Episcopal Church in the last four decades. The ecclesial (church polity) and theological realities of this were brought dramatically into focus by the actions of the 2003 General Convention. Here is a very simplified timeline leading to GC2003:
· 1964 The Church allowed Bishop Pike to deny the Incarnation, Trinity and other historical doctrines of the Church. · 1967 General Convention took a decisive shift away from evangelism to emphasize the Social Gospel. The church was reaching out to those in need but did not consider it equally important to tell about he god that sent them. · 1980 Gay political agenda began to emerge in the Episcopal Church and other churches. · 1985 Ed Browning was elected Presiding Bishop with an agenda to promote acceptance of homosexuality. · 1987 The English Bishops reaffirm biblical sexuality, but the American church struggles with making similar affirmation. · 1989 Although censured for it, Bishop Spong ordains an active homosexual. Bishop Spong had followed in the footsteps of Bishop Pike, calling for a new theology and a new understanding of Christianity. · 1991 A resolution was defeated at General Convention which stated that the only appropriate expression of human sexuality is within traditional marriage. · 1996 The American Anglican Council (AAC) was formed. In the preceding decades of theological drift, many Episcopalians perceived that the Episcopal Church was taking them somewhere they did not want to go, and the ACC gave them a place to stand and an alternative to leaving the Episcopal Church Other splinter groups formed and overseas bishops began to intervene. Although ecclesiastically a mess and clearly out of order, this allowed many theologically orthodox parishes to continue to function under a progressively revisionist national church. · 1998 The Anglican Communion again affirmed biblical Christianity in Resolution 1.10 and counseled the Episcopal Church against innovations in the area of human sexuality. · 2003 The General Convention defeated resolution B001 affirming the authority of Scripture, consecrated an actively gay bishop, and opened the way for the blessing of same-sex unions at the discretion of local bishops.
The Windsor Report
As stated above, the Anglican Communion in reaction to GC2003, produced the Windsor Report. Here is a summary of its contents:
¨ States that ECUSA has unilaterally pushed the Anglican Communion to the breaking point. ¨ Calls for expressions of (1) regret and (2) change [specific as;] * Moratorium on consecrating homosexual bishops * Moratorium on blessing same-sex unions ¨ Invites the American bishops who voted for the consecration of Gene Robinson to step down from post held at the Anglican Communion level. ¨ Calls for the global south bishops to cease providing Episcopal oversight of beleaguered ECUSA parishes in disagreement with their bishops over the issue.
What is the Current Position of the Presiding Bishop and ECUSA?
ECUSA under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop is proceeding as follows:
¨ Continues to shape the rhetoric and polity of the national church around the mandate of GC2003. The Presiding Bishop expresses that the traditional boundaries placed on sexuality are exclusive, unjust and unachievable. ¨ States that the Holy Spirit is teaching us something new. ¨ Teaches . . . * That the use of Scripture needs to be subordinated to reason and human experience * That the Bible is culturally dated on issues of sexuality as well as other issues * That the Bible needs to be reinterpreted for our time ¨ Believes that this Christian worldview is in fact aligned with the modern worldview, which allows the church to be relevant to modern culture, making growth and evangelism possible. ¨ Responds to the Windsor Report with respect and expresses regret for the pain and division ECUSA’s actions are causing; however, the words and actions of ECUSA, including the proposed resolutions for General Convention in 2006 point toward the national leadership engaging in a “Windsor Process” of study and dialogue, but ultimately, albeit cautiously, dismissing the counsel and tenants of the Windsor Report. ¨ ECUSA has nonetheless complied with the Windsor mandate for a moratorium on the consecration of non-celibate homosexual bishops in the time leading to GC2006, but stipulated that a moratorium be declared on the consecration of all bishops in ECUSA.
Where Does Our Bishop Stand?
¨ Bishop Henderson voted against the consecration of Gene Robinson at the General Convention 2003. ¨ He affirms Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10, upholding, as he said, "both parts!" * We will adhere to the traditional teaching of the Church on sexuality issues. * We will acknowledge the place of all people, regardless of sexual orientation, at the Lord’s Table and … as members of Christ’s Body. ¨ Beyond this, he sees unity and mission as paramount; therefore, he regulates the diversity of belief and ethics to the realm of study and conversation, calls for mutual respect, and emphasizes that living with diversity is an Anglican strength. ¨ His policy for the Diocese is: * The blessing of same sex unions in the diocese will not be permitted * We will teach traditional bounds on human sexuality * We are to continue to study Scripture and dialogue on the issues * We will remain focused on the mission ¨ Bishop Henderson believes that the bishops of ECUSA should immediately accept and implement the recommendations of the Windsor Report in its entirety and heed the counsel of the broader Church. Under his leadership, our Diocesan Executive Council passed a Resolution in 2005 affirming the Windsor Report and the 2005 Diocesan Convention affirmed by resolution the Windsor Report as providing the appropriate way forward for the Episcopal Church.
|