Here's an interview from David Virtue's website on the current crisis in the Episcopal Church.
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6864
Let me get this straight:
1. The traditional prayer book of the Anglican world has been ripped from the hands of the faithful.
2. The Episcopal Church and others have attempted to "ordain" women to the priesthood and the episcopate.
3. Episcopal and Anglican Bishops have denounced basic doctrines of the faith.
4. The role of human sexuality within the context of marriage has been utterly abandoned.
For over 30 years, the Anglican Communion has hemorrhaged members. BUT NOW, and only NOW, when the communion is in shambles, now when after all that has occurred, an avowed homosexual has been made a bishop (although his consecration is questionable, not because of his sexual orientation, but because of the probable invalidity of the orders of his "consecrators"), NOW a line has been crossed and the fabric of the Communion is torn??
We in the continuum have said for years that this would happen. We said back in the mid-1970s that an attempt to change traditional Anglican formularies and the attempt to "ordain" women would ultimately lead to a major fracture and a departure from Christian Tradition.
My heart aches for all of the Episcopalians who remain loyal to this church that has been so disloyal to them and to the faith of our Fathers. For any loyal Episcopalians left, all I can say is: "Find yourself a home with us."
4 comments:
The sad thing is that so many of these people who are still in the Episcopal Church have been so poorly catechized and educated that they have no way of recognizing what orthodoxy is any more.
I was fortunate to have been raised by parents who insisted on reading Forward Day by Day every morning at breakfast and weekly attendance at worship.
Even so, I stayed within the Episcopal church until 2004. I foolishly thought that it could be redeemed. I thought wrong, realized it, moved on and joined the ACC this past September in time to be an alternate lay delegate to the recent Provincial Synod. Glory be to God on high!
That is why David Virtue seems so confused. He missed the Continuing bus long ago.
One thing you have to remember about both David Virtue and David Anderson is that they are both very much politically oriented. Here is Anderson in response to a question about deciding to leave:
VirtueOnline:"...Is the clarity with which you see the choice now in any way affected by the decisions and commitments that you've recently made?
Anderson: I don't. I think that I delayed leaving. The question was not where was I comfortable. The question was as president of the AAC where can I be most effective. And so relying on the counsel of others I stayed in TEC to a point where it seemed that I could be more effective on the outside,..."
In this perspective, it is all about political activism, and not vey much about obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. This may be a bit uncharitable toward David Anderson, but he has remained for years in a diocese which ordained women and generally went along with the ECUSA innovations up until the election, consent and consecration of Gene Robinson to be a bishop of the Episcopal Church. Anderson is basically an evangelical, not necessarily an Anglican - at least from other interviews with him that I have read.
So the perspective is given from a standpoint of what is considered "conservative" in the current make up of the Episcopal Church. It would not have passed for such back in the early 1970's when the Continuum was becoming a reality with the Affirmation of St. Louis.
Allen Lewis
Allen,
Both of your points are well taken. Thanks for your input.
Dad,
I can't believe you haven't caught on yet! Don't you know we live in a world where self-expression does not need justification? As the old adage says, "If it feels good, do it."
Now, I'm guessing you've detected that slight hint of sarcasm I incorporated. Everyday I face a world where conservative values result in persecution... And I'm only in high school! But, what the heck; at least my enemies are given the chance to express themselves. (Again, sarcasm.)
As much as I would love to applaud the Episcopal Church for this realization, I must say that it seems it is merely staring at an abyss and thinking, "I must do something about this run in my stockings!" (Yes, I went there.)
So in short... Yes, the fabric of faith has been torn, but I don't think those still loyal to the Church fully realize to what extent it is ruined. Having previously been an Episcopalian, I can't help but feel betrayed. All those people have been led blindly into the evil which inhabits our world only to finally become aware that they are in the dark.
Melanie
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