The Church of England has banned a married priest from the priesthood for life after he left his wife and set up a home with his female deputy, who is also an ordained priest.
A disciplinary tribunal for the Diocese of Rochester ruled that the Rev. Canon James Tipp’s relationship with the Rev. Elaine Northern was “inappropriate” and the cause of “a major public scandal.”
Tipp was rector of Snodland with Lower Birling, in southeast England. Northern, who was ordained as a priest six years ago, joined him as associate rector in 2007.
Barry Beisner, call your office!
The comments write themselves: if he had left his marriage for a man, he’d be on the bishop track.
The ad hominem about Bishop Beisner is completely uncalled for.
This situation bears no resemblance to his circumstances. One can make a principled theological argument against divorced and remarried bishops or priests, but suggesting the infidelity narrated in the story has any relevance in other situations without facts to back it up borders on false witness. Which I seem to remember also has some scriptural injunctions against it.
A tragic story.
Me wonders, if they been of the same sex if the row would have been so loud?
Why is this news?
I guess it’s OK if he ‘s a bishop , but not if he’s a priest?? Didn’t Gene Robinson drop his wife for a fella as a concubine? In a couple of more months we’ll see if Anne Redding can be a priest and a Muslim. If not a priest, she will most certainly be welcome to remain an Episcopalian in good standing as a *layman* and a Muslim. Once you know that, it makes this gesture all the sillier.
This is the Diocese of Rochester, whose Bishop is Michael Nazir-Ali, so yes, New Orthodox, there’s a good chance that if he’d left his wife for another man he would have faced discipline.
The woman has also been disciplined, her ministry banned for twelve years. One would assume that if she’s still living with this man after twelve years she will not be reinstated.
#3: Actaully, IIRC there was a case last year of a Welsh bishop who had to resign after an affair with his chaplain.
I remember hearing in a lecture many years ago about the discipline imposed on an adulterous bishop in the early church. He was excommunicated and required to lie across the entrance of the church for a year so that the faithful would walk over him as they entered – a pictorial way of representing the gospel being trampled underfoot.
RE: “Why is this news?”
Oh — because it’s a case of a priest in the Anglican Communion — and in a western province no less! — who was disciplined for sexual immorality.
That sort of thing is . . . [i]rare[/i] . . . these days.
It might draw attention, but would it be as strongly condemned? I would hope so, but I have my doubts.
It’s nice to know that they stand for something! And that there are still some things they won’t accept.
I guess it’s OK if he ‘s a bishop , but not if he’s a priest?? Didn’t Gene Robinson drop his wife for a fella as a concubine?
That is not true. +Gene and his former wife, Isabelle, testify that they mutually ended their marriage by releasing one another from their vows. +Gene had discussed with her that he was confused about his sexuality and thought that he might be gay before they married. He met his male spouse, Mark, some years after he and Isabelle ended their marriage. +Gene and Isabelle remain close friends.
Oh, so now confusion is an excuse for ending a covenant relationship and entering into another relationship, one condemned by Scripture.
As long as they had a ceremony with communion then it’s alright? They released each other from vows that were made in front of God and His people, vows that are ‘until death do us part’ and includes the phrase ‘forsaking all others’ and ‘what God has joined together let no one put asunder’?
I hadn’t heard that we have officially sanctioned a ceremony for divorce yet. But with TEc, who knows what is acceptable. Evidentially, there is one because Gene and Isabel were present at one.
I get it, it’s all about ME and MY FEELINGS. Not about what God wants; but what WE want. He made the vows in good faith, and with his ‘vocation’ should have honored them or resigned from the ministry and DEFINITELY not sought out the episcopate.
Sorry, it’s not playing on my iPod.
Peace in the Incarnate and Risen Christ Jesus
Jim Elliott <>< Florida
Blast, I’m doing this a lot lately. It sounds good when I type it, then when I submit it, I realize I should have phrased it differently:
[blockquote] I get it, it’s all about ME and MY FEELINGS. Not about what God wants; but what WE want.
Sorry, it’s not playing on my iPod. He made the vows in good faith, and with his ‘vocation’ should have honored them or resigned from the ministry and DEFINITELY not sought out the episcopate.[/blockquote]
JE <><
The purpose of my post was to respond to the order that events occurred, not as a commentary on divorce. Many folks have misunderstood the order of the events in +Gene’s life and have contributed to spreading a falsehood, whether purposely or mistakenly. +Gene did not drop his wife for a fella. He and his wife divorced some time before he ever met the fella. He has mentioned that he believed that he would be single after the divorce, not expecting that he would meet someone else.
Ok, I can appreciate that.
I still disagree with his reasoning and his actions and his choosing to remain in the ordained ministry (as well as questioning the validity of his consecration to the episcopate). Nothing he has done has indicated he puts God ahead of his own will and desires and ambitions.