The openness of St. Nicholas is a vivid example of how some Episcopal churches have changed, particularly since the much publicized election of Gene Robinson, an openly gay man in a long-term relationship, as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.
And yet many suburban Episcopalians say that while they bear no ill will toward gays and lesbians, churches like St. Nicholas have strayed too far from Biblical teaching.
The division is so great that conservative Episcopalians have formed the new Anglican Church in North America, which will include about 700 parishes in the U.S. and Canada that disagree with mainline Episcopalians on the ordination of gays.
Hope Anglican Church, which holds services on Sunday evenings at the Congregational Church in Elburn, plans to be part of the new Anglican Church. Its leader, however, denies that the ordination of gays is the main issue.
“The biggest differences between us and the Episcopal Church is doctrinal teaching,” said the Rev. David Kletzing of Batavia, the church’s pastor. “We believe the Bible is the authority for our lives, and we believe in the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.”
[i]…which will include about 700 parishes in the U.S. and Canada that disagree with mainline Episcopalians on the ordination of gays.[/i]
I guess this really shouldn’t surprise me. What is repeatedly missed in these kinds of stories is the fact that human sexuality is only a part of the issue. But it’s difficult to explain why issues like Open Communion are important [i]theological[/i] problems, not political power spats. Ah well.
Is there any reason whatever to continue using “openly”, “avowed” or other odd terms that somehow emphasize the un-secretive facts about anyone’s sexual preference in the Episcopal Church? Is there one person in ECUSA that has not made their “sexuality” an open fact?? I mean, it’s the content of the religion, but still….
I’ve been to a few Episcopal churches in the city of Chicago since moving here more than a year ago. On a cursory judgement, I’d say half the (rather sparse) congregation in each church was homosexual. It seems TEC here has niche-marketed itself as “the gay church.” Dissenters to this line will be less and less welcome. Which is why my family started attending St John Cantius.
nwlayman,
Um, what a lot of heterosexuals don’t realize is that they are declaring their sexuality whenever the bring or even talk about a girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse.