Integrity USA is disappointed but not surprised that the communique issued by the primates of the Anglican Communion earlier today repeated the all-too-familiar call for moratoria on the election of bishops in same-gender unions, rites of blessing for same-sex unions, and cross-border interventions.
“There’s an American superstition that ‘bad things come in threes,'” said Integrity President Susan Russell speaking from the Episcopal Urban Caucus Annual Assembly in Mobile. “And accepting the lumping together of these three issues in one moratoria package would be a very bad thing for the Episcopal Church as a whole and its LGBT faithful in particular.”
Can someone tell me why the “strive for justice…and respect the dignity of every human being” phrase of the Baptismal Covenant always trumps the “holy catholic church” and “the apostle’s teaching and fellowship” ones? Is ours the only parish to recite the entire Covenant???
If Integrity is bothered that means something positive. The ever self-absorbed and narcissistic types that want constant affirmation need some disappointment in life. Glad to oblige.
I guess the so called “Integrity” crowd expects everyone else to roll over and play dead. It ain’t goin to happen!
[i] Can someone tell me why the “strive for justice…and respect the dignity of every human being†phrase of the Baptismal Covenant always trumps the “holy catholic church†and “the apostle’s teaching and fellowship†ones? [/i]
Because the favored phrase is one of the few things Integrity and 815 can wave about as a proof-text.
Too bad about justice and dignity for godly leaders like Bp. MacBurney.
1: Anastasios, no, you aren’t. Our church does it too!
It doesn’t matter what the Primates say. GC 2009 will reject their “suggestions” and progress will continue. Nothing to see here. move along.
So +Rowan’s happy that the can gets kicked down the road for a little while longer. OK. First, do no harm. And Integrity’s upset. And that’s good. If they really are upset. And 815 is still whistling past the graveyard on their way to continue shopping for millstones for to wear upon their collective necks (and you know how that ends).
Ready for the next move.
perhaps the “orthodox” should explore what the Bible says about “doing justice” if they want to engage Integrity faithfully and with the Gospel.
Well, mannainthewilderness, that Jesus schtick about “go and sin no more” has not been very well received. And Paul’s bit about violation of the natural order as evidence of reprobate minds didn’t go over very well either. What did you have in mind? I mean, the Romans say it and the Greeks say it and the Russians say it and the Evangelicals say it and the Reformed say it and the Pentecostals say it, but still Integrity doesn’t get it. What have you to suggest?
I found the communique, as is usual for almost anything having to do with the AC rather disappointing… until I read this article. If Integrity dislikes it so much it can’t be all that bad, I guess. And Manna, #7, though I fervently opposed Prop 8 in Cali for civil justice reasons, “doing justice” in the Bible never involves violating the Bible’s proscriptions, needless to say the proscriptions of the entire Judaeo-Christian Tradition for the past, oh, let’s say three thousand years, as much as I do most sincerely wish those proscriptions were different.
I would agree with both 8 and 9. No, I doubt the Integrity crowd will hear (they have ears but do not hear), and I agree that justice and issues of “loving our neighbors as ourselves” means speaking God’s truth in love. But, our mission should really be directed at the confused middle. The orthodox have allowed the Integrity crowd to define justice (rather than leading the confused middle back to God’s Word) and to define love of neighbor as making all things permissible. Rather than reacting with much huffing and puffing, why not take the discussion to them to demonstrate to others the empty promise of their false gospel (i’m ok, you’re ok).
Thousands of years of Church history, 66 books in the Bible… and Ms. Russell comes up with “American superstition”? That’s what she’s drawing from to make her case?
[blockquote]Integrity USA is disappointed but not surprised that the communique issued by the primates of the Anglican Communion earlier today repeated the all-too-familiar call for moratoria on the election of bishops in same-gender unions, rites of blessing for same-sex unions, and cross-border interventions.[/blockquote]
I find myself strangely agreeing with Integrity. Although not entirely for the reasons they proceed to specify.
#1 wrote (in part):
“Can someone tell me why the “strive for justice…and respect the dignity of every human being†phrase of the Baptismal Covenant always trumps the “holy catholic church†and “the apostle’s teaching and fellowship†ones?”
Because the re-appraisers have distorted the meaning of “strive for justice” and “respect the dignity of every human being,” to mean “current notions from secular liberal democracy about what we would like to see happen.”
Properly understood, neither phrase is in contradiction with the other parts of the baptismal covenant. But justice has to be God’s justice, not the fevered imaginings of the hip. And the dignity of every human being includes acknowledging sin as sin. I have my own sins. Others have theirs. But acknowledging the dignity of my fellow human beings does not encompass pretending that their sins are not sins (or that my sins are not sins).