Unlike the previous General Convention, next month’s gathering faces a “vague anxiety level” over multiple issues as opposed to just one, said the Rev. Canon Charles K. Robertson, canon to the Presiding Bishop. He made the remarks during a June 24 lecture at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS).
The comment came in response to a question as to whether a final decision on issues such as same-sex blessings would come out of the General Convention. Canon Robertson said that Resolution B033 from the 75th General Convention, consent to the election of the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester as Bishop of the Northern Michigan, and the budget are all flash points causing anxiety for different Episcopalians.
[blockquote] In response to a question of what is at the root of opposition to same-sex blessings and related issues, Canon Robertson said, “It often comes down to fear of change, but even that’s too easy. It often comes down to fear of the other.†He advocated building relationships with “the other†using agreed-upon rules of interaction.[/blockquote]
This guy has apparently been doing a good job at the “listening process.” The orthodox are orthodox because they are [i]fearful[/i]. How offensive.
He cites various sources such as Paul and Richard Hooker? If the lefties had any integrity, they would declare Paul uncanonical and ignore him completely because he obviously condemned homosexuality (“Oh, but Paul didn’t know about [i]loving[/i] homosexual relationships.”, I can hear them say. Blather.) This means no reading of 1 Cor 13 at their homosexual weddings. But the Integrity crowd has no integrity.
And Hooker? Obviously they spit on Scripture and tradition. And if you read the original, it is clear that Hooker took reasoning to have arisen from a lifetime of immersion in the study of Scripture in an environment faithful to tradition. Thus, when the liberals offer up the “shellfish” argument for the 163rd time as serious theological discourse, this doesn’t count as reasoning in the eyes of Hooker.
I don’t see how GC2009 will be the same as GC2009. In 2006, there were the last serious obstacles in the road to the progressive wing of the church charging forward with their particular agenda. In 2009, it looks like wide open highway.
Sorry…GC2009 will be the same as GC2006. Must finish my morning tea.
Actually rwkachur, I liked it in the original post. I thought it was a wonderful deconstructionist reading of the situation. A does not mean A. 3 does not equal 3. “No” does not mean “No.” GC2009 will not be the same as GC2009.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
The conservatives in TEC were like the lead rods in a nuclear reactor.
Dcn Dale put his finger squarely on the issue with his comment. It’s beginning to dawn on the revisionists that their rhetoric has been far more “inclusive” than was required for the normalization of homosexuality in the church and that the doors they’ve kicked in are now going to give access to any and all perversions.
The lunatics will truly be in charge of the asylum at GC2009. Only the degree of madness will be in question.
I am not sure that GC2009 will be as loony as one might think. ACNA’s existence is a real threat to TEC which is why they are fighting so hard for every building. TEC is rotten from within – as it is currently configured it is living on borrowed time and past giving. The institutional liberals would like to finish their carreers, the remaining moderates and elderly conservatives would like to go to their grave without a major change. It is the true believers in the New Thing which will want to excellerate change. The institutional liberals know that certain changes could lead to TEC getting kicked out of the Anglican Communion or lead to recognition of the ACNA and certain changes could lead to large scale exits by small rural parishes throughout the south and midwest. The hardcore left would likely see both as a positive and liberating change. The instutitional left and center (there is no real right anymore) are terrified of both.
Should be an interesting show.
The anxiety level appears to be rising somewhat. Good! They should be anxious! All of these issues are gnawing at them, and I think it hurts.
[blockquote]I am not sure that GC2009 will be as loony as one might think.[/blockquote]
There’s been too much water passed under the bridge for it not to be. The institutional liberals are now captive to their previous statements, most of which are indistinguishable from those of the hard Piskie left. If there was still a significant contingent of reasserters at the Convention, enough ILs might find a way to make common cause and keep the madmen at bay, but it’s almost surely futile at this point. Similarly, appeals to moderation to remain within the AC will fall flat: The hard Left doesn’t particularly care and Rowan Williams has played well his part as goaltender, so many others will not fear that outcome can happen.
(Gen Con ) is as it ought to be. Just watch and pray, and for some of us, painful though it is, be thankful for where you are.
VIVA IL PAPA