No one spoke against the resolution during 75 minutes of testimony….
Those who urged the resolution’s passage spoke from a variety of personal perspectives and local contexts. Some described inequality in the pastoral care they are able to receive or provide….
Massachusetts deputies Sam Gould and the Rev. Gale Davis Morris…[were among those who] testified.
“As a priest in the Diocese of Massachusetts I cannot serve my congregation equally. I find this to be a particularly appalling position to be put into as a priest, that the state would allow me but my church will not,” Morris said. “There is something radically wrong with that picture, and I hope that we will allow this resolution to go forward so that we can change that. It doesn’t force any diocese that is not in our position to go ahead and authorize the blessing of same-sex marriage, but it allows those of us who have that privilege to do it in a very holy and just way.”
Does anyone honestly expect the Eastern Orthodox or Roman Catholics or Southern Baptists in the USA changing their policy about marriage (or ordination qualifications), based on biblical theology, primarily to accommodate changes in what secular law allows? The Massachusetts deputy’s complaint suggests that it is “progressive” to hope that TEC will come to stand for nothing other than “We want to answer every need you think you have.” This is no longer religion of any kind.
Would you honestly expect any opposition to this sort of resolution at a TEC convention?
It amazes me how the reading from the daily office speaks to this years general convention. In 1 Samuel 15 you have Saul disobeying God’s word and making a lot of excuses. One of them is to blame the people for giving them what they want.
Any “person of God†that gives the people what they want – state approved or not, politically correct or not – when it is clearly opposed to God’s Holy Word, makes his/her self an enemy of God.
[b]“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifices and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.â€[/b]
God has made his Word clear regarding human sexuality. Yet we are willfully and deliberately disobeying God’s Holy Word. Will not God himself reject the Episcopal Church if we obey the “Spirit of this age†and bless what He has declared as sin. All sex other than what is between a married man and woman is sin, and a rebellion against God’s will for us. And the truth is that isn’t going to change, regardless on what the Episcopal Church or any State might say.
No. 3. I have greatly been moved at that very thing.
The daily office readings have been dynamite this week in light of the backdrop of General Convention. In fact, I almost started crying a few days ago when the reading was about how Samuel wept over the downfall of Saul because God’s annointing had left Saul and gone to David.
Many of the voices that would have spoken against this are missing from GC 2009.
[blockquote] I find this to be a particularly appalling position to be put into as a priest, that the state would allow me but my church will not.[/blockquote]
States allow porn, and some even allow prostitution. Do you feel it would “be a particularly appalling position to be put into as a priest” if you weren’t allowed to provide prostitution (in Nevada) or porn for your members?
If scripture says something that doesn’t seem culturally relevant today (in our IMPERFECT minds), I’m sure it wasn’t due to some oversight on God’s part. Why are we so arrogant? Two thoughts: 1.) God doesn’t evolve, and 2.) God doesn’t vote.
#4 I’m broken hearted. I once saw a real life video after an earth creak where the middle of a huge bridge fell out. And there were a couple persons waving trying to get the cars to stop. But they kept on driving. One by one, they kept plummeting off the the edge of the bridge to their death. Isn’t that what going on here with General Convention 2009? I want to yell STOP! Choose life, not death! Choose blessings, not curses! TURN AROUND! TURN AROUND! TURN AROUND!
excellent point #6.
*8. Unfortunately, Eutychus, as long as the current crowd of heretics are running the show, things WON’T turn around. I believe that things are only going to go from bad to worse to terrible once this convention is over.
I have been saying on numerous newspaper comment sections that this is one of the most idiotic justifications I have heard. States offer liquor licenses, dog licenses, writs of divorce, etc. Do churches need to start blessing those?
Where are the Communion Partners? Is it complete capitulation? How about arranging a meeting with Rowan Williams separate from the General [strike]Gay Pride event[/strike] Convention? I understand the reasoning that +Lawrence gave that the battle won’t be won by fighting for or against this resolution or that. But there is opportunity for acts of much needed differentiation. It appears the opportunity will be wasted.
This is an utterly amazing argument for a priest to make. To define the church’s ethical view by whatever happens to be legal in Mass. It is a complete and total capitulation to the secular state (in every sense). Crazily short sighted.