“I realize emotions are high, feelings are high,” said Love, standing at the edge of the altar in St. Paul’s Church for nearly two hours.
The Episcopal Church is split by the ongoing debate over the ordination of gay and lesbians and the blessing of sex same unions.
“We are a divided church. There’s no question we are a divided church,” said Sheridan Biggs of St. Paul’s Church in Schenectady, who indicated his uneasiness with the direction at the national level to support ordination and the blessing.
“What state we are in when we get through this, only God knows that,” said Love, who is counted among the Episcopal Church’s conservative bishops. He urged Biggs to stay in the church.
At this first of many deanery meetings in our “Capital District,” our diocesan heartland, Bp Bill made it abundantly and crystal clear that he intends to keep the Diocese of Albany within TEC. Whether Via Media chooses to believe it or not, he truly and genuinely means this. There is no intention whatsoever to do anything other than stay in.
He also answered Mr St. John’s question by making it clear that he was not referring to the decision on sexuality as “the work of Satan” but all the contention and confusion about these issues as th result of satanic influence.
As I have posted elsewhere, he also told us clearly that Archbp Rowan Williams said nothing whatsoever to the Communion Partner bishops at Lambeth last week that would indicate that individual dioceses would have any opportunity to sign onto the Anglican Covenant individually.
I think this is an important point, especially in reference to other postings on this blog in which people seem to believe that this signing on of individual dioceses will actually happen.
The seven bishops went to Lambeth, spent one hour with Rowan and were not given any assurances of any kind whatsoever. Bp Bill was asked this question clearly and he gave a clear answer to this.
He said that probably the best we can hope for is to give an “endorsement” to the Covenant even though we won’t be able actually to sign on to it.
Please don’t kill the messenger — it gives me no joy to say this, but please let’s deal with reality.
It is good the Archbishop made no assurances — if he had, he would have probably had to back down on them at some point. Now let’s see how SC in particular responds to this.
If Albany signs onto the Covenant, we’ll soon see how much longer they stay in TEC after ++? Schori gets after them for having done it.
That would be interesting.
LuminChristie, The TU article reports two parishes have or are considering leaving the diocese. The Bishop refused to identify them. Do you know? I’d love to be able once again to worship in an Anglican church in the Capital District not connected to Tec.