The New York Times notes that several months ago, a sizable number of bishops would have argued for unity of the communion at almost any cost. Several bishops said that far fewer would do so now.
Parting may be sweet sorrow, but there are divides that make it necessary to disassemble rickety bridges. This best characterizes the relationship of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
A public unity that hides the fissures over hard-core beliefs that cut to the heart of principles that both sides hold dear is doomed.
The apostle Paul’s row with Mark ended when the two bitterly disagreed over a missionary trip. They later embraced, although neither side ceded their original point of view.
The apostle and disciple understood what the modern Episcopal Church refuses to acknowledge: Unity with such serious division is not communion. It’s hypocrisy.
[blockquote]The apostle and disciple understood what the modern Episcopal Church refuses to acknowledge: Unity with such serious division is not communion. It’s hypocrisy.[/blockquote]
People may want to read and ruminate an essay posted by David Ould on the sometime conflict between unity and faith:
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/6387/
[blockquote]Backtrack to 1979 when church leadership updated the Book of Common Prayer, the fourth one since its first edition of 1790. The rage over alterations like combining three baptism rites into one…[/blockquote]
That had already been accomplished in the [url=http://www.vulcanhammer.org/anglican/bcp-1928.php]1928 book.[/url]
It’s a small detail but the sharp dispute in Acts that Rhonda writes about was between Paul and Barnabas. Including Mark in the missionary journey was the reason for the argument. I think, though, that I would prefer to be engaged in a dispute like theirs around some mission venture instead of perpetually being in conflict around the progressivist agenda. At least the Missio Dei would be uppermost in our thoughts and actions instead of always having to fight against what only can impede it.
Although not entirely perfect (as noted above) this is an outstanding article!
“Unity with such serious division is not communion. It’s hypocrisy.”
This is a qute that should ring in our Episcopal ears!
John Riebe+
Her oversimplification of the 1979 BCP revision is misleading, at best.