[KIM] LAWTON: Robinson acknowledged he had some frank exchanges with the archbishop.
Bishop [GENE] ROBINSON: I understood him to be saying that we had to choose between fidelity to our gay and lesbian members and fidelity to the process of what he called “common discernment.” And I said that, as a gay man, choosing a process over human beings felt dehumanizing to me. And perhaps there were people who were shocked that I said that, but after all, I’m the only openly gay voice in that room.
LAWTON: The New Orleans meeting seemed to solidify the decisions of those already contemplating leaving the Episcopal Church. New Mexico Bishop Jeffrey Steenson announced he was resigning in order to become a Roman Catholic.
Bishop JEFFREY STEENSON (Diocese of the Rio Grande): There are a lot of doctrinal matters that are being debated in the Episcopal Church that just astonish me, and I felt that it was really important for me now to be clear with myself about where I could be comfortable.
LAWTON: Four of the 110 U.S. dioceses have begun steps to break with the Episcopal Church. Conservative American bishops, including some who left the Episcopal Church decades ago, met together in Pittsburgh this week to discuss ways they can work together. Many are aligning with Global South Anglican churches.
“…Bishop [GENE] ROBINSON: I understood him to be saying that we had to choose between [b] fidelity to our gay and lesbian members and fidelity to the process of what he called “common discernment.” [/b] And I said that, as a gay man, choosing a process over human beings felt dehumanizing to me. And perhaps there were people who were shocked that I said that, but after all, I’m the only openly gay voice in that room. …”
One might “think” that the archbishop was suggesting that there was nothing wrong with the gay agenda, just the process. humm… this is very very sad. It’s quite clear that he is hopeful to continue stalling long enough to “convince” the orthodox to process their thoughts into alignment with he and TEC.
Well, its a false dichotomy. Shouldn’t Christians be in relationship with other Christians, both individually and in churches? How is a common discernment between people who are supposed to be in relationship with each other a “process?” Gene is simply choosing one set of relationships over another.
+Shaw said: “This document that we passed this afternoon shows how important inclusion in the Anglican Communion is for all parts of the Episcopal Church and how much we deeply respect the Anglican Communion.”
I agree with him. However, I believe that the document and the actions of our bishops show that we don’t value membership in the Anglican Communion and have little respect for the voices of members that differ from us.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
And I said that, as a gay man, choosing a process over human beings felt dehumanizing to me.
That would be the “process” of relating to other human beings in discernment for our communion? How in the world is this choosing “over human beings” and not choosing *for* human beings? Or is he saying only gay people matter?
“felt dehumanizing to me” I wonder how Christianity “felt” to Saul as he was blinded along the road to Damascus. The Lord said to Ananius ” I will show him how much he must suffer for my name”.
The Gospel comes from outside of ourselves. We cannot be trusted to evaluate it. It must be based on “is it true?”; rather than “how does it feel?”
Gene exposes himself, and all reappraisers, for what they really are about: FEELINGS. Nothing more.
Is the shoe on the right foot?
“fidelity to our gay and lesbian members and fidelity to the process of what he called “common discernment.â€
Shouldn’t that read:
“fidelity to our traditional teachings and fidelity to the process of what he called “the gay agendaâ€
??
This is too maddening to even watch unfold sometimes…
+Robinson said: “And I said that, as a gay man, choosing a process over human beings felt dehumanizing to me.”
No, Bishop Robinson, choosing process over human being is not dehumanizing. [b]Sin[/b] is dehumanizing. Living in sin and embracing sin and calling “Sin” “blessed” is what is dehumanizing you such that you cannot turn and see what God wants and desires for you.
Sin dehumanizes all of us and will turn us into “Gollum” like creatures where we are obsessed with keeping what turned us from “Smeagol” to “Gollum” in the first place. Whether that is homosexual sex or food or power or money or anything else in all creation. There is no sin, however veneal, that cannot seperate us from God if we insist on keeping it. Likewise, there is no sin, however heinous, that God cannot and willnot forgive if we but repent and ask for help.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
+Duncan acknowledged that there are a number of differences among the bishops of those bodies that met in Pittsburgh, and he hopes that all can come together in spite of the differences to form a federation that would be welcomed into the AC. It looks like the Church of the CCP, if ever formed, would look very much like TEC in that respect. How ironic.
Lumen Christie, I think your comment about Bp. Shaw was uncalled for and uncharitable.
#9, the comment you were concerned about has been deleted. We had already taken that step before I read your comment.
Thanks, Elves.