When these problems are viewed together, they embody a significant theological shift in the denomination away from orthodox Christianity and biblical Anglicanism. This is evident more in some parts of TEC than others. It may not be immediately recognized because of the veneer of traditional Anglo-Catholic worship that overlays it.
This shift is evident in the Episcopal churches in the part of Kentucky in which I am now living. It represents a radical change from what I heard preached and taught in the same churches over 20 years ago when I first began to visit the area. The message is not just one of the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the church but of universalism, pluralism, and social and economic liberation. At the same time the worship in these churches can be characterized as traditionally Anglo-Catholic ”“ candles, eucharistic vestments, elaborate ritual, processions, chanted prayers and other liturgical texts, incense, vested choirs, organs, standard hymns and anthems, and Holy Communion on weekdays, as well as Sundays.
Of the five Episcopal churches in the area, only two give any appearance of real vitality. The latter can be attributed in part to their location, one in the downtown district of the region’s only city and the other in a university town. The area had six churches but the sixth church was closed in 2005 and its congregation merged with that of another church. One of the remaining five churches gives all appearances of being slated for closure at some future date: it is little more than a preaching station.
Spot on! Looks like a common cause partner needs to break ground in Western Kentucky.
this author states my feelings exactly. is there any way of getting this to AB Williams? surely he would consider our pleas if he knew about them…
Yes, Mr. Jordan, does the ABC consider me? I, too, look for a home within historic Anglicanism and find none in my area. When will he worry about me? How many more of us are there?
RW didn’t hear Bishp’s Duncan and MacPherson when they spoke in DES. He has heard ++Mouneer Anis. He has heard many biblically voices. He knows what is going on. He won’t consider any pleas beyond keeping the AC together enough to fill a decent number of seats at Lambeth.
Furthermore. what did we expect to come out of the JTS’s collective mouths. I would guess that the JTS report was prepared in lockstep with the HoB’s report.
[blockquote]It may not be immediately recognized because of the veneer of traditional Anglo-Catholic worship that overlays it.
This shift is evident in the Episcopal churches in the part of Kentucky in which I am now living. It represents a radical change from what I heard preached and taught in the same churches over 20 years ago when I first began to visit the area. The message is not just one of the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the church but of universalism, pluralism, and social and economic liberation. At the same time the worship in these churches can be characterized as traditionally Anglo-Catholic – candles, eucharistic vestments, elaborate ritual, processions, chanted prayers and other liturgical texts, incense, vested choirs, organs, standard hymns and anthems, and Holy Communion on weekdays, as well as Sundays.
Of the five Episcopal churches in the area, only two give any appearance of real vitality. [/blockquote]
This has been my summation of ECUSA in my area for a long time,”all show and no go.”
In a moment of weakness I slipped into a “Festival of Lessons and Carols” service at my old parish during Advent season last year. All pomp and circumstance, with processional crosses and chanting and even people waving streamers and hitting gongs in the processional (more than a bit weird). However, I had a hard time believing it was Christian, the readings were all about saving the environment and global warming, etc, and most of the music was strange or gloomy New Age stuff. I couldn’t take it after a while and left. What a downer. I just wanted to hear some traditional Christmas carols and hear Bible readings. Not what I remember when I was a kid.
6. Jim the Puritan:
“Festival of Lessons and Carolsâ€
One never knows what one might find “slipping” ito a service. I went, with very much scepticism, to a Lessons and Carols at the local historic church and they kindly and wisely put on a 150 year old service from historical records. Not only was I pleasantly blessed and surprised by the service but I heard many good comments from even those that I knew to be flaming modern Liberals.
One never knows….
#6 Jim,
there are still a few churches around that use the old words; i don’t like using american english for liturgy-falls flat to my ear; but as a bona fide tree hugger i don’t mind a prayer here and there about concern for our environment. i just wish the issue weren’t so closely associated with liberals because i know a lot of them and frankly more than a few of them don’t practice much stewardship. if you are ever in texas, all saints in fort worth, church of the incarnation in dallas and there is an anglo-catholic church in downtown san antonio…
Have you heard about the woman assistant in SW Florida who took the main service on Easter morning and marched down the aisle with incense, hymns, glorious vestments, and a large stuffed “Easter” Rabbit as the decoration on the top of her pony tail? One wonders if they used wafers or marshmallow peeps at the communion rail.