(Please note–copied verbatim as received, edited only for format with the exception of one typo which I corrected–KSH).
The Most Rev Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
United States of America
Thursday 15th December 2011
Dear Bishop Katharine,
Advent greetings to you in the name of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
It is with a heavy heart that I write you informing you of our decision as a House of Bishops to withdraw your invitation to the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS). We acknowledge your personal efforts to spearhead prayer and support campaigns on behalf of the ECS and remain very grateful for this attention you and your church have paid to Sudan and South Sudan. However, it remains difficult for us to invite you when elements of your church continue to flagrantly disregard biblical teaching on human sexuality.
Find attached a statement further explaining our position as a province.
(Signed)
–(The Most Rev.) Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak, Archbishop Primate and Metropolitan of the Province of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan and Bishop of the Diocese of Juba
What I posted with this on fb:
[blockquote] This is too bad, as Episcopal Church of the Sudan operates in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable and needs global support, including advocacy as well as material. Their Archbishop has made efforts to remain constructively engaged with us despite the profound differences in our two provinces – but at some point the reality of two incompatible “gospels” becomes a reality. Yes, we’ll try to hide behind media-popular gays and lesbians, claiming that we are for human rights or something. But the theological issues run way deeper and we’ve let one small faction of our denomination take over. We’ve lost that Anglican/Episcopal breadth we used to assert as one of our virtues. If you are a more liberal Episcopalian, before you post a shriek here, think about it this way: what if the small faction of Episcopal Charismatics had taken over, and started insisting on “second blessing,” “sign gifts”, and other stuff that’s not in the Book of Common Prayer. You would be pretty steamed, and rightly so. That’s what is going on in TEC – just happens to be your little faction doing it to the rest of us. [/blockquote]
Gutsy move by Sudan. Well done.
Good for them!
AMEN!
I know this ++man. He is a lion. And, with her bizarre views, she doesn’t need to be going to the Sudan anyway, as her presence is possibly dangerous for the Christians there, especially the Anglican ones, as the relations with the Islamic or Muslim community are very delicate–that’s the polite word; difficult might be a better word, if not bordering on the sad, usual violence.
I’m glad Bishop Daniel realizes this, even if she doesn’t, and has the courage to act on it. Pity, though–if she went, she might actually learn something about Biblical teaching.
Fr. Fountain, that’s a great comment in #1. I realize that ACNA is not recognized as provincial(yet), but perhaps if Sudan needs any form of support from North American Anglicans, they can get it from ACNA. Not to mention, if the unBiblical still want to check the block, someone from a CP diocese can visit Sudan. We all know that there are plenty of traditional Anglicans still in TEC that have fantastic relations with the churches in Africa. Not a problem at all, if she is willing to solve it.