A seismic shift in the way Canadian Anglicans are treating same-sex blessings has made its way to the Diocese of Niagara.
In a historic weekend vote, Anglicans in the diocese moved overwhelmingly to adopt the so-called local option, allowing clergy “whose conscience permits” to bless the marriages of gays and lesbians.
The Right Rev. Ralph Spence said he will allow same-sex blessings in the Niagara diocese, which includes Hamilton, Burlington and Guelph as well as the Niagara Region, once a protocol has been worked out.
Well here we have a Canadian bishops synod criticising Bp Harvey for doing his own thing with the Southern Cone. At the same time, [url=http://www.niagara.anglican.ca/synod2007/report-letter.cfm ]two Niagara bishops[/url] decide they are unilaterally going to approve same sex unions in their diocese without approval of their fellow bishops or Synod.
Everyone is doing their own thing – what a shambles.
Yes. The famous last verse of the Book of Judges comes readily to mind. Because there was no king, anarchy prevailed and “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” And yet, 1 Samuel 8-15 makes it abundantly clear that there was a lot of dispute in Israel over the institution of the monarchy, and whether or not it amounted to the rejection of the LORD as King. Now the Archbishop of Canterbury is admittedly no patriarch or pope, much less a king. But when he fails to use even the very limited powers that he does rightfully have (to assemble the Primates, as well as to disinvite wayward bishops from Lambeth), then the forces of anarchy inevitably spin out of control.
But in the end, this whole tragic spiral downward into Anglican self- disintegration is not really abut the limitations or poor choices of individual leaders (whether Archbishop Williams, or Niagara’s Bishop Ralph Spence, or Gene Robinson or anyone else). This conflict is not fundamentally a personal one, reflecting the flaws of fallible human beings, but rather this is primarily a culturally driven conflict. Even if George Carey were still in office, it’s almost certain that this ecclesiastical trainwreck would nonetheless be happening.
The forces at work here are much stronger than any man (or woman). The majority of western Anglican leaders are being helplessly carried along, caught up as they are in the strong pro-gay tide in our secular, relativistic, post-modern culture that scoffs at the whole notion of objective, universal moral standards. But like all tides, this one too shall eventually ebb. Like King Canute of old, no one can keep the tides from going out and coming in.
Or is the tidal image too tame and weak? On second thought, perhaps what we are seeing here is nothing less than a cultural tsunami, induced by seismic shifts in the world’s moral and religious tectonic plates. Yeah, I think that’s a better analogy.
Either way, the ever-widening gap between the Younger Churches of the Global South and the Old and dying Churches of the western world that gave birth to them has grown to the point that it is as unbridgable as the Grand Canyon, or maybe even the Atlantic Ocean. The dual radical steps of the Dioceses of Ft. Worth and Niagara on the same day illustrate that perfectly (in a microcosm). Oil and water simply don’t mix. Never will.
For better or worse, “the New Reformation” is clearly underway. And I for one believe it will, in the end, be very much for the better.
He [Bishop Spence] changed his tune yesterday, he said, “because the ground shifted underneath us when (the dioceses of) Ottawa and Montreal took the stances (on same-sex blessings) that they did.”
I wasn’t aware that these dioceses were such formidable sources of theological authority. Rome, Canterbury, the decision of General Synod itself mean nothing, but Ottawa and Montreal must be obeyed.
[blockquote] [i]the ground shifted underneath us[/i] [/blockquote] It seems to me that the ground also shifted underneath the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram when they sought to introduce theological innovation. Korah had the priviledge of hearing the resultant screams of terror.
It is time to move away from the tents of the reappraisers.
Very apt comment, Br_er Rabbit (#4). Nice biblical allusion.
But it also fits my tsunami analogy above (see #2). Such massive and destructive walls of water are of course caused by precisely such powerful seismic shifts. But whereas only Korah and his rebellious followers were swallowed up by the earth in the time of Moses (Numbers 16 etc.), this earthquake is creating a tidal wave that will destroy everything in its path, no matter what side the people are on. That’s the bitter tragedy of this whole mess.
When you have no anchor in the Word or Tradition, you will be swept about by every current and wind. When you build on such sand, great will be the fall of the house.
We have been told. “Listening” seems to be as valued an activity in Canada as in the USA.
“Spence said he will allow… [this abomination]… once a protocol has been worked out”
– by a protocologist, no doubt.
A pun by Wilfred?
In the interests of good taste, I won’t respond.
Nevertheless, one free pass to the Laffin’ Place for Wilfred.
And so the cancer of heresy and sola-culturalism spreads to our neighbors to the north. 🙁
Actually, Libraryjim, that cancer of heresy and capitulation to post-modern culture is spreading rapidly WITHIN our Anglican neighbor church to the north, not TO there. Remember, the Diocese of New Westminster started doing SSB’s even before Gene Robinson was elected in June, 2003, much less before he was approved and concsecrated later. Canada has in fact always been a little ahead of the US in terms of adopting liberal cutural trends. For example, remember that same-sex MARRIAGES are legal now throughout the whole nation of Canada, whereas it’s only legal here in that bluest of states, Massachusetts.
I see the accelerating actions of liberal Canadian dioceses like Ottawa, Montreal, and now especially Niagara, as constituting sort of an attempt to race to catch up with their national culture, and also perhaps an attempt to make sure that the US doesn’t get to hog all the “glory” for being the leader in this “progressive” cause.
But the cancer analogy is apt. It’s metasthesizing. In more and more areas it appears to be reaching terminal, stage 4 levels.
David Handy+
NRA (did you think of that when picking a screen name? interesting)
I admit it, ‘within’ is better than ‘to’.
Actually (seems to be my fav word these days), perhaps it went the other way, ‘FROM’ Canada ‘TO’ the U.S.?
We just have to do everything bigger, better, and faster, eh?
Peace
Jim Elliott <><
Jim,
I must admit that when I picked the screen name New Reformation Advocate, I overlooked the inevitable association that the abbreviation NRA would naturally call to mind. And I further admit that I’m not at all the National Rifle Association type. I don’t own a gun, and I’m a very bad shot. The last time I went skeet hunting (only because some friends invited me along) I missed far more clay pigeons that I hit. I’m certainly no Bill Dickson, who is famous for his skill in handling his beloved Glock.
Hmmm. Maybe I’ll have to reconsider using the “NRA” moniker. Maybe New Reformation Supporter? Anyway, I really do enthusiastically support the notion that the “New Reformation” is already underway, for better or worse. And I do genuinely believe that in the end it will be for the better.
“Let goods and kindred go!”…
David Handy+
New Ref:
Sort of like the [i]New Yorker[/i] cartoon where the wife was packing a box marked “North Ireland” full of guns and grenades and the husband (looking on) says:
“When you said you were going to put $10,000 into the IRA, I thought you meant your Individual Retirement Account!”
Initials and acronyms. Gotta love ’em!