(ENS)–My headline, not theirs–KSH.
Bishop Andrew Waldo of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina opposed D019, seeking clarification of “gender expression ”¦ to get a sense of how the people in my diocese who have a poor understanding of what transgender means.
“I believe we need to have more discussion in the church, in our congregations, in order to be able to speak in a way that is theologically sound, that gives a deeper understanding of what it means to be a transgender person,” he said.
What a stirring defense of orthodoxy the bishop of Upper South Carolina has given regarding ordaining cross-dressers, self-mutilators, and others who “differ from majority societal gender norms” for the pulpits of Episcopal parishes.
[blockquote]Bishop Andrew Waldo of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina opposed D019, seeking clarification of “gender expression … to get a sense of how the people in my diocese who have a poor understanding of what transgender means.
“I believe we need to have more discussion in the church, in our congregations, in order to be able to speak in a way that is theologically sound, that gives a deeper understanding of what it means to be a transgender person,†he said.[/blockquote]
In other words, we get to have more “theological forums” and “dialogue sessions” and “listening sessions” so that we all may “understand” cross-dressing and pretending to be another sex, and how great that will be to have delusory persons like that serving on vestries and in pulpits.
Yes, if only we Upper South Carolinians could just “understand” cross-dressing and pretense and delusion more deeply we too could see how healthy, functional, and good it will be to have them as our leaders.
Just lovely.
Susan Russell said,
[blockquote]“The courageous witness of our transgender brothers and sisters has been an extraordinary gift to the church as we continue to grow in understanding and appreciation of the diversity of God’s beloved human family. I look forward to the House of Deputies concurring on these resolutions and empowering our witness to the world, that when we say ‘the Episcopal Church welcomes you’ we really mean it.â€[/blockquote]
A key part of the church’s witness as the body of Christ is to show to the world a new way of being human. This can’t happen if the church simply reflects back to the world what the the world already is. The world of course will applaud even as Jesus weeps.
Ross
I am reminded of something I read just last night in Simon Chan’s great work “Spiritual Theology, A Systematic Study of the Christian Life”, pg 112; “But the Church is not called to model itself after modern society. It is to be an alternative society, a colony of “resident aliens” that poses a constant challange to the larger society…….much as along the line of Martin Thornton’s “remnant church” concept [Thornton, Pastoral Theology: A Reorintation, SPCK, 1956].
So sad, the effort to move mountains for an invented catagory of persons who demand to stand outside of societal norms; yet I can’t recall once a concerted push of similar magnitude for persons with true functional disablities; physical, mental, visual, or hearing.
Many Episcopal churches are still very “user unfriendly” to physically disabled persons. I guess we need to work on being more trendy so we can get noticed. How close are we coming to celebrating what is really mental illness?
Ross at #2,
That is so true. Susan Russell is simply reflecting back to her GLBT friends what they already are. There is nothing prophetic or radical about her witness, nor is she showing those people “a new way of being human”. Very good point.