The word here is change. The Deputies voted to allow the next Presiding Bishop to remain a Diocesan Bishop. The Bishops voted to fund a significant Development Office. We also are exploring moving the diocesan contribution to The Episcopal Church to 15%. And of course, we are waiting to hear about the Budget and reforming General Convention and a new structure for our Church.
As I have worked on the Education Committee, I once again remember that our Church has many perspectives. The Education Standing Commission presented resolutions to replace Confirmation with Baptism as rite for full initiation into Church leadership. However, most of the Deputies and Bishops did not agree. I am disappointed but not surprised. Change is long and when I think I know where the Holy Spirit is headed, I am most often wrong.
I do not think that someone who is most often wrong about what the Holy Spirit is doing should remain in a position as a successor to the apostles.
Because, God knows, the apostles all agreed on the direction the Spirit was leading them in Acts?
MarkP, precisely.
MarkP, try actually reading the entire book of Acts. Yes, the apostles did all agree on the direction in which the Holy Spirit (there, fixed your omission for you) was leading them, after sometimes heated debate, but always after prayer. By the way, the real Holy Spirit never contradicts Scripture, of which He is the ultimate Author.
“MarkP, try actually reading the entire book of Acts.”
The question isn’t what happens by the end of Acts, it’s how to apply that to a story we’re in the middle of now.
“the Holy Spirit (there, fixed your omission for you)”
Thanks! I was probably misled by having preached from John 3 so often this year.
“always after prayer”
Your position is that Bishop Taylor doesn’t pray?
“Holy Spirit never contradicts Scripture”
You don’t think some of the apostles thought (at least for a while) that Peter (following Paul) was suggesting a course that contradicted Scripture?
I’m not arguing any particular theological point about the Holy Spirit here, just that Bishop Taylor’s humble suggestion that he had on occasion been wrong didn’t deserve your snarky response that it showed he was unworthy to be a bishop.
“your snarky response”
Oops! Sorry. It was Pb’s response, not yours, that I was responding to.