Over the past several years, the U.S. Episcopal Church has filed church property lawsuits against churches and dioceses that have chosen to cut ties with the denomination over theological differences. Conservative Episcopalians have left, denouncing what they believe is the denomination’s departure from scriptural authority and traditional Anglicanism….
Anglican Church of North America Archbishop Robert Duncan told Institute on Religion and Demography, “This is a tragic and unwise decision that threatens the future of Nashotah House.” Duncan also serves on the seminary’s Board of Trustees.
The seminary’s dean, Salmon, explained that the decision came after Deacon Terry Star of North Dakota, a student at Nashotah and member of the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council, said that Schori had advised him against attending the seminary. Two other female Episcopal students said they were also discouraged from attending the seminary. “All three said she should be invited to come and see ACNA and TEC in harmony,” Salmon said, according to IRD. “No one here is fighting with anybody.”
“But to deviate from the truth for the sake of some prospect of hope of our own can never be wise, however slight that deviation may be. It is not our judgement of the situation which can show us what is wise but only the truth of the Word of God. Here alone lies the promise of God’s faithfulness and help. It will always be true that the wisest course for the disciple is always to abide solely by the Word of God in all simplicity.” Dietrich Bonnhoffer
May 1 is the Feast of St. Philip and St. James. I don’t know whether she would be preaching at morning-evening prayer, or at Mass. The Eucharistic lessons present several rich and positive opportunities for a fine sermon:
http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearABC/HolyDays/PhilJames.html
– This is the way; walk in it.
– Make me go in the path of your commandments, for that is my desire.
– We refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word.
– No one comes to the Father except through me.
Quite an uproar over at Stand Firm with people asking for the resignation of Bishop Salmon and predicting the demise of Nashotah (one commenter said: Nashotah RIP). Truthfully all this rumor-mongering only makes them look like ridiculous middle-school aged children.
While I am not in agreement with much of +KJS’ “theology”, I do believe what Bishop Salmon said in his interview with Kevin Kallsen (Episode 93, Anglican Unscripted)- that he was not worried about Nashotah students being deceived by her. I am not either as I know one of the current Nashotah House students. One sermon is not going to destroy Nashotah House. It won’t be the best sermon ever heard there and it may end up being among the worst but it won’t destroy the faith of those who hear it.
Ralph (Comment #2),
At least as of last summer, Nashotah House still has its weekly “community Eucharist” on Thursdays in the evening — students’ families and others are encouraged to attend. So expect a sermon delivered at Eucharist.
That’s an interesting set of readings for the occasion, to say the least…. (Although as a Son of the House — M.Div 2011 and a current student in the STM program — I’m still deeply disappointed about this decision.)
Jonathan+
#3 So Bonnnoffer was wrong? A seminary can ignore the Word of God if TECs money is involved.
RE: ” it won’t destroy the faith of those who hear it.”
Yeh . . . I’ve noticed you keep saying that on thread after thread, blog after blog, as if it is relevant to the question of whether a false teacher should be invited in to preach at a service of Holy Eucharist.