When Bishop William White of Philadelphia became a bishop in 1787, he was No. 2 in the Episcopal Church’s chain of apostolic succession.
When Bishop V. Gene Robinson was consecrated in 2003 — the first openly gay, noncelibate Episcopal bishop — he was No. 993. This fact was more than a trivia-game answer during a recent sermon that represented a triumphant moment both for Robinson and his church’s liberal establishment.
Standing on White’s grave before the altar of historic Christ Church, the former New Hampshire bishop quipped that he did “feel a little rumble” when he referenced the recent Episcopal votes to approve same-sex marriage rites. But Robinson was convinced White was not rolling over in his grave.
Thanks for sharing the wisdom of Gene Robinson, “apostolic pioneer.â€
[blockquote]Now America has entered an age in which Pandora’s box has been opened, he said, revealing that “we’re coming to the place where there are as many sexualities — plural — as there are human beings, because no two of us have the same experience.”[/blockquote]
This reminds me of the discussion in the 1990s HOB over the uniqueness of Christ. “I have no problem with the uniqueness of Christ,†said one bishop. “We’re all unique.â€
[blockquote]Americans need to see this as a kind of spiritual journey toward new revelations, the bishop said. Gay believers have already been there and done that.[/blockquote]
When the p.c. revisers the 1982 Hymnal omitted James Russell Lowell’s stirring “Once to Every Man and Nation,†presumably because they could not find a monosyllabic LGBTQ substitute for “m*n,†they also lost the banner verse for TEC: “New occasions teach new duties, Time makes ancient good uncouth.â€
I do believe Mr. Robinson hit the nail on the head: The Episcopal Church is all about gay white men deciding where to go to brunch on Sunday. I’m not sure what his global vision is exactly (for gay African and Hispanic men to decide where to go to brunch on Sunday?), but I wish I had come up with that phrase.
I was on the convention joint committee for the 1982 hymnal texts. The objection to the text of the hymn was the references to new Calvaries and God’s new Messiah. The text assumed the inevitability of progress and could be used to justify the progress of TEC. The hymn tune was saved for other texts. Political correctness was not discussed regarding this text.
tune
Good heavens, Dr. Noll, that comment about “uniqueness” is appalling. Theological rot has been eating away at ECUSA for a long time. “Gay” activism and feminist ordination activism have been symptoms rather than causes.
“Americans need to see this as a kind of spiritual journey toward new revelations” what is so blindingly obvious is how seamlessly this tracks with the early church’s struggle with Valentinians.
Based upon Paul’s reference to an ascent to heaven (which he of course downplayed) they assumed the bible had relevance only insofar as it might point to higher experiences for those in coming generations. It was a hodge podge of things, some good, some bad, all inferior to ‘new revelations.’
Gene Robinson tracks with this perfectly.
Throw in Harold Bloom’s ‘America’s God’ and the job is done.
In a conversation this morning I realized that Robinson hasn’t really changed TEC all that much because before he and Louie Crew took it over it used to be about white heterosexual couples deciding where to go to brunch. Which, of course, is how TEC ended up in the mess its in now. I recall a British MP saying a few years ago the the Church of England hasn’t really canged that much either. He said “they used to be for fox hunting and against buggery. Now it’s the other was around”