In the Episcopal Church, every man or women ordained as a deacon, priest or bishop publicly states: “I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation.” (BCP) As your bishop, I take this declaration as part of the ordination vows very seriously. I believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are not only the Word of God, but the living Word of God that continues to speak to us to this day and for all time.
In so saying, I am very much aware that the Bible as we know it today is a compilation of works, representing various literary styles, written by human authors over hundreds of years. While parts are intended to be interpreted literally, other parts are figurative, and some are poetic or history. Underlying all of it, however, is God’s inspired truth, as referenced by Paul in II Timothy.
To argue as some have tried, that whatever prohibitions God may have had toward homosexual behavior, as revealed in Leviticus 18 or Romans 1, only applied to the people to which the original text was written, and therefore does not apply to today’s culture, and modern societies’ enlightened understanding of sexuality, would seem to suggest that somehow God was limited in His understanding of human sexuality. I might remind us of the faith we proclaim every time we say the Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.” If God is Almighty and if He created all that is, as we proclaim, and as Holy Scripture attests to, how can we say that we are more enlightened in this generation that God was when he first inspired Moses and Paul to write the words He gave them?
A fine address by +Bill Love that makes me proud and happy to be a priest of this staunchly orthodox diocese. And rather than trying to lead from the middle of the pack, +Love got out in front and led the way, as a good shepherd should. The resolutions concerning gay marriage ceremonies he mentions and urges passage of at the end of this opening address (that came at the start of the diocesan convention last weekend) did in fact pass, and passed overwhelmingly. In the case of the clergy, the votes passed by 84% and 92%. The laity gave their approval almost as resoundingly, by still decisive figures of 70% and 72%.
Bravo, Bishop Love. Job well done.
Now what will we do for an encore to keep the momentum going?
David Handy+
Ordained in Albany 23 years ago