The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego took another step toward the full acceptance of gays with the ordination of its first openly gay deacon.
During a month in which thousands of same-sex couples were able to marry in California, Thomas Wilson was ordained to the transitional diaconate by San Diego Bishop James Mathes at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. Wilson, who moved to San Diego eight years ago with his partner of 20 years, is expected to serve as a deacon for six months to a year before becoming a priest, Mathes said.
Yet the bishop downplayed the significance of Wilson’s sexual orientation.Mathes said he was not aware that a press release had been sent by the diocese with the headline: “Openly Gay, Partnered Deacon Ordained! First One in This Diocese Ever!”
“The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego calls and ordains gifted people,” Mathes said. “That’s all this is.”
…..and, because Windsor and Lambeth mean N-O-T-H-I-N-G at Rowan Williams’ hands, the bishop will keep the invitation to Lambeth and not a squeak will be heard.
Sure it is. That is why
instead of a press release headlined, “Gifted Deacon Ordained!”
Oh I am absolutely certain that Bishop Mathes gave that naughty press person a good talking to! He probably pointed his finger and waggled it and everything! You just know he did.
In the face of such flouting of Lambeth 110.1, Windsor etc, can anyone – especially ‘Communion conservatives’ – explain why anybody should treat Lambeth seriously, especially since Mathes will be there?
One more nail?
Pray for GAFCON:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs-j-ByzpVE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8BUDEx7XEI&feature=related
This action by the Diocese of San Diego is one of many progressive-revisionist actions within ECUSA that will force schism, I think by design, within the Anglican Communion.
These actions amount to a radical revolutionary movement within ECUSA and within the established churches of the Western nations.
These revolutionaries WANT to see Christianity weakened to the point where it no longer serves as the “moral compass” of Western society.
Destroying that “moral compass” makes it much easier to sell the secular concepts of progressive socialism to an ‘unguided’ and ‘amoral’ society.
Having said what I just said, I have to add that I am rapidly becoming convinced that I have little or nothing in common with ECUSA’s progresive revisionists. They are so changing what they call Chrisitianity within ECUSA that I find that they are, in the essentials, no longer Chrisitians.
Its time for orthodox Christians in ECUSA to shake the dust off their feet and to leave ECUSA’s revisionists to their self-elected heresy and apostasy.
But don’t forget that San Diego passed a resolution at their last diocesan convention to set up a task force to study “holiness in relationships”! Because, of course, this all needs to be talked about some more! (meanwhile, the bishop is *doing* something – but don’t pay attention to that man behind the curtain)
And another larval-stage Gene Robinson burrows under the skin of TEO.
I have seen “TEO” a number of times on this blog in place of “TEC”. I originally assumed it was just a typo – apparently it must be something derogatory. Could somebody spell out what it means?
Thanks.
It means “The Episcopal Organization,” as opposed to “The Episcopal Church.” It’s used by reasserters who want to assert that TEC has fallen so far into apostasy that it’s no longer a church of any kind.
As an insult, it’s pretty unimaginative. I remember at least one commenter who used to refer to the via sinister. I thought that one was kind of clever. “TEO,” not so much.
[blockquote]One more nail?[/blockquote]
No. At this point I think the thing is hermetically sealed.
Ross–Some of the first uses of “TEO” (the coining of it I think) were on Midwest Conservative Journal. It would be safe to say the intention was not to be clever, but rather, mundane–earth-bound. “The medium is the message.”
Now, a question for southern Californians: Didn’t Mathes present himself as a conservative (I use the word advisedly; he was no reasserter) in the bishop search?
TEO pretty-much is a much better descriptor. I like it and use it whenever I’m not using Episcopagans.
One more nail. The correct phrase, but it properly means one more nail in our coffin. Don’t you understand, we are LOSING this battle and this war precisely because we will NOT fight, we will NOT organize, and we are in a minority (only a despised one, alas). Cal is turning into a homosexual Disneyland, where all fantasies become a virtual reality, and all the while, southern Cal has turned into a third world nation. THIS, THIS is what America has in its future, and we talk and talk. Rowan Williams has become a mole in the Anglican organization, and we know it and will do nothing. Look on Anglicanism and despair. Larry
A verse of scripture is very appropriate here. “..broad is the way that leadeth to destruction..”
#13 – OhKay – Mathes did not present himself as a conservative, but he did present himself as a “bridge builder” – he won by only a few votes over the “conservative” candidate. This diocese was deeply divided so he promised to work with all. Of course, in his first year, he managed to drive off most of the conservative churches. Theologically, he is a reappraiser, but most importantly, he is an ECUSA man through and through. Whatever the institution wants him to do, he will do it – no matter what. That is what we are seeing here, I think.
TEC, TEO….I thought TEC stood for “The Episcopal Cult”. No?