(ENS)
Many bishops came to this gathering in fear and trembling, expecting either a distasteful encounter between those of vastly different opinions, or the cold shoulder from those who disagree. The overwhelming reality has been just the opposite. We have prayed, cried, learned, and laughed together, and discovered something deeper about the body of Christ. We know more of the deeply faithful ministry of those in vastly differing contexts, and we have heard repeatedly of the life and death matters confronting vast swaths of the Communion: hunger, disease, lack of education and employment, climate change, war and violence. We have remembered that together we may be the largest network on the planet ”“ able to respond to those life and death issues if we tend to the links, connections, and bonds between us. We have not resolved the differences among us, but have seen the deep need to maintain relationships, even in the face of significant disagreement and discomfort. The Anglican Communion is suffering the birth pangs of something new, which none of us can yet fully appreciate or understand, yet we know that the Spirit continues to work in our midst. At the same time patience is being urged from many quarters, that all may more fully know the leading of the Spirit. God is faithful. May we be faithful as well.
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
“The Anglican Communion is suffering the birth pangs of something new, which none of us can yet fully appreciate or understand, yet we know that the Spirit continues to work in our midst.”
And Mrs. Schori is the angel Gabriella come to announce the good news.
Why does she so seldom say “Holy Spirit?”
Given that the famous moratorium on same-sex blessings will surely be broken in her church within the week, this statement means nothing. As did the Lambeth Conference.
“The Anglican Communion is suffering the birth pangs of something new, which none of us can yet fully appreciate or understand, ”
You beat me to it Dan, but I just couldn’t give the whole quoted sentence in that I refuse to acknowledge “The Spirit Holy ” would be anywhere near this statement. Its full steam ahead for Her Importance…….
“The Anglican Communion is suffering the birth pangs of something new, which none of us can yet fully appreciate or understand, yet we know that the Spirit continues to work in our midst.” Well, I can’t fault her too much on this passage. She’s right, the Communion is going through the birth pangs of something new, and she, along with most of the TEC establishment is totally clueless about what’s unfolding — but not for long!
[i]We have not resolved the differences among us, but [/i]
In other words: “the TEC refused to see the value of any position other then our own”.
Jim Elliott <><
She studied the “talking points.”
What happened to TEC ? They had the clear majority of Bishop’s. They had the marketplace, Gene Robinson, and Mac Davis, along with activists flow in from around the world. Then the Bishop from the Sudan spoke and the whole conference changed. Tec was completely taken by surprise. The Holy Spirit did a wonderful work and TEC is left to go home again with its tail between it’s legs.
#2 NYT 8-1-08 announces blessing above.
Ah, yes, #8, but that was Saturday. We need one from tomorrow or this coming week. No doubt there will be one.
Compliance with the moritoria begins [acomment posted on Rev Susan Russell’s blog today] “Last night, my wife and I were part of an historic event as we served as acolytes at a truly extraordinary event at St. Pauls Pomona. Our rector, Fr. Mark Halahan, married Jimmy, his long-time partner, in a Nuptial Mass that included two other same-sex couples who also received the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. The presider was Mo. Karen Macqueen. Sharon (aka: Beeper) and I profusely thank our Lord for the privilege of assisting in this uniquely holy celebration. I am on the vestry, and it is my intention to introduce a resolution at the next meeting that our parish will NOT be part of any moratorium!”
“We have prayed, cried, learned, and laughed together, and discovered something deeper about the body of Christ.”
Mundus moritur, et ridet. (Salvian of Marseilles [ca. 405-ca. 495])
The obfuscation is monumental. She says nothing about LGBT, even though TEC’s poor, suffering, marginalized folks seemed to have money to fly that huge cast(e) of activists over for displays, media and “fringe” stuff.
Like the lawsuits, the agenda is hidden in official TEC stuff – ENS, church bulletins, Diocesan Conventions… but lawsuits and LGBT are where the money and leadership activity all go.
“Many bishops came to this gatering in fear and trambling.” As we say in Gerogia, it is a hit dog that hollows.
Why does she not say “Holy Spirit”? Because a) that is Trinitarian; b) it assigns personality to God as person–and we all know that God is us; and c) the meaning of “holy” (set apart as something sacred and worthy of awe) would (should) eliminate most of what KJS and her ilk stand for. There are priests now who go part of this way by eliminating the article “the” from the liturgy, as in “let Holy Spirit be among us–more God is us nonsense. God the Father has been discarded as patriarchal and sexist; God the Son is nothing more than a man worthy of emulation (to a point), but certainly not God; and God the Holy Spirit is being reduced to the equivalent of “good feelings.”
Kate to the Anglican Communion: Drop dead.
I am reminded of Leander Harding’s incisive article “Homosexuality and the American Religion.” Why is it that the American and Canadian churches are willing to take such huge institutional risks? Why is it that they are willing to unreservedly commit their communities to a revolutionary agenda that puts them at odds with the Christian tradition and with most of Christendom? Read Fr Harding’s article for the answer.
[i]We have remembered that together we may be the largest network on the planet – able to respond to those life and death issues if we tend to the links, connections, and bonds between us.[/i]
Terry Mattingly of Get Religion will have a field day with this statement. See his previous blog entries [url=http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3681]here[/url] and [url=http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1602]here[/url] on these types of statements and errors. (But usually such howlers have appeared in the mainstream press, not out of the mouths of a religious leader, let alone the PB of TEC, so KJS takes misinformation to a whole new level).
What about Roman Catholics, what about Orthodox Christians? They are each larger “networks” than the Anglican Communion. Yeah, and then there’s Islam, and the United Nations, etc. etc. A very very very strange statement by KJS.
And remember, Elves, the Anglican “network” is only the size it is because of places like Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya…places that want nothing to do with KJS and her merry band of heretics. Factor in only the like-minded, and her network starts to look like a bunch that will meet in a Fire Island phone booth.
“At the same time patience is being urged,” we will continue onward and downward.
“What rough beast slouches toward Bethlehem, waiting to be born?”
No doubt waiting until after GAFCON had left Jerusalem so it could feel safe from the Gospel!
“The end is not yet; these things are but the beginning of birth pangs…”
At least she didn’t mention cow flatulence.
Here, we have a woman who cannot tell the difference between birth and death.
this is just too sad for words.
But, people, see how smooth this is, how bland, how traditional the language, how soft and accepting the imagery and tone. Battling this is like battling a marshmallow, or hitting a Punch-Me doll. Simple anger or recrimination will have no effect – although such affectless writing makes me furious. She is pouring olive oil on the jalapenos so they won’t burn going down. Accordingly we need not words, but actions because her “essay” is designed to provoke more and more words. If we merely become angry or recriminatory, she will merely claim that we refuse to “listen” to others…. and you know the rest.
We need real fire to burn the trash. Larry
Ms Schori is very pleased. Integrity is not unhappy. Why? There have been moratoria on blessing SSU’s already, and these are simply ignored or dissembled away. No enforcement in the past so no reason to expect enforcement in the future. But I predict that the moratorium about border crossing will be strictly enforced. Why? Look to the money. Rowan is hocked up to his bushy eyebrows.
So this “Something New” of which we are witnessing the birth pangs —
It wouldn’t be something like [b][i]”conjoined twins”[/i][/b] being born — would it?
Because 2 years later, I am still trying to figure out what the dickens she meant by that.
But hey, what was really important was that we all just had such a good time together — la-dee-da, la-dee-da.
From the reports I read, many TEC bishops [i]were[/i] in fact called on the carpet and given decidedly negative vibes by quite a few of their Anglican Confreres. But the perception is always more important than the reality. If we say nothing negative or unpleasant happened, well then, nothing negative or unpleasant happened.
The good Bishop seems to believe more in climate change than the basic tenants of Christianity!
#26, I guess you mean ‘tenets’ of Christianity?
The one solace I can find in the awful debacle that was once the church in which I was nurtured, is that God allowed the ascent of this person to the position of PB, thus making it stunningly obvious on the world stage that WO has been a disastrous development. It could hardly be God’s will for his Church if it drags an entire denomination into sub-Christian practise and heretical teaching.
It would be impossible to demonstrate from among the cohort consecrated to date enough good fruit to support this as a development within catholic order. It was a big mistake, nothing more or less.
“Why does she so seldom say “Holy Spirit?†”
’cause that ain’t the spirit to which she listens.
She knows exactly what she is doing and saying. She is absolutely consistent in her actions and message. This is not denial. As with TEC talking point, they have successfully stayed on message. She/they believe that they have presented a wonderful united front and are understood better than they were. This is a victory for her, TEC, and ++Williams from their point of view.
But there must be death before there is resurrection.
[i]deleted[/i]
“The birth pangs of something new….” That “new thing,” by definition, can’t be Christianity. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” QED.
I think there’s something frightening about this statement. If these are only the birth pangs, imagine the pain of the travail which has yet to be visited on all of us Anglicans. The arise of Satan’s kingdom is filled with much suffering and anguish, I have no doubt.