At the recent Lambeth Conference I had a couple of conversations with so-called ”˜conservative’ Americans, both amongst the press and the bishops. I was even able to give the Bishop of Springfield (no relation to ”˜The Simpsons’) some pointers on the rules of cricket as we snatched five minutes in the bar to watch England being clinically defeated by South Africa.
Their depressing and urgent situation in The Episcopal Church becomes ever clearer over time, despite all of the efforts of their liberal church leaders to try and persuade the rest of the Anglican Communion that really we’re just like you. Close watchers of the US, and readers of this newspaper, will be more aware than most of the state of that Church. Heterodoxy is never punished, whereas orthodox impatience is the subject of lawsuits all over the country. And the amount of heterodoxy uttered in The Episcopal Church is truly astonishing. Even leaving aside the virtual atheism of Bishop Spong’s ”˜Twelve Theses’, we’ve had bishops claim that the church can ”˜re-write the Bible’, others make sweeping apologies for Christian mission to those of other faiths, while the Presiding Bishop views Jesus as just one way among many.
Only one comment needed: – YES!
I don’t think it is necessarily the sins that point us to the fact that the Episcopal Church may be under judgment, but rather its members’ unwillingness to repent is under judgment. My guess is that we could dig up all kinds of wonderfully scandalous sins in the lives of British or other communion bishops. The big difference is that ours feel no need to repent of being thrice married, or covering up a brother’s statutory rape, or rejecting Christ. Of course, their election makes sense when one considers what the constituencies want declared of their own behavior.
‘Furthermore, they’ve had scandals the likes of which would destroy the Church of England in the eyes of the world..”
I think that St. Paul would not be pleased with this observation. It would seem that he would produce quite a rant about judging one’s own house before the world gets a chance. I believe he said something about the fact that the world had no business judging Christians…..
I wish that Mr. Carey would have acted so when he had the authority to do so.
Don
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[i]A clarification, just in case there is confusion. The author of the article is Andrew Carey, (the son of former Abp. of Canterbury, George Carey), not the Archbishop.[/i]
Sensible words. Now, what part did he personally have in things getting this way? He was steering the boat for quite a spell, too.
And the confusion is mine. So, he calls and asks Dad.
“A clarification, just in case there is confusion. The author of the article is Andrew Carey”
Thank you very much. Friends don’t let friends communicate in confusion. Thanks for being a friend.
Blush, blush 🙂
Don
“… in the US it’s only a few column inches.”
The plumbline being skew, what should the readers expect? It is only when the temple is destroyed and the remnant exiled that the congregation might see the error in their ways.
[blockquote]Wherefore he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall…[/blockquote]
Be careful Andrew Carey, from what I’ve read, the Church of England (God save her) is not far behind TEC…