These days many Anglicans and Episcopalians are asking themselves this question. With the separation of the Diocese of South Carolina from The Episcopal Church we link arms with a long tradition of believing Christians who for one reason or another have felt the need to separate from other professing Christians. Opinions as to the wisdom of this vary, as they doubtless always will. But over the centuries it has not been unusual for one Christian group to find the views, beliefs and practices of another group incompatible with their understanding of the Truth.
A fascinating example of this recently came to my attention. Since my summer trip in 2012 to Russia, I have become more aware of things in that mysterious country than before. So this story really caught my attention.
Back in 1934…the Bolsheviks tightened their noose around the whole of Russian society….
RE: “With the separation of the Diocese of South Carolina from The Episcopal Church we link arms with a long tradition of believing Christians who for one reason or another have felt the need to separate from other professing Christians. Opinions as to the wisdom of this vary, as they doubtless always will. But over the centuries it has not been unusual for one Christian group to find the views, beliefs and practices of another group incompatible with their understanding of the Truth.”
Interesting article. But honestly, I think most Christians in the US recognize that the Diocese of South Carolina is not “separating itself” from those who believe and preach the Gospel.
That’s the important thing in all of this — that Christians of all stripes in the US — and beyond — recognize that the vast vast majority of the leadership of TEC don’t share the same faith and don’t need to be acknowledged as such. Fortunately the knowledge of the breadth and depth of the chasm between those who believe the Gospel, and most of the current leadership of TEC, is already well-recognized and can only grow.
I will happily receive Holy Eucharist from most of the clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina and its bishops, and often do not receive the same from many of the clergy and bishops in TEC.
And so it goes.
Yes, this article draws a very curious analogy. Diocese of South Carolina is in communion with many more Anglicans throughout the world than is the leadership of TEC – how is that comparable to people who went into the deep forest and lived in complete isolation for 40 years?