Jones has been dean of the historic downtown cathedral since July 2012. Trinity is the oldest Episcopal congregation in Columbia and the only cathedral in the diocese. As dean, Jones holds one of the most influential positions in the diocese.
Jones was among 11 clergy and lay people who served on the bishop’s task force, which was established by Waldo to address the blessing resolution passed by the 2012 General Convention of the U.S. Episcopal Church.
Jones’ decision on the matter was swift but not unexpected. The task force included conservatives and liberals and those in the middle, and after many months of dialogue, “I don’t think anyone’s opinion changed,” Waldo said in an interview Wednesday.
The Rev. xxxxx, rector at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Wheat Street, said he plans to gauge congregational support for such a study…However, he said, “I think my responsibility as an ordained person is to pastor the people I’m assigned to. I wouldn’t make any decision this big without them.â€
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Heh. The people persuaded Aaron to help out with the golden calf. I think that was also his excuse.
It is in the reading for today.
Yup. An interesting story. It’s hard to figure how it is that God didn’t vaporize Aaron, or Moses didn’t beat him to a pulp. The usual explanation is that Aaron was buying time, knowing that Moses would be back soon.
Of course, we have to contend with Exod 32:21-24, where Aaron says to Moses, “You know the people, that they are set on evil.”
I guess that this Rector plans on using a similar line of reasoning when he someday faces God. It did seem to work for Aaron.
Many churches are based on the “Aaronic” leadership model. Everyone brings gold (their ideas and opinions) and out comes a golden calf.
I am praying for Dean Jones. He has taken a very courageous stand, and the liberal powers-that-be will not let it go unpunished.
But our God is mightier than the hellish one that they serve.