{"id":49617,"date":"2015-04-30T17:14:37","date_gmt":"2015-04-30T17:14:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/site\/2017\/2\/1985\/aci_what_then_shall_we_do_a_note_on_the_upcoming_general_convention_of_the_\/"},"modified":"2015-04-30T17:14:37","modified_gmt":"2015-04-30T17:14:37","slug":"aci_what_then_shall_we_do_a_note_on_the_upcoming_general_convention_of_the_","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=49617","title":{"rendered":"[ACI] What Then Shall We Do? A Note on the upcoming General Convention of the Episcopal Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Philip Turner and Ephraim Radner
In what way will our General Convention respond to subversion of our church\u2019s governmental forms, common purposes and Gospel character? Viewing these events and trends in the full light of day we are bound to ask ourselves and others the question put to St. Peter by the crowd to which he preached. \u201cBrothers, what shall we do?\u201d\u009d (Acts 2:37) Peter\u2019s answer was \u201cRepent\u201d\u009d\u201d\u201dturn around. Given the acrimony and bitterness that now characterizes TEC\u2019s common life it would seem that a turning from our combative ways is certainly called for. As a church we certainly need a fresh start, but a fresh start must begin somewhere. Our analysis of the present treatment of our Constitution and Book of Common Prayer points to this place. Let us pull back and, in the processes of change, adhere to the boundaries the constitution has provided us so that change can come about decently and in order, rather than by slight of hand or the sheer exercise of power.<\/p?We say this not as a ploy to prevent the blessing of gay unions or changes in the Book of Common Prayer of which we do not approve. We say it for our own common good and for that of future generations of Episcopalians. If, in order to get a result we may want, we disregard the order laid down for us in our constitution we may be certain that at some future date others will come along with a different agenda, and will follow the precedent of lawlessness we will have laid down.\n\nIn his play, A Man for all Seasons, Robert Bolt presents a scene between Thomas More and his son-in-law, William Roper. Roper says to More that he would cut through all the law of England to get to the Devil. More responds, \u201cand after you have cut through all the laws and the Devil turns around and there is nothing between you and him, what then son Roper, what then?\u201d\u009d Bolt\u2019s point is germane. After we have cut through the restraints of the Constitution to gain an end, what then? Where is our protection from grotesque abuses of power and all their bitter fruits?\n\nRead it all<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Philip Turner and Ephraim RadnerIn what way will our General Convention respond to subversion of our church\u2019s governmental forms, common purposes and Gospel character? Viewing these events and trends in the full light of day we are bound to…<\/span><\/p>\n

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