The Episcopal bishop at the heart of the deep division within the Anglican Communion announced plans to enter into a same-sex civil union next summer.
Taking advantage of a newly signed law that offers civil unions for same-sex couples in New Hampshire, openly gay bishop V. Gene Robinson unveiled an unofficial date for the civil union in an interview with BBC journalist Michael Buerk.
"We were looking for a three-day weekend which would allow people to travel more easily, and that happened to be the fifth anniversary of my election as the Bishop of New Hampshire and thought that would be an appropriate date," said Robinson, according to the Church of England Newspaper.
Robinson was elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire on June 7, 2003, and was the first openly gay bishop to be consecrated that year in November, which widened rifts in the worldwide Anglican body, now at the brink of schism.
The Anglican Communion rejects homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture and opposes the blessing of same-sex unions or ordaining those involved in same gender unions.
Robinson's tentative June civil union would occur just weeks before Lambeth 2008, the decennial worldwide gathering of Anglican leaders in July 2008. Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams, the Anglican Communion’s spiritual leader, has withheld inviting Robinson to the conference, indicating that his appointment as bishop has caused serious division within the communion, but has extended invitations to U.S. Episcopal leaders who supported Robinson's consecration.
The Lambeth Conference is considered one of the Instruments of Communion or Unity but conservative Anglican bishops are threatening to boycott the gathering over the invitation of those who backed the consecration of the openly gay bishop and have not repented for it.
The archbishop of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Peter Akinola, considered the most powerful leader in the Anglican Communion, said the absence of even one province from the meeting would indicate that the Lambeth Conference "effectively ceases to be an Instrument of Unity."
"I believe that Peter Akinola, the Archbishop of Nigeria, one of the primary spokespeople against my election, I believe he is following his call from God as best as he can," Robinson said in the interview. "I just wish he could believe I am following my call from God as best I can."
While Robinson is planning to enter into civil union just ahead of the meeting, he said his critics would find any date he sets "impermissible."
"I am certainly not doing that to rub salt into anyone's wounds, but no one should expect me to penalize me and my partner when these rights are being offered," said Robinson in the interview, according to the Church of England Newspaper.
And although he values the Anglican Communion, the bishop said he would never stand down from his position and God's call to him.
Still, Robinson admitted that as the communion faces schism, mainly over what conservatives say is the departure of The Episcopal Church as well as the Anglican Church of Canada from Scripture, and that The Episcopal Church may have got it wrong.
"This was not just my doing this was an entire community's doing, and that community tried its very best to discern the will of God, and we may be wrong," he said.
"I am ready to admit to you that I cannot be sure that this is the right thing or the right time or the right way," he added.
The Episcopal Church has been given a Sept. 30 deadline to unequivocally pledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorize official prayers for same-sex couples.
If The Episcopal Church does not meet the deadline and answers "without clarifications and unambiguity on where they stand on same sex blessings," some say said it could signal a break up of the communion, as many are predicting.
RSS
St.Paul stressed that listen to every one but vet them in spirit, which is common sense. Now, you use the word "Lord" for God and Jesus. Both of them are not Lords in which you have no freedom but binding down as in moral laws. Our Father is Spirit and sets us Free in spirit. He is not a Lord who binds us. Satan binds you in rituals and creeds. Pope when started killing people and ruling over them addressed Jesus as "Lord" so that in his name he too could lord over people.
Christ Jesus came to set us Free from the yoke of Rabbis and He is not a Lord but our Brother in One Father God.
In the kingdom of Satan, He is the Lord and in his name people are burnt at stake for expressing their views never mind vetting them as stressed by St.Paul.
Old Testament god Yahweh, the creator of male and female, is a Lord and Prophet Elijah, John, the Baptist came in his name and bound people in moral laws of Moses. Jesus never accused any one for sinning but blasphemy or hypocrisy. In God, it the hypocrisy that originates from hearts matters and not the sins.
2 Peter 2:1 -- But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
There is no room for compromise on God's Word. We were warned by Jesus from the very beginning that there would be FALSE teachers who will lead MANY astray. Heresy has infiltrated the church through so called "Progressive" and "Secular" teachings. It is time for the faithful to take a stand and to Defend their Faith.
Ephesians 5:11 states “Have NOTHING to do with the doers of Iniquity but rather EXPOSE them”!
This is a command to be active, to chase out darkness with the light of God’s truth, and to NOT sit idly by, complaining as the world dies around you…
Most Respectfully & God Bless,
Pete
It is TIME to Make a Difference…
Grasso For President Committee
http://www.GrassoForPresident.com
In Jesus, people formed a Mammon-free Church of God headed by Christ Jesus and there used to be a working Bishop who was the administrator. Church members used to work outside and bring the wages to bishop for expenses and distribution to the poor. Roving Preacher, Apostles, used to Sow the Seed of His Word that were harvested through the ceremony of Eucharist also known as entering the Bridal Chamber. But as the Church became corrupt and the greedy bishops entered into immoral activities, the Apostles left their Churches and they opened Monasteries. Powerful Bishops went after the Monks and killed most of them. So, the present Churches are dead Churches where dead bury their deads in letters. Church of England is headed by Queen, the head of Mammon in U.K., so whose faith she would defend? Of God or Mammon? No wonder the Church glorified God when soldiers died fighting for the kings and Queen in the expansion of their Empire.
Jesus has nothing to do with sin but with blasphemy against holy spirit called hypocrisy. So, let these dead in spirit Bishops enjoy their lives as the people in Churches are already dead for centuries.
Carroll23, While Jesus may not have spoken out against homosexualality(and that may not be entirely correct), The Bible tells us that " All Scripture " is given by Inspiration of God. So then, If that is true,And it is, Then what the Apostle Paul said concerning homosexuality is as if Christ Himself said it.
As you no doubt have heard many times,homosexuality is sin in the sight of God. I have no anger toward homosexuals, I do not wish them to hell, Nor does God, Yet if they do not repent and turn from that sin,like all sinners they will face the judgement of a Holy God.
Art.
Sexual sins such, as Homosexuality is not only a sin that leads to death, it is an abomination before the One and only Holy God. Sexual sins were always tied to idolatry and people who bound to having sex outside the confines of marriage between a people of the opposite sex are ultimately dishonoring the body that God gave them to serve the gods of lust and perversion. Repent today before it is too late.
Christianity is not a democracy where people can individually or collectively pick and choose what they want to believe. Christianity is a Kingdom and Jesus is the King, absolute highest authority, and Lord (Owner). Simply put these bishops as well as all homosexual ministers are a fraud. Ministry titles on people mean nothing before our God's eyes and they ought to carry no value before our eyes if the person’s life does not match God’s standard for His disciples. The Lord says in His word that homosexuals shall NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. You see the kingdom of God is much more than heaven, it is right standing before our heavenly Father such that the Lord is our source and our King intimately involved in our everyday lives handing our needs so that we reflect and bear the image of Christ everywhere we go. Then some may ask why can't homosexuals inherit the kingdom of God? Because they reject God's word and they refuse to surrender their lives over the King of the Kingdom, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, by repenting, and forsaking their sins. Rebellion is nothing to play with. Rebellion and pride damn people to hell everyday. True Christians must reject the modern doctrines of devil’s and approach that attempts to pacify the god of the bible into a humanistic non-offensive deity that is not holy and never judges the evil that people do. That pagan approach to god is born out from a heart of rebellion against the kingdom of God because they attempt to resist His rule over them. Genuine Disciples of Christ live a lifestyle of repentance before God.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
The Gospel of the Kingdom ===>>
http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com/#the_message_that_we_were_born_to_hear
Carroll23,
Maybe you should read the Book of Jude. This is a satanic assault upon the Church, and I would advise you not to be a part of it. Jesus didn't have to say a thing about it. It has already been said.
Your article states, "The archbishop of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Peter Akinola, considered the most powerful leader in the Anglican Communion, said the absence of even one province from the meeting would indicate that the Lambeth Conference "effectively ceases to be an Instrument of Unity. First of all, Akinola is a prominent person, not necessarily "powerful., " nor a "leader." He has numbers, but no money and no moral authority anywhere but in Nigeria. Second, the absence of "even one province" from Lambeth means that one province isn't there and that province is considered out of the Anglican Communion. Where does Akinola get these sweeping statements? He, being black, among all people, should understand what it means to be excluded, disenfranchised and abused. Jesus made no statement about homosexuals. But Jesus did speak rather pointedly concerning Pharisees that parade around displaying their so-called virtues. There is nothing in Akinola that reminds me of Jesus either in word or deed. The "powerful leader" should spend more time on his knees asking forgiveness from God for the suffering and injustice he has caused his brothers and sisters, and less time giving speeches and looking for photo oportunities.
" ...no one should expect ME to penalize ME and MY partner ..."
I thought that loving and obeying God was supposed to be primary in the life of a believer, and even moreso in the lives of those who are tending the flock. If God said something you were doing was wrong, then you are expected to put your selfish, sinful desires aside and abide by what the Word of God teaches is right. Period. (That goes for heterosexual fornicators/adulterers and various other sins as well - see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-20 and Revelation 21:8.)
Thanks to the grace of God, we are not free TO sin, we are free FROM SUBMITTING TO SIN through the power of the Holy Spirit. Grace teaches us to say "no!" to ungodliness, and to live SELF-CONTROLLED, UPRIGHT and GODLY lives in this present age. (Titus 2:11-12)
Did anyone every REALLY expect Mr Robinson to abide by the Church's ruling? I mean c'mon. If he isn't going to follow God's Word, what makes anyone think he's going to listen to the Church?