As breakaway Anglicans in the United States question The Episcopal Church's alleged rejection of "obvious scriptural teaching," the denomination’s leader made it clear that they are living as Jesus did.
"What does it mean to follow Jesus? How did Jesus live? With whom did he eat? With whom did he converse?" Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori posed at a public forum at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco on Sunday.
"Jesus hung out with people on the margins. He hung out with people who were unacceptable to the Judaism of his time," she pointed out. "I think that's what it means to follow Jesus."
Jefferts Schori happened to be in San Francisco on the day of the deadline set by Anglican leaders for The Episcopal Church – the U.S. branch of Anglicanism – to roll back support for same-sex unions and homosexual ordination. There, she confirmed that the U.S. church would not retreat but are willing to "pause."
The Episcopal head had just come out of a historic meeting in New Orleans with the Episcopal House of Bishops where they released a statement to "exercise restraint" by not consecrating openly gay bishops or authorize public rites of blessing of same-sex unions. The statement was a response to the deadline set by Anglican leaders.
Jefferts Schori, who is nearing her one-year mark as the first female head of The Episcopal Church, clarified that the statement was a reiteration of the stance of its General Convention – the highest policy-making body – as the U.S. church continues to move toward the "full inclusion" of gays and lesbians.
"All people – including gay and lesbian Christians and non-Christians – are deserving of the fullest regard of the Church," Jefferts Schori asserted during the discussion before Grace's Sunday service. "We're not going backward."
Groups of conservative Anglicans were disappointed but not surprised at the Episcopal bishops' response last week. With little hope that The Episcopal Church would reverse course, the Anglican dissidents timed their first Common Cause Council meeting to take place on the heels of the gathering of Episcopal bishops. The Common Cause Partners, an alliance of 10 conservative and breakaway Anglican groups, announced Friday that they have taken the first steps toward forming an alternative structure to The Episcopal Church as a way to remain faithful to Anglican tradition and Christian orthodoxy.
"The church in the West has lost its way," the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, the bishop of Pittsburgh, said in the announcement, adding that the U.S. church body is "weak, in decline and uncertain about Jesus."
"A schism of sorts seems inevitable," said the Very Rev. Alan Jones, dean of Grace Cathedral and moderator of Sunday's forum.
As many continue to predict the split within the third largest Christian denomination in the world, Jefferts Schori notes that there are many Anglican churches around the globe who think the way The Episcopal Church does.
"We have friends everywhere," she said, noting that there are churches worldwide in accord with the direction of The Episcopal Church.
Meanwhile, much of the leaders in the Global South, where some of the largest Anglican provinces are housed, have remained fierce critics of the U.S. church body's liberal direction.
Believing the Anglican Communion should minister to a variety of views, Jefferts Schori said, "The pastor's job as shepherd is to mind the whole flock,” alluding to the biblical parable of the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep in search for the one lost one.
“I am continually, prayerfully reminded of those who are wandering off. The job of the church is to reach ever wider to include the whole."
Anglican leaders who made the request for an unequivocal pledge from The Episcopal Church not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorize same-sex unions are now expected to respond to the Episcopal statement. Meanwhile, the Common Cause bishops plan to hold their first constitutional convention late next year for the forming of a separate ecclesiastical structure and seek recognition from Anglicanism’s spiritual leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams.
Comments
To be like Christ means to act like Him in character, I mean to have the fruit of the Spirit: love, patience, endurance, kindness, gentleness etc. Don't listen to theologians. They are usually wrong, because of their pride. We must not forget that, in the time of Jesus, the theologians of that age were those who crucified Him.
John5796,
Exactly right! Should we condone this act? No! Should we love these people? YES! This is not a hard thing to comprehend.
The answer to the title of this article is: Stay away from, or get out of this church. I mean, this is a church that condones one of sickest sins a person can commit. "What it means to follow Jesus" is to obey his word, which is plain and clear.
I am glad to read so many comments from those of you who are rejecting the apostasy of Bishop Schori and clinging to the truth of God's Word. Homosexuality is a sin, but false teachers like Schori and others have invaded not only the Episcopal church, but are running rampant through evangelicalism and are secretly permeating conservative circles within all denominations. Keep holding to the truth of God's Word and "come out from among them" if necessary. God bless.
The situation in ECUSA is becoming intolerable. I attend an Episcopal church and I've been waiting for this meeting to take place to see what would happen. Now, I'm forced to make a decision. Do I stay in my church or go? What's really astounding to me is how our priests think they can ignore these issues. I spoke with 2 priests in my area and they both are saying "it shouldn't change what we are doing at ......". I don't think I'm the sort of person to be satisfied with the approach that we can carry on the work of Christ if our leaders don't even belief in the Authority of Scripture. This is really the issue isn't it? I think these liberal priests and bishops are saying in effect "Hath God said that homosexuality is sinful?" That they can EVEN ask the question is stunning. I heard a priest say publically to his congregation that an Episcopalian priest, when ordained, does not say he/she believes in the inerrancy of Scripture. The Authority of Scripture is ALL they have to stand on. If they don't stand there everything is up for grabs and they can make it all up as they so please. This is what we see happening in ECUSA. Unlike the Roman Catholic's they have no central Authority that interprets Scripture and declares RIGHTEOUSNESS as God revealed in His Word.
However, the conservative/othodox Anglicans are clinging to TRUTH and thank God for them!!
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is truly no different than the US head. His private view is that homosexuality is to be accepted as non-sinful. He keeps it private so as to not make waves and to keep the church together. But the shift in authority is clear: if enough Christian leaders agree that this or that is right or wrong, that settles it. The Bible may be difficult to interpret in numerous areas and consequently allow for a variety of positions to be argued as valid. Homosexuality is not one of them. Let ten thousand primates, teachers, and scholars say differently and every one of them is dead wrong. Let them say what they will, but how I wish they would just be honest about this. Disagree with the Bible? Fine. Be bold and straight forward about it, but please don't continue to sound like or dress like you are representing biblical truth or true Christianity, let alone Jesus of Nazareth who Himself taught that the Scriptures cannot be broken.
Mpabe, I believe you are quoting Mark 7: 1-13. It fits this situation beautifully. Our Lord warns us of false teachers and of their deciet. We need to pray diligently for healing of his church and the resolve of this situation. With that, this will turn to His Glory.
Is that lady a homosexual in the pic? what's up?
aeolus14, the difference is that Jesus condemned the Phairasees for adding tradtion to God's Word and, in fact, elevating it above scripture. He did not ignore sin or overlook it. Homosexualtiy is not something the church created a tradition to prohibit; scripture prohibits it. I cannot find once in scripture where Jesus condoned sin and Romans 1 clearly calls homosexualtiy a sin. True love for someone is lovingly pointing out sin for without it there can be no repentance, and without repentance, no salvation.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a whole book on "what it means to follow Jesus." "The Cost of Discipleship" says, "When Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die." A little more to it than "hanging out with people at the margin"
Aeolus14 -
I'm not Anglican, but I see this trend is disturbing. Jesus met with publicans and sinners, but He still called them on their sin. Remember, He told the adulteress to "Go, and sin no more", not 'Go, and don't worry because I accept your alternative lifestyle'. We can love homosexuals without condoning their behavior or accepting their behavior. We can still lovingly remind them it is sin.
I guess I'm in the minority here, but I say good job to Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori & the Episcopal Church. Christ stood up for what is right in the face of an old, rusty dogma, and that is what is being enacted here. The leaders of so-called "liberal" churches get a lot of flack from so-called "fundamentalists," but how could anyone who is unwilling to love and accept EVERY other person really call themself a Christian anyway?
Clearly Katherine is apostate. For in all she does she exemplifies what apostasy IS. It si time a new communion was formed if there is no legal way to be rid of such heretics.
Bishop Shori said many Episcopalians want to live like Jesus did, referring to the parable of the shepherd who leaves the 99 to go and find the one lost sheep. But Jesus never taught that the shepherd should get himself lost by jumping over the cliff himself in search for the lost one. We should not condone homosexual practises but rather lead back those straying sheep to the true faith and practice where they belong.
Once again we see leaders who continue to set aside the plain teachings of scripture to implement their own ungodly agendas.
This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour,
given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but
patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in
subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he
take care of the church of God?) 1Timothy 3:1-5