An Open Letter to Believing Episcopalians
Jul 18th, 2009 by David
H/T VOL
Saying it like it is - and I think the same holds for the ACoC:
The Living Church recently chimed in on the extraordinary events taking place at the Episcopal Church’s General Convention underway in Anaheim California. Ultimately, the House of Bishops considered (ultimately for not so long) a quick and bold retreat from a progressive agenda after having brought fire down upon itself from around the world for abandoning its commitment to the Anglican Communion.
The hesitation over endorsing gay blessings comes not from a lack of votes for passage, or from fears of an international backlash from the Anglican Communion or the Archbishop of Canterbury. Rather, there is a sense that the progressive agenda can only go so far before a second conservative exodus takes place.
Episcopal believers take note. Nothing should offend you more! The Episcopal Church might hedge. Why? For lack of votes? No the majority is 2:1 or better. For fear of being exiled from the Anglican Communion? No. Indeed through the Presiding Bishop, the American church has not only given the proverbial finger to the Communion, they have insulted the Archbishop of Canterbury personally laying the blame for division at his feet.
Why then consider, even momentarily, hedging on the radical agenda? To enjoy your fellowship? No. You are bigots and anathema to them. They have hounded out those like you and defrocked your priests and bishops in droves. And absent a conscience clause more persecution looms large.
Why then?
Because they need you, bible believing, God fearing, mission minded, ministry engaged people. Without you and your dollars the national church will implode. Another fifty churches and a diocese or two opt out and the naked emperor will be exposed. They cannot sustain their cause if you flee for cover and band together with others who believe what the church has always believed. You are not brothers and sisters in Christ. You are tithes. You are real estate. You are a means to an end. Nothing should offend you more.
There are churches, Anglican and otherwise, all around this country that will care for your soul without ever caring for your money. Find one and run to it.
The Rev. Dr. John D. Richardson, Senior Pastor
St. Peter’s Anglican Church, AMiA
“…the American church has not only given the proverbial finger to the Communion, they have insulted the Archbishop of Canterbury personally laying the blame for division at his feet.”
While I agree this is not fair, he does deserve blame for trying to avoid the issue, rather than trying to resolve it.
God bless you, Fr. Richardson. Clarity and clear thinking are desperately needed.
Thank You Fr. Richardson. It also seems to me that the liberal TEC is trying to get us used to more and more ridiculous doctrine a little at a time (a little leaven, talk about abuse of a biblicl principle). I am in the process of leaving the Episcopal church and though emotionally painful (I have many friends there) it is the only decision I can make. It is a choice of remain in communion with the TEC or with Christ through the amia. I do not unerstand how this could happen; that a presiding bishop and cronies could introduce anti-Chrisian doctrine and get away with it.
It’s like the story of the frog in the pot. He’ll hop out of a pot of boiling water, but if you turn the temperature up gradually he’ll cook.
I tried, without much response to take this sort of tact in my diocese. I claimed that if the 7-8 evangelical parishes, which were among the largest and essentials minded, would simply unify against the direction of our bishop, the diocese could neither afford the lawsuit, nor the lack of fair share, and we could have stopped this train, at least around here, in its tracks. I think this is where the common cause in TEC failed. The many dioceses had enough power together to force the national church into submission. Bit the real will to fight and stand firm was not evident. Around my diocese it was fear I belivee of job loss. Now we have integrity loss instead, and I continue to comment anonymously. Sad really.
The reference to the agenda as a “progressive agenda” is precisely what the general media would describe the movement. However, for Christians and the church this agenda is decidedly regressive. Again I must say we are far too polite when we call apostates liberals. There is a huge difference between liberalism and apostasy and what we are dealing with in the TEC and the ACoC is apostasy. It is tragic when we see no action whatever by the church leadership to call the apostates to account. There seems to be so much emphasis on maintaining communion with Canterbury with no emphasis on being in communion with Christ.