Strife Inside the Anglican Church

Who is the Authority?

Whenever there are serious disputes going on inside any church (denomination) it is imperative that the people decide WHO they're going to follow. It take humility; God gives HIS GRACE to the humble #1. #2, you'd best listen to and obey GOD only. #3, ALLOW the HOLY WORD of GOD to speak for HIMSELF! You folks will never reach a solution because you pay more attention to your ceremonies, traditions and exchange the spiritual things you NEED for the corporeal things you want. The compromise of your heiarchaial demands take precedent over the BIBIE and fail to meet the spiritual needs of your own hearts and that of your parishners.

What is is the Apostle Paul says?..."Therefore, since we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not distort the WORD OF GOD. On the contrary, by setting forth THE TRUTH plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience IN THE SIGHT OF GOD" (2 Cor. 4:1-2). Sorry people, when it comes to GOD and HIS WORD there is no COMPROMISE!!!

LET US PRAY FOR THE CHURCH

IT IS A MATTER OF REALITY AND UTTER NECESSITY AT THIS TIME TO PRAY MORE THAN BEFORE FOR THE CHURCH SO THAT SATANIC DOMINION DO NOT OVERIDE THE TEACHINGS OF SALVATION . A CHURCH LIKE ANGLICAN CAN NOT AFFORD ANY STRIFE NOW AS IT HAS GREAT CONSEQUENCES ON THE CHURCH AND CHRISTENDOM.

LET US CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR GOD INTERVENTION

LET US PRAY FOR THE CHURCH

IT IS A MATTER OF REALITY AND UTTER NECESSITY AT THIS TIME TO PRAY MORE THAN BEFORE FOR THE CHURCH SO THAT SATANIC DOMINION DO NOT OVERIDE THE TEACHINGS OF SALVATION . A CHURCH LIKE ANGLICAN CAN NOT AFFORD ANY STRIFE NOW AS IT HAS GREAT CONSEQUENCES ON THE CHURCH AND CHRISTENDOM.

LET US CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR GOD INTERVENTION

Lambeth 2008

I feel sick at the pit of the stomach to see so much talk, talk, talk with no substance whatever— nothing but hot, HOT air— emerge from that conference. It has cured absolutely NOTHING that ails the Anglican communion and especially it does NOT handle the problem of the ECUSA and that state of disarray the church in general finds itself in the US.

It hurts lifelong Episcopalians as it has done me and I find myself without a haven. Thanks to DO-NOTHING pusillanomous, weak men that these bishops are. It seems only the African bishop breed has enough character and balls to tell it like it is.

I really feel deeply for Bishop Robinson. Here is a man who has devoted his whole life to God and his Church and yet he is treated like dirt by the very people he has dedicated his life to serving. How can anyone say that he is the problem? It is not Bishop Robinson that refuses commnnion with his fellow Anglicans. It is not he who boycotted the Lambeth conference, instead he traveled there at great personal risk with a willingness to witness to any open to the message. If the Africans (and right-wing American congregations) want to go form their own church they should just go do it and stop all the childish drama.

Faith Growth and Schisms

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Of course, human beings are NOT perfect --YET. God's Plan is to perfect us, hence, we live, with free will, in His grace. Why else but to follow him (who is perfect); how else but by the ways we live?

Is God dead, or does God lives? If he lives, as of course, he does, then his creation is on-going, hence the need to continue studying his words (Gospel) in light of the changing, living, world in which we live. This is the true orthodoxy -- not the one that treats creation as done and so nothing must ever, ever differ, change, for nothing can ever become more than what they are already! This is the mother of all schisms -- converting the living world into a sepulcher for it spells DEATH to creation and therefore to its Creator.

No wonder Christ Jesus conflated the thousands of rules, regulations, laws, etc., that the Temple of his time tormenting his people with, into two: (read the Bible, people!) Honor and love God above all else, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. Did he describe and delimited "neighbor"? NO. Every human being is every human being's neighbor. Does love condemn? No. Just the oppoiste: Love cares and cures. Does love reject? No, on the contrary, love includes, accepts, and tends to, esepcially, those who most need tending to.

Faith must help us grow nearer the realization of these two commandments. To seperate from them is the schism we most must fear to commit. It is to place ourselves above Jesus with our prideful assertion of what we "unverstand" of the complexities we ourselves imputed on the clear, simple, teaching of the humble, forgiving Jesus Christ.

God bless.

Garden of Life

"The Roman Catholic church, the Southern Baptists, etc., seem to have no problems upholding orthodox Christianity against the onslaught of secularism. And they are holding their own"

The self-proclaimed orthodox have within themselves a biblical vision of the Church as an Ark,to be defended against the world and within it carry and defend the righteous against the onslaught of the impure, secular world. It is a vision of the Church that is grounded on fear.

John XXIII said this about the Church when he opened the Second Vatican Council about 45 years ago: “We are not on earth to guard a museum, but to cultivate a flourishing garden of life.”

So much what robroy says here and elsewhere on various blogs really repudiates this wondrous sentiment of the pope. He joins in the betrayal of the reactionary forces in the RCC of the spirit of Vatican 2 which is to confidently engage the world knowing that "if God is with us who can be against us."

Nonsense

"The church does not, and never has, existed in a vacuum. This is the VERY reason why the issue must be given wide latitude around the globe versus the narrow views of many outside of the US."

The Roman Catholic church, the Southern Baptists, etc., seem to have no problems upholding orthodox Christianity against the onslaught of secularism. And they are holding their own.

"Either God did or didn't make us all perfect. I obviously believe in the former."

Great example of the spin phrases that are being used instead of sound theological discourse. And of course, this represents the heresy for which Pelagius was condemned. If we are all perfect, who needs a savior?

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Clearly, the Anglican Communion is in crisis. Indeed, to call it a communion at all is a stretch in that 15 of 29 provinces are not in communion with the Americans.

The Episcopal denomination had been growing in the late 90's and early 2000's. The elevation of Gene Robinson and the litigious Ms Schori turned that around and the denomination was the fastest declining - last year. This year promises to be much, much worse with several whole dioceses leaving. If another province wants to know how to govern itself, look to the example of the Americans and do the opposite. We will have the most exclusive "inclusive church"...orthodox need not apply.

Correction needed

In the cases of both Nigeria and Uganda, it is important to point out that that Archbishop Orombi (Uganda) and Archbishop Akinola (Nigeria) FORBADE their bishops to attend. This is not a small oversight, and clearly something that the US Presiding Bishop would never do.

The polity of the Anglican churches across the globe is different in every country--not a small difference. In the US, for instance, a General Convention (not Lambeth) is required to set changes into motion. Likewise, in the English church, there are complications that might involve parliament.

On the secular level, it should be noted that while Orombi and Akinola have repeatedly made debasing statements and supported political legislation which has has and continues to put gays and lesbians at risk of physical harm, prison or death in their countries, two US states have legalized same sex marriage. Thus the secular conditions around the globe where Anglicanism exists are very diverse. Additionally, there are cultures where even open discussion about anything sexual is taboo.

The church does not, and never has, existed in a vacuum. This is the VERY reason why the issue must be given wide latitude around the globe versus the narrow views of many outside of the US.

In a nutshell, this isn't the reason for the problems today anyway. They started earlier (including in the US) over a revision in the prayer book and women's ordination. This is just the latest issue and one they use frequently because it seems to have the best traction.

As for me, a straight Episcopalian in support of lgbt laity and clergy, it is clear that we are being asked to bow to the lowest common denominator which I personally cannot support. Oppressing one group of Christians to allow another to remain in communion makes absolutely NO sense.

The US has been dealing with this issue for several decades, and I believe that will continue.

Either God did or didn't make us all perfect. I obviously believe in the former.