Dunemeister
Well-Known Member
Well, it seems that there's really no place for me to go within the Anglican Church as an orthodox Christian -- at least in my diocese. As a result, I've left the church. Essentially, I had a short conversation with the rector of the church, asking him whether he performs same-sex blessings. Now, the conversation was short, and neither of us had the time at the moment to discuss the matter further. But his answer was "Well, the issue hasn't presented itself to us because no member of our congregation has asked for such a blessing. So we've never had to ask the bishop permission to perform it." So I took it that the church was, at this point, sitting on the fence. Given the situation in our diocese, I figured that was fair enough.
And I have to say, Anglo-Catholic liturgy is deep and meaningful, so on that level I was totally hooked. I also appreciated that the church performs mass every day and also conducts morning and evening prayer every day. So it's a worshipful community. I also liked that, so perhaps I read into the rector's response more favorably than I ought to have done.
Anyway, last Sunday the church offered a sabattical commissioning rite, and during the rite it was made clear that the priest was openly gay. Now the rector's answer seemed a bit more evasive. In any case, I have discontinued my participation with that church.
But what's a faithful Anglican to do? I mean, Anglicanism is all about the "via media". That is, we're catholic but not Roman; reformed but not schismatic. But if we're catholic, we must cling to traditional ethics and submit to the rulings of the ecumenical councils. That means both we must affirm the sinfulness of homosexual behavior (yet not treat it any differently than any other sexual sin) AND, even if your diocese performs same-sex unions or whatever, you must not break away from the diocese and seek "alternative episcopal oversight." But in my diocese, we perform same-sex blessings. Those churches who protest against this have sought foreign episcopal oversight. It's a mess. In other words, in my diocese, there's nothing particularly Anglican about the Anglican church anymore.
There's one (and only one) church in our diocese where traditional Christianity is affirmed and yet they've not broken from the bishop. But there's nothing about this church's worship that's particularly Anglican, either. It uses little of the liturgy that makes Anglicanism distinct from other evangelical expressions. So again, what's the point of going there as opposed to the Baptist church or whatever?
It's a shame because I really do love Anglicanism. I'd like to stick with them through the current crisis, but I don't think I can do that. Certainly, my wife (who has a much stronger Protestant attitude than me) has "had enough." So, with regret, I have ended my participation with the Anglican Church.
If the Church somehow manages to get past the current crisis in North America (the crisis in Anglicanism is pretty much focussed on North America -- the other provinces aren't affected by it), perhaps I'll return. But the Anglican Church will have to demonstrate that they truly do represent a via media in North America.
And I have to say, Anglo-Catholic liturgy is deep and meaningful, so on that level I was totally hooked. I also appreciated that the church performs mass every day and also conducts morning and evening prayer every day. So it's a worshipful community. I also liked that, so perhaps I read into the rector's response more favorably than I ought to have done.
Anyway, last Sunday the church offered a sabattical commissioning rite, and during the rite it was made clear that the priest was openly gay. Now the rector's answer seemed a bit more evasive. In any case, I have discontinued my participation with that church.
But what's a faithful Anglican to do? I mean, Anglicanism is all about the "via media". That is, we're catholic but not Roman; reformed but not schismatic. But if we're catholic, we must cling to traditional ethics and submit to the rulings of the ecumenical councils. That means both we must affirm the sinfulness of homosexual behavior (yet not treat it any differently than any other sexual sin) AND, even if your diocese performs same-sex unions or whatever, you must not break away from the diocese and seek "alternative episcopal oversight." But in my diocese, we perform same-sex blessings. Those churches who protest against this have sought foreign episcopal oversight. It's a mess. In other words, in my diocese, there's nothing particularly Anglican about the Anglican church anymore.
There's one (and only one) church in our diocese where traditional Christianity is affirmed and yet they've not broken from the bishop. But there's nothing about this church's worship that's particularly Anglican, either. It uses little of the liturgy that makes Anglicanism distinct from other evangelical expressions. So again, what's the point of going there as opposed to the Baptist church or whatever?
It's a shame because I really do love Anglicanism. I'd like to stick with them through the current crisis, but I don't think I can do that. Certainly, my wife (who has a much stronger Protestant attitude than me) has "had enough." So, with regret, I have ended my participation with the Anglican Church.
If the Church somehow manages to get past the current crisis in North America (the crisis in Anglicanism is pretty much focussed on North America -- the other provinces aren't affected by it), perhaps I'll return. But the Anglican Church will have to demonstrate that they truly do represent a via media in North America.
