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ECUSA
double standards?
The
following was a report on a news conference where the Presiding
Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA), Archbishop Frank
Griswold, was being asked questions about the consecration of the
practising gay, Gene Robinson, as bishop.
From
the Christian Challenge website in the Jul-Sept 2003 issue on Page 15 - “One of the more
interesting questions of the conference came from Christian
Broadcasting Network reporter Wendy Griffith. If a divorced male
bishop can live with a man to whom he was not married, what about a
divorced straight male bishop living with a female lover? Or, she
asked, is that only okay if you are gay?
“The
Episcopal Church honours holy matrimony,” so that cleric’s
situation would present a ‘significant problem.’ Griswold said.
“So
there’s a double standard, then?” Griffith asked, at which
point Episcopal News Director Jim Solheim halted the exchange, amid
laughter in the press corps.
Talk
about double standards - and what is this saying to women?
Waves
follow Robinson ordination
In
response to requests from readers, Iindaba prints a summary of
developments that have taken place within the Anglican Communion
since the consecration in America of the first openly gay Episcopal
(Anglican) bishop, Gene Robinson, last year. David MacGregor reports.
These
are some of the ramifications that have been reported as of the end
of December 2003. The fallout is expected to continue in 2004.
Ecumenical
1.
The following Churches have postponed or suspended dialogue with the
Episcopal and/or Anglican Church:
Roman
Catholic Church
Russian
Orthodox Church
Coptic
Orthodox Church
Syrian
Orthodox Church
Armenian
Orthodox Church
2.
Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox have
expressed solidarity with orthodox Episcopalians, as have the
world-wide leaders of the Anglican Communion. The Russian Orthodox
Church specifically expressed a desire to “maintain contacts and
co-operation with those members of the Episcopal Church in the USA
who clearly declared their loyalty to the moral teaching of the Holy
Gospel and the Ancient Undivided Church.”
3.
An Interfaith Dialogue Meeting Between the Anglican Communion and Al
Azhar Al Sharif, one of the most authoritative centres of the Islamic
World, was cancelled because of Muslim outrage over the consecration.
International
Anglican Communion
1.
Nine provinces within the Anglican Communion (representing over 38
million Anglicans - a majority), have announced they are in some form
of impaired or broken communion with ECUSA:
South
East Asia
Kenya
Nigeria
Uganda
Tanzania
Rwanda
Central
Africa
Congo
Southern
Cone (South America)
Zambia
(diocese)
Within
ECUSA
1.
The new Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes has been
formally launched. It was formed at the suggestion of the Archbishop
of Canterbury. The Organizing Convocation was held January 19-20,
2004, in Plano, TX. Twelve Episcopal dioceses sent representatives to
the Convocation.
2.
Broad-based harassment, persecution and intimidation tactics have
been used against orthodox clergy and laity and parishes by
revisionist bishops, dioceses and/or churches.
3.
Some dioceses have repudiated the consecration of Robinson and
refused to recognise him as a bishop.
4.
There has been widespread redirection of funds away from dioceses
and the national church.
5.
Some Episcopalians have already left the church and many others are
still trying to determine what to do.
More
can be obtained from Anglican Mainstream SA: http://www.anglican-mainstream.org.za/
Diocesan
Council resolution on homosexuality
On
18 December Bishop Bethlehem wrote to the Metropolitan, Archbishop
Njongonkulu, informing him of the resolution passed unanimously by
the Diocesan Council of Port Elizabeth.
It
was resolved that:
a)
believing that the action taken by a section of the Episcopal Church
of the United States of America in consecrating a practising
homosexual to the Episcopate, contrary to the Lambeth Resolution 1.10
of 1998, and the statements of the Primates made in 2003, has placed
itself outside of communion with the majority of the Anglican Communion.
b)
calls upon the Synod of Bishops to declare ECUSA out of fellowship
with the Church of the Province of Southern Africa."
Archbishop
Njongonkulu has replied giving reasons why he is unable to accept
this resolution. All clergy have received a copy of his letter and
members wishing to read it may ask their rector for a copy, as it is
too long for publication here.
Books
...
"Down
to Earth and Up to Heaven: The gospel of John and life abundant"
by John Suggit
Of
the book, Bishop Bethlehem writes, "It is not a commentary on
the gospel, but a study guide to important sections, with suggested
questions for dis-cussion. It is an invaluable parish resource.
Because John Suggit is such a scholarly writer, the book will be of
much interest to trained theologians. The book was written as a gift
to The College of the Transfiguration, and all proceeds from the sale
will go to the College - a very worthwhile cause! The cost is only
R50 and copies are available from the diocesan office.
The
“Prayer of Jabez”
Some
thoughts from Fr Roy Snyman tssf
Some
of our readers may know the currently popular little book “The
Prayer of Jabez”. It is frowned upon by some (even bishops), who
fear it plays into the hands of the ‘prosperity cult’
teachers. But anything can be so used if we wish, especially the Old
Testament passages in Malachi on tithing. Do we tithe in order to
‘get’ or do we do it because God requires it of us? We
could even query the Lord’s teaching on sowing generously in
order to reap bountifully.
On
a recent ‘locum’ stand-in I heard a most lovely dedicated
Lay Minister use the Prayer of Jabez as the basis of a good parish
evangelism programme. He was certainly not ‘prosperity cult’
orientated.
Let
us have a quick review of the four points made in this prayer, and
listen to his interpretation. It might just inspire us all.
Remember
that ‘Jabez’ means, or sounds like, the Hebrew word for
‘pain’. This man was so called because his mother delivered
him in agony.
“Jabez
prayed to God for Israel, (1) ‘Bless me, God, and (2) give me
much land. (3) Be with me, and (4) keep me from anything that might
cause me pain.’ And God gave him what he prayed for.” (1
Chron 9:10-11).
Looking
at his work as an evangelist for Christ in his parish, the Lay
Minister saw this prayer as a good basis for his ministry and that of
others. So he expounded on the four points. I try to summarise.
1.
Nothing can be achieved by our Lord’s ministers unless they are
‘blessed’. For him, that meant coming into that knowledge
of his state of grace. All Christians are called to be caught up into
the Grace of God the Father which is in Christ Jesus. That is the
experience of salvation. That seems a pretty sound concept to me.
2.
No evangelistic blessing must be seen to be the preserve of one
group or nation, denomination or race. The Gospel is truly a
‘catholic’ Gospel to include every human being. So the
desire to have ‘much land’ is a cry for no limitations to
be placed on the opportunities for Gospel-centred witness. Indeed. it
is justified prayer that worldly restrictions be overcome so that
evangelists may
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