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CHRISTIAN
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CHRISTIAN
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STATEMENT BY BISHOP BETHLEHEM NOPECE FOLLOWING CONSECRATION OF GAY BISHOP
TO BE READ IN ALL PARISHES IN THE DIOCESE OF PORT ELIZABETH ON SUNDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2003
The consecration as bishop of Gene Robinson, a man living openly in a homosexual relationship with another man in blatant disregard for the teaching of Holy Scripture and the position of the Anglican Communion (expressed in Lambeth resolution 1;10 of 1998), is not an action to be celebrated, but a deep and grievous error to be mourned.
As the Primates of the Anglican Communion stated at their recent meeting in London, the ministry of this one bishop will not be recognised by most of the Anglican World, and many provinces are likely to consider themselves out of Communion with the Episcopal Church of the United States of America. (ECUSA)
We want to emphasise that our protest is not against homosexually inclined persons, but rather against a section of Church leadership which, through this consecration, is attempting to change the fundamental teachings of the Christian faith. The Archbishop of Cape Town has not spoken on behalf of the faithful of this Province, as he has not heard the mind of the Church fully through deliberations of its general councils and Synods on this issue.
Millions of Anglicans are deeply grieved at the arrogance and self-centeredness of this action, the contempt for God's Word, and the disunity that it causes, and the implications for the witness of the wider Church throughout the world.
We also wish to point out that we, as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, seek in all things to bring God's love and compassion in all needy situations for salvation in order to bring the ideal, but find it unacceptable to be required to give our blessing to sinful demands. The written Word of God, which is the Bible, remains the criteria to regulate our life. We wish to ask all Christian people to pray earnestly for God's intervention to save the unity and witness of His body, the Church.
We, therefore, reject any attempt to promote and celebrate sin within the Church, and urge all Anglicans within our Diocese, to stand firm and proclaim the truth of the Gospel in word, and by example of the inheritance of our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who saves and transforms all sinners who repent and put their trust in Him. We stand by the faithful Anglicans who have been hurt and shattered by this event.
A further resolution will be formulated and brought before Diocesan Council on 22 November 2003. This resolution will then be forwarded to the Archbishop of Cape Town on behalf of the people of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth.
"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Philippians 4:8)
PE bishop condemns gay's consecration
Eastern Province Herald Reporter
PORT Elizabeth's Anglican Bishop, the Rt Rev Bethlehem Nopece, yesterday condemned the consecration of a practising gay as a bishop in the Episcopalian Church of the United States as "very much regrettable and unacceptable".
This is in stark contrast to his senior colleague, Archbishop of Cape Town Njongonkulu Ndungane, who sent a message of congratulation to Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who was made a bishop on Sunday.
The new bishop, a divorced father, was handed his mitre at the service by his gay male partner.
In a letter to the Editor, Bishop Nopece calls on God-fearing people to pray and to exercise "great discernment" on the issue of homosexuality.
Bishop Nopece, who on Sunday declared Port Elizabeth's senior Anglican church, St Mary's, the cathedral of his diocese, warned that the consecration of Gene Robinson could fragment the Church. "Homosexuality is sin, alongside others like promiscuity, adultery, immorality, greed, and theft," he said in the letter.
+Bethlehem's Letter to EP Herald:
Consecration of gay American bishop is unacceptable
THE consecration this week of a practising gay bishop by the Episcopal Church of the United States of America at Durham, New Hampshire, is very much regrettable and unacceptable.
The action of arrogance and defiance of the Lambeth conference 1998 resolution 1.10 which states categorically that homosexuality is incompatible with the Word of God; and that we should, however, continue to listen to gay and lesbian people and exercise a pastoral care, further painfully paves a way to the fragmentation of the Anglican communion.
While we recognise our frailty and sinfulness before God, that which is sinful has to be rebuked, and a call to repentance and salvation has to be made.
Homosexuality is a sin, alongside others like promiscuity, adultery, immorality, greed and theft.
God's love and compassion is then shown at such situation and state of sin. The church should be giving that witness rather than compromising the truth of the gospel and participating in the celebration of sin.
God's forgiveness and transformation can be experienced in any situation by those that seek him. It is only in the act of repentance that God's healing is experienced.
The church should bring that healing wherever it is needed and not forget its mission of God's love with justice and mercy.
I wish to call upon all God-fearing people to be fervent in prayer, and exercise a great pastoral care and discernment on the issue of homosexuality. It is a problem which will not go away until it is confronted squarely to its eradication.
It is interesting to note that, in the history of humankind, when the level of morality goes down homosexuality rises, together with other sinful acts that plague the nations.
Let us continue to call upon the church in prayer and action to take up its duty of giving clear direction on moral issues based on God's Word. There are many challenges that await the church to bring good life to people, such as in areas of poverty and unemployment, and where there is HIV/Aids, crime, abuse, racism, and sexism, so that family life can be built up to produce good citizens in our land.
Bishop Bethlehem Nopece, Anglican Bishop of Port Elizabeth.
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