Unsettled Christianity

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October 20th, 2011

Okay, maybe they ARE heretics – Episcopalians want to reinstate Pelagius

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If the Rev. Benno D. Pattison, Rector, the Church of the Epiphany in Atlanta, has his way, the 5th Century heretic Pelagius, declared so by the Council of Carthage, will be reinstated at the next and final Diocese of Atlanta annual meeting presided over by Bishop Neil Alexander.

Nearly 500 clergy members and parish delegates will gather in Rome (Georgia) Nov. 4-5 for the 105th Annual Council of the Diocese of Atlanta and vote on reinstating Pelagius who denied original sin as well as Christian grace.

….

According to Pattison, the historical record of Pelagius’s contribution to our theological tradition is shrouded in the political ambition of his theological antagonists who sought to discredit what they felt was a threat to the empire and their ecclesiastical dominance. “An understanding of his life and writings might bring more to bear on his good standing in our tradition.”

Pattison wants to see Pelagius’s “restitution as a viable theological voice within our tradition might encourage a deeper understanding of sin, grace, free will, and the goodness of God’s creation, and that the history of Pelagius represents to some the struggle for theological exploration that is our birthright as Anglicans.

“The church needs to reclaim his voice in our tradition,” concluded Pattison. (Here)

HT

No, no and no. Pelagius doesn’t need to be listened to. At all. Geez. These people are getting as bad as the Baptists.

June 6th, 2011

Catholics invade Maryland

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An Episcopal parish in Maryland announced Monday that it will become the first in the United States to join the Roman Catholic Church under a Vatican process designed to bring disgruntled Anglicans and Episcopalians into its fold.

St. Luke’s Episcopal parish in Bladensburg will become part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington within the next few months. It will sever ties from its liberal bishop, who has spoken out in favor of same-sex marriage and other controversial issues.

The bishop, John Bryson Chane, said in a statement Monday that he approved the separation. Chane said the decision was made with “mutual respect,” adding that “Christians move from one church to another with far greater frequency than in the past, sometimes as individuals, sometimes as groups.”

Maryland Episcopal Church Will Be First in U.S. To Join Roman Catholic Church.

Going… going… gone….

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May 28th, 2011

Can a Federal Budget be Immoral?

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Some Protestant Bishops believe so. Of course, I believe that any federal budget which has more money for an unjust war than it does for the advancement of its citizens is immoral from the start. (Note, ‘money’ may mean less taxes).

Insisting that the term values has relevance beyond such issues as abortion and homosexuality, bishops from the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Methodist Church call in their letter on members of Congress to “come together across partisan lines to shape a budget that defends human dignity and basic economic security for all Americans.”

“If the moral measure of a just society is found in how we treat the most vulnerable,” the bishops continue, “the budget proposal passed by the House of Representatives, which the Senate will vote on this week, fails the basic tests of justice, compassion and a commitment to the common good.”

Protestant bishops call GOP budget ‘morally indefensible’ – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com Blogs.

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May 15th, 2010

Is the West Virginia Episcopal Diocese Crazy? Jim Lewis Loses His License

I couldn’t say it any better than what the local paper has done:

Lewis also takes positions that ruffle feathers. If he thinks something is unjust, he stirs the pot. He has not always done so gently, and he has not always been diplomatic, so he has had his share of adversaries.

Now West Virginia Episcopal Bishop Michie Klusmeyer has revoked Lewis’ license to preach in churches where he was formerly pastor — not for his controversial positions, but because, the bishop said, Lewis visited the sick, prayed and even, Lord forbid, performed a funeral when a family asked him to do so.

Klusmeyer cited a church policy that says: “Clergy who have formerly had a pastoral relationship with a parish will not continue to minister in the former parish in any way.”

You can read the entire story here.

Rev. Lewis is a long time activist priest here in the Charleston area. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him for a few years (a while ago) and he was always there when I called. He was there to defend the weak and the helpless, regardless of the situation.  I suspect there is more than ‘Church Law’ behind it.

The things that the Episcopal Church insist on abiding by…

By the way, Rev. Lewis blogs here.

March 17th, 2010

Episcopal Church confirms first openly lesbian bishop

The Episcopal Church confirmed its first openly lesbian bishop on Wednesday, six years after its first openly gay bishop took office.

“I am profoundly grateful for the many people … who have given their prayers, love, and support during this time of discernment,” Bishop-elect Mary Douglas Glasspool said after learning she’d won support from the majority of her church’s standing committees and diocesan bishops.

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December 6th, 2009

L.A. Episcopal Diocese elects openly lesbian bishop

Los Angeles’ Episcopal Diocese elected an openly lesbian priest as assistant bishop on Saturday, a move likely to stoke more tensions in the global Anglican community over the divisive issue of gay clergy.

The Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, 55, of Baltimore is the first openly gay priest chosen as an Episcopal bishop since Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, whose 2003 consecration deeply strained church unity. Her election must be approved by the national church.

via L.A. Episcopal Diocese elects openly lesbian bishop | Reuters.

December 5th, 2009

L.A. Episcopal bishop vote includes gay candidates

Clergy and lay leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles could make history today when they vote to replace two retiring assistant bishops, choosing from a pool of six candidates that includes two openly gay priests.

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November 13th, 2009

Episcopalians to reach out to Moravians

First the Catholics and teh Anglicans, the Lutherans and the Mennonites and now?

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October 10th, 2009

Conservative Episcopalians Prepare for their Exodus

The people of St. Luke’s Anglican Church have called their La Crescenta parish home for 85 years. Generations of families have grown up within its historic stone walls.

On Sunday, the Rev. Rob Holman will deliver his final sermon there, an epitaph to a bruising legal fight the congregation waged and lost to practice its conservative brand of Christian theology and hold on to the church.

On Monday, St. Luke’s leaders will hand over its keys to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

……”I cannot compromise my faith,” said senior warden Debbie Kollgaard, who heads the church’s vestry. “I think I can speak for a lot of people at the church: What I have is more important than any property.”

Read the rest here,

Conservative Episcopalians prepare for their exodus — latimes.com.

August 21st, 2009

Is America a Christian Nation? Or, how would it look if it was?

Passing thoughts….

Josh has pointed us to a post by Cynthia Boaz at the Huffington Post. I think anyone who has read my blog long enough knows two things about me in this regard:

  1. I do not like to confuse Church and State (see my recent posts in this category, link below)
  2. I do not believe that this country, or any geo-political unit, is a Christian nation.

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August 16th, 2009

Why is it Okay for Liberals to use Religion for their Agenda?

I watch Ed Schultz when nothing else is on, and I cannot find the remote, and I cannot sleep – that’s not exactly fair, I mean, I like Ed, but I am so sick and tired of politics lately. Plus, I have more than my fair share of books to read. But I did catch him last week, at least a little bit. He has asking where the religion community was on health care.

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