Posted by
Danny Carlton on Monday, February 12, 2007 10:22:20 AM
The American Episcopal church is the main regional "incarnation" of the Church of England or the Anglican church. Most people aren't aware that there are actually several American denominations that fall under what is referred to as the Anglican Communion. I have a friend who is a priest in the International Communion of Charismatic Episcopal Churches, which is one of the more conservative groups within the Anglican Communion, although not as large as the Episcopal Church.
The problem Rowan Williams, the current leader of the Anglican Communion, faces is that many of the conservative branches of the overall group are very much opposed to the Liberal turn the American Episcopal church has taken, and to make matters worse, any "solution" requires them to seek "compromise" with, Katharine Jefferts Schori, the woman elected as the head of the American Episcopal Church, who advocates ordaining active homosexuals as priests and bishops. The conservative churches see Schori herself as a reprobate, unfit to represent the American Episcopals.
It is revealing to see the language the London Telegraph has chosen to use in describing the various sides.
From the London Telegraph...
Anglican officials are hoping that divisions between hardliners and moderates will surface within this group over the next two days, allowing Dr Williams to appeal to the middle ground. "Much will depend on whose voices dominate the Global South caucus," said one.
Ideological battles can often be won by whichever side is allow to define the terms. The London Telegraph is showing which side they are rooting for my calling the Conservatives "hardliners" and the Liberals, "moderates". That ignores the stubborn...hard line...Liberals have taken in insisting on rewriting scripture to suit their convenience, and also ignoring that the extreme Liberal position of the American Episcopal church is hardly moderate.
What I find most incredulous about the story is the complete absence of any reference to the problem of Schori, a woman, elected to an office scripturally reserved for men only (1st Timothy 3:2)
Other stories...
More Episcopal congregations flee Liberalized denomination
First of many expected congregations to leave Episcopal Church
"Church" of England endorses infanticide
Liberals find sauce for the goose, rather untasty
More from the Episcopal pseudo-church
Episcopalians and Presbyterians abandon any semblance to real Christianity
Anglican split: Sheep among wolves
Liberals v. Extreme Liberals in fight over pseudo church