[Apologetics] Episcopagans form new TEC denomination

[Stuart D. Gathman]

While the 2006 ECUSA General Convention did not bring repentance, it did
bring clarity.  The convened bishops tabled basic doctrinal resolutions
(an attempt by moderate and conservative leaders to find *some* common
ground) such as "Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life" as "too
controversial".  While claiming incompetence to deal with even elementary
doctrinal issues, the bishops were ready and eager to issue authoritative
pronouncements on a host of complex non-doctrinal problems and issues:  
man-made global warming, modern slavery, racial quotas, AIDS, etc.

Bishop Lee of Virginia, an old fashioned liberal, proposed a resolution
for minimal compliance with the Windsor report (a temporary moratorium on
same sex unions and gay bishops/priests until the next Convention), but
this resolution was rejected as "spineless" by the new radical
Episcopagans.  Instead, they changed the name of the denomination to TEC
"THE Episcopal Church" - A Global Church, elected an inexperienced and
theologically pagan woman as Presiding Bishop, and spit upon the Windsor
report by promising to do even more all the things upsetting orthodox
Anglicans.  The new High Priestess of the Episcopagans then delivered her
inaugural homily on the theme, "Jesus Christ our Mother".  Thus, our fears
of weasel words with multiple meanings failed to materialize.  The line in
the sand has been sharply drawn.  Only Rowan Williams in Canterbury
continues to issue "nuanced" statements in the vain hope of holding
together the communion.

Several orthodox dioceses, including Fort Worth, immediately formally
disassociated with the new denomination.  Most others have initiated
formal severance procedings.  A few orthodox bishops, e.g. Bishop Howe of
Florida, have announced their intention to stay with the new denomination
as a "witness" unless and until he is kicked out.  (He could be kicked out
for refusing to confirm a practicing homosexual priest, for instance.  
I'm not sure how he reconciles this with the Scriptual command to "not
even eat with the immoral brother" - perhaps he considers TEC as nominally
Pagan rather than nominally Christian)  In Virginia, several parishes are
already under Global South bishops in accordance with the "alternative
oversight" program.  Twenty two Virginia parishes and counting
are exploring the separation process, including Truro.

For Truro, there will be "forty days of discernment", after which there
will be a congregation wide vote on whether to formally sever ties with
the new TEC and become officially part of the African Anglicans. The vote
will take place after a meeting of the Global South bishops in September
2006 makes a specific proposal.  The meeting will hammer out more
practical permanent arrangements than having African bishops jet back and
forth across the ocean several times a year for confirmations.  Martin has
announced that, however the vote turns out, he cannot in good conscience
be associated with the new TEC, and a vote to join the TEC is a vote for
Martins resignation from Truro.  A vote to join the TEC would, of course,
also be a vote to end all the missions partnerships Truro currently has
with African bishops.

-- 
	      Stuart D. Gathman <stuart at bmsi.com>
    Business Management Systems Inc.  Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis" - background song for
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