tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post2049802670540085349..comments2024-02-15T03:32:25.686-05:00Comments on Preludium, Anglican and Episcopal futures: Why the Primate's meeting is important.Mark Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871096746243771489noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-5225389782471740162016-01-09T08:32:11.459-05:002016-01-09T08:32:11.459-05:00The disagreement among Anglicans in the Church of ...The disagreement among Anglicans in the Church of England and elsewhere is much deeper than the same-sex controversy which is 'merely' (though very important) a symptom of that more fundamental disagreement. Anglicans (indeed all those who believe that Christianity is in some sense true and who wish to be called 'Christians') disagree about who God and Christ are, what they are like, what they have said and done, are saying and doing, will say and do, what the greatest need of human beings is and how God has acted and is acting in Christ to meet that need. Among the most important disagreement is the brontosaurus in the room - the doctrine of Original Sin. Complete and painful candour is needed to be honest with each other. There is no way that the various versions of Christianity can be reconciled under some overarching agreement. Compared with this enormous disagreement the survival or not of the Anglican Communion and the survival or not of the Church of England in its present form are relatively (stressed) unimportant.<br /><br />Phil Almondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-20105808174499538362016-01-08T13:59:23.269-05:002016-01-08T13:59:23.269-05:00I do not know where we as an Episcopal Church woul...I do not know where we as an Episcopal Church would be without Mark Harris' incisive commentaries through the years. We would not as centered nor as wise without him. <br />Tom Woodwardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-87520561210919433482016-01-08T10:35:49.098-05:002016-01-08T10:35:49.098-05:00
I am one of the many lifelong Episcopalians, Mark...<br />I am one of the many lifelong Episcopalians, Mark, who is indeed “tired of all this foolishness.” The only acceptable outcome is possibility (ii) as you have outlined. If the GAFCON provinces want to leave, let them and good riddance! <br /><br />The only GAFCON affiliate with which I have any interest in at all is the Church of the Province of West Africa’s Episcopal Church of Liberia, which was initiated by American missionaries in 1836. Today’s Liberia was amalgamated from America’s only African colonies. They signed a Covenant Agreement with TEC in 1979 and have stated clearly that they remain in communion with both TEC and the Anglican Church of Canada—even if they have some disagreements with us on various issues.<br /><br />In provinces of the Global South, subsidizing schisms from TEC, ACofC, etc. may end up being dangerous for their own continued unity. I’m really surprised at their lack of self-awareness and self-reflection in this regard. They apparently believe that they can only be actors on the stage of the West, and that they cannot be acted upon in their own home territories. Even now they may be setting the stages for their own schisms somewhere down the road. Those schisms may not be that far off, either. Thus far, the historic North American Anglican Churches have practiced restraint—as befitting senior founders of the Anglican Communion. We will see what happens next week, however. Things could get very interesting very fast for some conservative Evangelical leaders in the Third World and elsewhere.<br /><br />Kurt Hill<br />Brooklyn, NY<br />Kurtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-68552093726303776252016-01-07T17:54:37.202-05:002016-01-07T17:54:37.202-05:00Weary travelers. I believe many (millions) of Ang...Weary travelers. I believe many (millions) of Anglican/other LGBTI people are worn out by attempting to understand *religious* people who believe WE live a dirty-colored version/vision in the world of their world-wide blame making. We know (mostly) they have always been *upset* at the thought of US...troubled, indeed, very troubled. Possessed? focused on personal prestige or financial success? Obsessed. Dangergous. Unkind.<br /><br />When fear/loathing and hatemongering directed against LGBTI Anglicans/others is wrapped up in little un-holy-statements about WHO ¨Gay People¨ (really) are we get more tired. Exhausted. The ignorance and basic lack of human/spiritual love, faux-Christian-hospitality or the offering up of any model of TRUE character building at Church leaves many of us without hope. We are sometimes running on empty but still we have trust in God. <br /><br />There is no room left for sweet little purity chats ABOUT US, LGBTI Christians/others, by people who quite often would have US be outcasts/arrested/punished within our own countries, cultures and even amongst our OWN family and friends.<br /><br />There is no amount of self-soothing spew GAFCON archbishops can spread around that will validate the harm they do to LGBTI Anglicans in Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya and beyond...these men, and they are men, do not save Souls (or Lives) with their deadly unkindness...we know them better than they know themselves...yet, they know what they do.<br /><br />They attempt to harm the spirit of fellow human beings.<br /><br />There is no place left for prejudice, bigotry and emotionally twisted pogoms-at-Church to thrive...not at Canterbury Cathedral, not at the ¨Pearl of Africa¨ or downtown Buenos Aires. Lord, please, ¨no more¨ raw LGBTI demoralizing and excluding at Anglican Communion. <br /><br />Amen Leonardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16667415590825321701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10326675.post-71398886553039214812016-01-07T13:30:14.697-05:002016-01-07T13:30:14.697-05:00Thank you, Mark, for this helpful analysis.Thank you, Mark, for this helpful analysis.Mary Clarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17740106390949553500noreply@blogger.com