Invoking history, the Rev. Martyn Minns, rector of Truro parish in Virginia said in his sermon that there was a tremendous irony in that the first bishop Samuel Seabury fought the legally established authorities of his time in order to preach the gospel, and now more than 200 years later the same issue has emerged again. "At the heart of the struggle then and now was a clear choice as to which gods do we serve."

"The Church of England was more concerned with right order than with offering the pastoral intervention and oversight that this struggling church so desperately needed, and today it feels like déjà vu all over again," he said.

"Seabury decided that the needs of the gospel trumped canonical niceties and so he was consecrated bishop by the Episcopal Church of Scotland and the Episcopal Church in the U.S. was born. I am sure you have all noticed the delightful irony that here in a place where denominational discipline was challenged it is happening all over again."

Minns said that the challenge for those first Connecticut Episcopalians was to disentangle themselves from the gods of civil religion and established order, "and in our case it is the gods of contemporary culture and relativism who beckon and who threaten to ensnare us."

"We have to make a choice. Choice is difficult and none of us want to be known as narrow minded or less than fully inclusive and yet from the earliest times this is the very struggle that has confronted the people of God."

Minns said the Lord warned King Solomon that if he ever led the people away from the faith of their fathers and caused them to follow other gods then disaster would surely follow.

"Instead of their respected position in society they would become an object of ridicule among all people. We face that same choice today."

Minns said the Primates of the Anglican Communion faced the same choices in Dromantine, Ireland recently.

"The Primates stood boldly against those who would seek to re-interpret the faith and instead they reaffirmed the historic teaching of the Communion on matters of human sexuality. They restated their conviction, rooted in Scripture, that marriage is intended to be one man and one woman in lifelong union and those not called to marriage are expected to remain chaste."

"A clear choice was presented at Dromantine: follow historic Biblical faith and accept the same teaching on matters of sexual morality as is generally accepted elsewhere in the Communion, or walk apart from the Communion." Minns said it was still not clear which path they will choose.

"It is not broadminded and progressive for a bishop of the church to declare that Jesus is not the way, the truth, and the life but merely one way among many - it is not Christian teaching, it is destructive teaching and will surely lead to confusion and chaos."

"We need to be on guard against false teachers. False teaching is a cancer in the body of Christ, left untreated it will kill us. Those who would offer the world's wisdom instead of gospel truth - they can and will destroy us!"

Minns said it was not a sign of hermeneutical dexterity to conclude that since Jesus did not specifically forbid homosexuality he must be for it. "Jesus did not specifically forbid speeding on I-95 but I am not sure that we should conclude that he is for it!" Instead of arguing from silence or getting lost in obscurity we need to reclaim the clear teaching of the Bible."

"A gospel of inclusion without a gospel of transformation is no gospel at all," trumpeted Minns. The congregation rose as one and applauded. "We have a clear message to proclaim and a clear commandment to obey."

Minns said it was sad that we had to spend our time on battles when there are people who need to hear of God's transforming love, people who need to know the power of God's healing grace. "Nothing and nobody is beyond His reach. Tonight we have a clear choice to make. We have been given a clear message to proclaim and commandments to obey, let us not get distracted, let us go to the nations to obey a Mt. 18."

ANGLICAN COMMUNION NETWORK leader the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan who received a standing ovation following the sermon said he and the Network stood together and passed a resolution along with the board of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge which was signed by all saying they would stay together and stand steady. "Therefore be steadfast and be immovable, your labor is not in vain."

Bishop James Adams of Western Kansas said, "I have come to tell you that no one should ever be persecuted for their faith especially by those who claim the same thing. Be bold and be strong."

The Rt. Rev. Donald Harvey, Bishop of Newfoundland and Network moderator for Canada thanked the Church in America "for standing by our side." The Diocese of New Westminster passed its infamous legislation and 12 parishes walked out at the particular time. They received tremendous support. We are in this together and walking side by side with you."

"Our two parent churches rebelled and fell into sin and are continuing to do so. But out of the ashes of that rebellion these two great churches are raising up faithful people. We have hope, we have faith and we are moving forward with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are restoring what has been lost with our unfaithfulness."

The Rt. Rev. David Bena, Suffragan of Albany praised the "Connecticut Six" saying they had courage. "We stand with you in the strength of the gospel of Christ. Let us stand for gospel truth come what may."

The retired bishop of South Carolina, the Rev. Dr. C. FitzSimons Allison citing Paul's letter to the Corinthians where the word "encouragement" appeared in 5 verses and "suffering" 7 times - and all in the space of ten verses - showed that we should encourage others in their suffering. He said that the word "encouragement" in the Greek was paracleo, which is also the name of the Holy Spirit.

Fort Worth Bishop Jack Iker said bishops are like children who demand to be seen and heard. "I have come to be seen with you. This is a humbling and enriching experience to be in the presence of the infamous "Connecticut Six."

Albany Bishop Daniel Herzog said there was something screwy for believing the creeds when some bishops can't. "You are to be commended, applauded and honored and we intercede for you and thank you for your faithfulness."

Ugandan Bishop William Rukirande from the Diocese of Kigezi said, "it is a great honor for me to be here. I bring you greetings from Archbishop Henry Orombi. You brought the gospel to Uganda in 1877, and today we have 7 million Anglicans in Uganda. We know this is God's church and we will always triumph, though it hasn't been easy. Jesus was mistreated, we can expect the same."

The Uganda bishop said there was no turning back. "Don't make Him (God) cheap. He is bigger than your enemies, don't fear always praise Him."

The Rev. Ron Gauss, a converted Jew dismissed the crowd in Hebrew.

The six priests under siege celebrated communion, the nine bishops did not concelebrate.

The nine bishops present included Robert Duncan (Pittsburgh); Daniel Herzog (Albany); David Bena - Suffragan (Albany); C. Fitzsimmons Allison, (S.C. ret.); Donald Harvey (Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador,) Canada and the ACN Canadian Moderator; James Adams, (Western Kansas); Jack Iker (Fort Worth); Andrew Fairfield (North Dakota ret.) and William Rukirande (Uganda).

The six Connecticut parishes represented there were Bishop Seabury Church of Groton; Christ Church, Watertown; Christ and The Epiphany of East Haven; St. John's Church of Bristol; St. Paul's Church of Darien and Trinity Church of Bristol.

END