The cause of the conflict may vary, but historians tell us that in every conflict there is one battle that turns the tide of combat and gives the advantage to the side that will ultimately be victorious. Historians also tell us that within this one battle there is one particular skirmish that will define the outcome, not only for the battle, but also for the entire war, and shape history for years to come.
Read moreThat, in a nation so much smaller than the United States, is notable. For the U.S. Episcopal Church - the denomination of so many of the founders of the United States - has now shrunk to 2.3 million - from what was in the 1960s 3.5 million.
The Post reports:
Read moreThe vulnerability of being born in obscurity, to a peasant refugee couple, in an out of the way place, says to us that God is with us in the smallest parts of life -- perhaps a reminder that we, too, may discover God in those humble and unexpected places if we are willing to go in search.
Read moreAs this process unfolded, we found other bishops in the Anglican Communion who accepted our ordinations and provided Episcopal oversight as we continued our priestly duties. These events raise several critical questions. First, what is meant by "communion?" Secondly, who decides when someone is in or out of communion and upon what grounds? Further, what happens if one bishop defrocks priests and other bishops, as is the case, affirm their priestly ministry?
Read moreI have neither abandoned the communion of this church nor have I renounced my orders as a priest in this church. I have continued to exercise ordained ministry within this communion and, by God's grace and gifting, I will continue to do so.
Read moreWe thought that that was clear enough. But it soon became clear from actions and words and decisions made that not everybody wanted to follow the line of the Communion. And we all knew at that moment that this present separation was going to happen. And basically it happened because there are two ways at the present moment of defining Christianity.
Read moreEventually, the African bishop asked in exasperation, "If you don't believe the scripture, why did you bring it to us in the first place?" Christian denominations worldwide have been deeply divided over issues of gender, sexual morality, and homosexuality. These debates illustrate a sharp global division, with many North American and European churches willing to accommodate liberalizing trends in the wider society, while their African and Asian counterparts prove much more conservative.
Read moreThe Archbishop of Canterbury, together with the rest of the Primates, and (in June 2005) the Anglican Consultative Council ("ACC") graciously granted The Episcopal Church until the 2006 General Convention to turn back to the Communion by complying with several specific requests. We waited, prayed, and hoped for that fateful Convention.
Read moreTragically, the Episcopal Church's fidelity to this Faith has faltered, and it has wandered from this path, forcing us to reassess our relationship to it. Its long slide into error has come to a crisis on the subjects of the authority of Scripture and the Lordship of Jesus Christ, in which the presenting issue is sexual morality. In June 2006, we distributed a report to the congregation–Can Two Walk Together, Except They Be Agreed?
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There's that unholy trinity again: the "doctrine, discipline, and worship" of the Episcopal Church".
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