TEC's biggest problem is that many of our leaders don't practice what they preach. Our liturgy is very clear: we do believe in the Holy Trinity, we do believe that Jesus is the Lord and unique in salvation, and we do believe that marriage is only between a man and a woman. That's not personal; that's what we pray. The Church has not changed in these matters, and I was encouraged when the proposal to end Holy Baptism before Holy Communion was defeated. It means we aren't as bad as many think.
Well said, I agree. What do you think about the chances of Communion without Baptism passing in 2015?
The next three years are going to be difficult, but as my rector reminds us, in two years, we will have a new Presiding Bishop. +Lawrence's departure made things worse in TEC as well as for himself and the people who erroneously believed in his tales of TEC's departure (PEOPLE did, not the Church). If people want TEC's leaders to turn around and reexamine, they need to stop bleeding the people who want that. I truly question the ecclesiology of +Lawrence and his band and I wonder if the same was true for all those who went before him and them.
Again, I agree. If all those who have left over the years for various reasons ('79 BCP, women's ordination, sexuality issues, and so on) were still in TEC, the situation might be radically different.
As I said before, there are orthodox alternatives to some of the proposals on the table. A Rite of Adelphopoiesis open to all persons regardless of sexual orientation is, IMHO, a by far superior alternative than the current trial "covenant" which is sloppily done and means very little: it only recognizes a relationship without much of a blessing. A Rite of Adelphopoiesis would consecrate a chaste relationship, bonding two people closer together in something that is ancient and meaningful in our Christian belief: we are all brothers and sisters; coinheritors in and with Christ the Lord. And since it creates a siblinghood, it would mean that any sort of attempt to marry or civilly union would be the equivalent to sacrilege: you cannot marry your brother or sister!
This sounds like a very reasonable proposal to me. What many people forget is that there are those who are in TEC that are gay that choose to remain celibate. There are also those who are straight and single who choose to remain celibate until they are married and there are those who have been married who are now divorced that choose to remain un-married and celibate. It is sad that this group of people have been largely ignored by TEC leadership. It seems that marriages and relationships are defined as being only about the sex.
TEC leadership views on marriage is becoming a slippery slope of sorts. It seems that if one is gay or bisexual, it's ok for them to be sexually active as long as they are in a committed relationship. However, those who are straight are expected to have to wait until marriage before becoming sexually active. This double standard is very strange and lacks theological grounding.
Another thing is to assure that all celibate gays, lesbians, and same-sex-leaning bisexuals have absolutely no canonical or doctrinal limitation in the ordained ministry whatsoever. I would even go so far as to say that all others who are struggling are also not barred, but it must be a true struggle. I struggle with my problems; so does everyone else with their sins. To point fingers on one set of sins like what we are doing now is what is going to destroy us. So, let's not be anti-Christian pietists and acknowledge those who honestly struggle. If they truly are, then there should be no barring from the ordained ministry, although they should formally end any sort of relationship before being ordained; they can go through the entire process otherwise. At the least, this means obtaining a divorce if currently civilly unioned with another individual or otherwise a formal and true pronouncement against continued romantic relationship with said other individual. It doesn't mean never seeing the person again however or keeping a relationship with that person; the Rite of Adelphopoiesis takes care of that...and can go along with a civil domestic partnership.
Again, this seems like a very reasonable approach to me.
Finally, and this is true for all: educate the laity. Teach them what we do and why we do it. Teach them the meanings of the things they are reading, praying, singing. Help them understand their history and their theology. I truly believe this to be paramount in importance even after we solve these issues. We are an Apostolic and Catholic church with valid bishops in Apostolic Succession and valid sacraments (all licit too): teach that!
Agreed and I think this last point goes back to my original post about the decline of protestantism and the decline seen in our church and various other churches. The value of a good Christian education is of the upmost importance. I wonder how many have left their various churches and have chosen not to got to church anymore due to thinking going to church is just not important and not understanding why going to church is important? Teaching those who come into the church and those who are growing up in the church the importance of the sacraments is a good step in keeping people in the church.
For many, they go to church, sing a few hymns, hear a big sermon, sing a few more hymns, pray, and then go home. Many probably feel like they can do these things at home and study the Bible on their own. Anglicanism is sacramental. We need to find ways to reach out to these people and explain to them why the sacraments are so important and why it is so important for us to attend church to receive them. I think that there are many people out there who are seeking Christ, they just don't see how the church fits into the picture anymore.
