Episcopal Church court sides with priest disciplined for 'Eucharistic fast' against racism

Michie · Monday at 3:30 PM

An Episcopal Church court has sided with a Virginia priest who was disciplined for engaging in a “Eucharistic fast” in protest against white supremacist racism.

The Rev. B. Cayce Ramey had been disciplined by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia for his refusal to administer holy communion during worship services due to his belief that the denomination needed to better embrace racial justice.

The Court of Review for the Episcopal Church announced last week that it ruled10-6 in favor of Ramey, believing that the earlier Hearing Panel made multiple errors in their decision.

Continued below.

Episcopal Church court sides with priest disciplined for 'Eucharistic fast' against racism

An Episcopal Church court has sided with a Virginia priest who was disciplined for engaging in a Eucharistic fast in protest against white supremacist racism

www.christianpost.com

Michie · Monday at 3:32 PM

Wow. My first thought is that is just incredibly wrong. You can’t hold Christ hostage and keep Him from the flock.

That’s really messed up.

Lukaris · Monday at 7:07 PM

Megalomaniac.

Any believer should read scripture like 1 John 2:1-29 to set themselves straight. He must be great for confession since he seems to have a predetermined knowledge of other people’s consciences.

RileyG · Monday at 9:31 PM

Michie said:
Wow. My first thought is that is just incredibly wrong. You can’t hold Christ hostage and keep Him from the flock.

That’s really messed up.

I agree. But I’m not 100% sure, but some Anglicans/Episcopalians have differ views on the Eucharist. Some hold the real presence, other just a memorial. You’d have to ask an Anglican/Episcopalian.

Rose_bud · Tuesday at 3:39 AM

I'm not sure of the polity around this, so out of genuine curiosity, cant they just allow someone else to do it. And allow the priest to make it his personal fast, considering that it appears to be a personal conviction.

Paidiske · Tuesday at 4:24 AM

Rose_bud said:
I'm not sure of the polity around this, so out of genuine curiosity, cant they just allow someone else to do it. And allow the priest to make it his personal fast, considering that it appears to be a personal conviction.

They could, but it'd be hard to argue that he was then fulfilling his responsibilities. It sounds as if this decision has been made on technicalities, including the technicality that his bishop didn't explicitly instruct him not to do this, rather than on a decision that it's essentially legitimate for him to do what he did.

Gregory Thompson · Tuesday at 4:41 AM

Reminds me of the Orthodox council of Constantinople in 1872. Racism was determined a heresy. Is heresy a good reason to not give communion in most traditions?

jas3 · Tuesday at 12:59 PM

Gregory Thompson said:
Reminds me of the Orthodox council of Constantinople in 1872. Racism was determined a heresy. Is heresy a good reason to not give communion in most traditions?

Phyletism isn't racism, it's the idea that there should be separate churches for separate races, which may be the result of racist thought. Phyletism is what was condemned as a heresy at Constantinople 1872, not racism in general.

Regardless, the idea of a priest withholding Holy Communion from everyone based on his being angry at the broader Church is unthinkable. I guess Episcopal ministers can make it up as they go, though.

Gregory Thompson · Tuesday at 4:53 PM

jas3 said:
Phyletism isn't racism, it's the idea that there should be separate churches for separate races, which may be the result of racist thought. Phyletism is what was condemned as a heresy at Constantinople 1872, not racism in general.

That's not what I read. However, explaining how racial discrimination is not racism is kind of futile. (since it is)

Yarddog · Tuesday at 6:04 PM

Michie said:
Wow. My first thought is that is just incredibly wrong. You can’t hold Christ hostage and keep Him from the flock.

That’s really messed up.

I had to really read all of this to try and understand what was occurring. The members of his congregation could receive the Eucharist at three other churches, but what did not receiving the Eucharist do him?

There must be a real problem in his parish with racism.

FireDragon76 · Wednesday at 12:38 AM

RileyG said:
I agree. But I’m not 100% sure, but some Anglicans/Episcopalians have differ views on the Eucharist. Some hold the real presence, other just a memorial. You’d have to ask an Anglican/Episcopalian.

In the Episcopal Church in the US, it is considered a means of grace. I have never met an Episcopalian that considers it otherwise. Even among the Evangelical party.

It sounds to me like the Episcopal church's court was addressing a technicality, without approving of his decision.

RileyG · Wednesday at 11:13 AM

FireDragon76 said:
In the Episcopal Church in the US, it is considered a means of grace. I have never met an Episcopalian that considers it otherwise. Even among the Evangelical party.

It sounds to me like the Episcopal church's court was addressing a technicality, without approving of his decision.

Thanks for the input.

Episcopal Church court sides with priest disciplined for 'Eucharistic fast' against racism

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