2.26.2005 | "do not feel subordinate"

The intellectually flabby Episcopal Church, USA, has all but made it official. And for once, the headline in the Washington Post story is exactly right: "Episcopalians Affirm Pro-Gay View -- Church's North American Members Back Same-Sex Unions." The essence of the sad story:

Episcopal leaders in North America declined yesterday to apologize for endorsing the ordination of homosexual bishops and same-sex unions despite growing threats of a schism with other branches Anglican church, which has 77 million members worldwide.

The election of an American gay bishop and the blessing of same sex unions in the United States and in Canada have put the U.S. Episcopal Church on a collision course with the rest of the Anglican Communion.

Now it's not quite clear that a mere apology would have sufficed, although it most certainly would have been a welcome start. The problem isn't that the American church has insulted the Anglican Communion with their promotion of an openly gay priest to bishop. The problem is that they have ignored black-letter Scripture. No, that's not strong enough. They did not merely ignore Scripture, they flouted it. Turned it on its head. And have attempted to make those who say so into appearing to be knuckle-dragging troglodytes.

Pardon me while I get my knuckles out of the dirt, but I stand with Paul’s first letter to Timothy:

2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Absent repentance for his homosexual acts, a gay man should never become a deacon, let alone a bishop. The Episcopal Church USA stands in the dock, and their tussle isn't really with the man-made Anglican Communion, to which they "do not feel subordinate." The struggle for the Episcopals is with God and His word, Scripture. To which the knees of all Christians must bow.

| technorati tag | Christianity|