The Reverend Richard Haggis speaks out in the June 20th TIMES ONLINE:The establishment of the Church is trapped in a reactionary circle. The increasing power of bishops during the 20th century means that the opinions of lay people are entirely disregarded. Let us have a referendum of lay people in the Diocese of London about Dudley’s choice. But no, the opinion of Christian Londoners matters nothing in comparison with the bigotry of foreign bishops in foreign countries.
I do not mean that to be xenophobic, and the international element of Anglicanism is something I much appreciate (after all, it connects us to those splendid Americans who elected Gene Robinson to be Bishop of New Hampshire — neither Williams, Sentamu, nor Chartres was ever elected, by the way), but the Church of England began quite self-consciously as “a local church for local people.”
It honestly does not matter what they think in Nigeria or Uganda if the Anglicans of London are happy for their gay brothers and sisters to have their marital unions not only respected but blessed in London’s churches.
8 comments:
Hear, hear!
I read it yesterday. Very good & very true.
I do not understand the big deal over someone's sexual orientation. I am straight, male, and faithfully married, and have always genuinely liked women, sexually, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. Yet I was surrounded by both straight and gay people growing up. My first cousin is gay. When I was a child, a gay couple were regular visitors to our home. I sang in a choir of boys and men with a gay choir director. The way I thouht about it, was OK, God made some people differently than he made me, what's the big deal? At church, my focus was on our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar and on the Blessed Virgin Mary. The personal lifestyles of the people in the pews, and at the altar, are a matter between them and God. I never felt it was my role to judge them. At St. Paul's Pomona, where I am a vestry member, we did in fact unanmimously authorize the clergy to administer the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony to all couples, whether same or opposite sex, "applying the same pastoral and liturgical standards." Our resolution was simple and to the point--just treat everyone the same. Our reasoning is that a same sex marriage should be as commonplace as opposite sex marriage--we should not make a big fuss over it. We just recognized reality: God made people of many different orientations and we need to respect God's choices--not substitute our own for His.
Congratulations on making Gafcon's "banned list", just posted on Thinking Anglicans. A badge of honor, for sure.
wow - just found your blog after seeing on ruth glendhill's that you're on the banned list for gafcon! i take that to mean you're doing something right...
from an anglican living in sydney
This is not really relevant to this post so, if you don't allow the comment I certainly understand. I just wanted to say congratulations SUSAN! You go girl!
From Father Jake:
Banned in Jesus' Name
Ruth Gledhill provides us with the "No Entry" flier that is being circulated at GAFCON. Pictured are Bp. O'Neil, Davis MacIyalla, Colin Coward, Louie Crew, Susan Russell, Scott Gunn and Deborah and Robert Edmunds. Congratulations to those who have been honored by their placement on such a prestigious list!
Clyde
Susan, how does it feel to be on Gafcon's "NOT WANTED" list. I think it is a hoot! You can let in other people but just not you forbidden 8.
Susan, how does it feel to be on Gafcon's "NOT WANTED" list. I think it is a hoot! You can let in other people but just not you forbidden 8.
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