The following statement from the Presiding Bishop was issued today by ENS:Much of the Anglican world must be lamenting the latest emission from GAFCON. Anglicanism has always been broader than some find comfortable. This statement does not represent the end of Anglicanism, merely another chapter in a centuries-old struggle for dominance by those who consider themselves the only true believers.
Anglicans will continue to worship God in their churches, serve the hungry and needy in their communities, and build missional relationships with others across the globe, despite the desire of a few leaders to narrow the influence of the gospel. We look forward to the opportunities of the Lambeth Conference for constructive conversation, inspired prayer, and relational encounters.
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
19 comments:
Here, Here!
Can you believe what the neo-Puritan, uber-Calvinists will get themselves all torqued up about? They are in an absolute tizzy over ++KJS's use of the word "emission."
Unbelievable!
Even one of our progressive brothers got all caught up in it.
Okay - serious question: Is this a guy-sensitive word? No, it's not an attempt at humor on my part or a snide remark about guys. Honest.
I'm really just trying to figure out what all the fuss is about - except that it's more of "The Hillary Effect."
I don't know. You tell me. What's up with all the fuming about the word "emission"?
I honest to God don't get it.
The conservative hoi polloi are quite amused with the "emission" language. Would you be willing to share your "take" (if any!) on that? (I'm one of the conservatives, and it seems odd to me, but I'm all for the benefit of the doubt.)
Susanforgive me for laughing at our sex-obsessed brothers
Grow up guys
Though I have not had the great honour of meeting the great ++Katherine, I respect and appreciate the fruits of her priesthood enough to know that her choice of words would be intentional, articulate and well thought out. I also know that her proven love and respect for our Church would not want to be the cause of it being embarassed by the adolescent snickers of the sexually immature.
++Katherine's choice of words simply calls the latest from the clowns of Jerusalem simply what it is- anything but a proclamation.
And sadly as a queer feminist, I can't help but wonder if these pre-pubescent male minds would be making such a fuss if the Office of the Presiding Bishop were male-exclusive.
Grow up guys- and be honest enough to recognize how truly blessed we are to have ++Katherine where God has placed her in these times.
David@Montreal
The whole "emission" thing isn't a guy thing. What on earth are you referring to?
It's a totally childish thing. As in, it's not a statement, I refuse to call it a statement, it's just a gaseous cloud, flatulence or something. "Something is emitting from GAFCON, heh, heh." Totally unprofessional.
It shows a total lack of respect for people with whom she doesn't agree. As Susan excellently explains in her post today, the PB is drawing a circle and refusing to let people in that disagree with her. No wonder Jesus wept.
Wait. I'm a guy, and a pretty healthy straight one at that. When I read "emission," I thought of the noxious fumes that come out of the back of the car. It makes you wonder whose minds are really in the gutter.
With that distraction out of the way, my comment is "Well said, indeed."
Sorry Paul ... won't give you that one. Katharine's statement merely does what is LONG overdue with these Schismatic Bozos ... calls bullshit on their pretense to be anything other than power-hungry exclusivists. There's no circle to draw them anywhere other than into accountability for their actions that fly in the face of the core values of the Jesus who called all into his loving embrace.
There is a point where respect needs to be earned. And respecting the inherent dignity of every human being does not require -- in my mind -- tolerating the noxious emissions that sometimes result from their inhumane actions.
Susan, you are not persuasive when you attempt to justify YOUR lack of inclusion of all God's people (those bozos) and your lack of love for your enemies with the old, "He started it".
You are supposed to forgive seventy times seven, aren't you?
Funny, if I changed a few words in your last post it would appear to be coming from the right instead of the left. Nobody's really listening anymore, are they?
I read the PB's statement yesterday. The word "emission" didn't even register.
When your position is to continue the exclusion of LGBT persons from the church, an impossible position to support at this point in time, all you can do is make fun of the Bishop's shoes or purposely misconstrue the meaning of the 11th word in a two paragraph statement. Anything to distract from the substance of what is needed here.
Nobody asked me - but if I were the ABC I would summon Bishop Robinson (univited to Lambeth but going anyway) and Bishop Akinola (invited to Lambeth but boycotting) to a closed door meeting for, using the PB's words, "constructive conversation, inspired prayer, and relational encounters."
paul ... thanks for taking time to comment.
uffda51 ... from your mouth to +Rowan's ears!
The LGBT faithful, Episcopalians all of their lives, simply want to remain so. The conservatives are saying, in effect, we are so offended by some of the “other” people in the pew across from us that we are leaving. I don’t see how the LGBT position, which is shared by the majority of so-called straight people, can be considered exclusionary.
Bishop Katharine, a scientist, has used the word 'emission' in its precise sense. The verb 'to emit' is a neutral one, not in itself implying toxicity, waste products, or potentially embarrassing bodily fluids, which seem to be the associations many people are making. In biology, for example, organisms are said to emit light or sound. The noun 'emission' derived from the verb carries the same neutrality. GAFCON's 'emission' is simply what has issued from it. I see this as a fairly restrained use of language, given the abuse and false witness GAFCON has hurled TEC's way and the delusional wrongheadedness of its final statement from Jerusalem.
No, some sort of tizzy over 'emission' is not a guy thing. I have been a guy for 62 years and it has never been an issue before. ;-)
I am also a licensed ham radio operator. Guess what one of the standard parts in a transmitter is? Brace yourself! We call it an 'emitter.' Funny, no one gets upset.
What really is going on in the verbal haze is that Bp. Katherine finally has had enough, said so, and the bad actors don't like it much. I can almost see her crossing out, "brain fart" and inserting 'emission' in an effort to soften the statement :-().
The wrong wing reaction to President Anderson's statement about the exclusivity of Dr. Williams and Lambeth got similar treatment.
What upsets the wrong wing is that she did not fall into their pre-defined correct reaction for a woman, break into tears and resign. They are bullies: they attack a word. It is the "pick at something small if you are loosing big" approach.
FWIW
jimB
KJS is starting to sputter. The pressure is getting to her. Anyone taking bets she'll finish her decade as PB?
bob ... you're kidding, right? She's solid as a rock AND ready to rock and roll at Lambeth and beyond.
I don't see how emission is necessarily a sexual term. I associate "emission" with pollution, as in emitting fumes, particulates, exhaust,carbon, gaaes, and similar waste byproducts. We've all heard about "emissions control" in connection with environmental issues. ++ KJS gave us without doubt a very accurate statment about what came out of GAFCON---waste material
Bob,
One big difference between male leaders and female is that women have way more experience dealing with abusive relationships than men. I do not know that either of our current leaders have ever been in one, except TEC's with Dr. Williams and ABp Akinola. I do think both of those men are about to find out that women can and do say 'enough.'
I think PBp Katherine will be there next year -- Dr. Williams not so much.
FWIW
jimB
Most everyone these days has multiple LEDs - Light Emitting Diodes - in their home. LEDs are those tiny lights on your computer monitor, TV, electric toothbrush, electric screw driver charger, etc., that show that the power is on. An LED emission, not unlike the GAFCON statement, makes its presence known, but provides little true illumination.
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