Scott Gunn: On grace transcending fear

From Scott Gunn's blog "Seven Whole Days:"

The only people who are sowing “incoherent witness
and chaotic common life” are schismatic bishops and manipulative Americans.

You'll want to go here and read the whole thing ... but here's another snippet to whet your appetite for an insightful and enlightening commentary on "bonds of affection and misplaced anxiety:"

When you start poking around, you quickly see that the whole motivation for opposing the inclusion of lesbian and gay people is based on fear. People are always afraid of the unknown. It’s human nature. But it’s not the nature of Jesus Christ, who again and again said “be not afraid” while he was holding out a hand to the most marginalized people of his society.

For years, I’ve been urging patience in the US in our relations with the Anglican Communion. Often Americans are too quick to act unilaterally and too slow to listen. At times, our posture in Anglican Communion conversations has been patronizing or neo-colonial.

But I think we learned something in the last few years about listening. Certainly, the Lambeth Conference was a watershed event. Now I think more leaders in the Episcopal Church understand our place in the Anglican Communion. I hope more and more people understand the value of our communion with a global Anglican Communion.

Around the Communion, the walls of fear are breaking down. I’ve personally spoken with bishops in two different provinces in Africa who until recently did not ordain women at all. And yet these bishops are now looking forward to enjoying the company of women in their houses of bishops. Experience and grace have transcended fear.

Thanks, Scott.

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[Note: the "incoherent witness" quote is from Canon Kendall Harmon's obviously-prepared-before-the-election statement posted on his blog "Titusonenine" ... Mary's election was announced at 5:33 (eastern) ... the statement came at 5:37 ... ironically the exact same moment as the Integrity press release was posted! We are nothing if not on top of the news cycle in this Big Fat Anglican-Episcopal Family of ours!]