Sunday, March 25, 2007

Breaking News: +Katharine Not A Heretic

[With thanks to Ann Fontaine]
From Pierre Whalon's blog:

One image I will always remember: a new bishop asked her to clarify her stand on the uniqueness of Christ. +Katharine replied that her view is similar to that of Vatican II (Nostra ætate, actually), namely that Jesus Christ is the final self-revelation of God in the world, but that salvation is possible outside of the Christian Church.

He seemed dissatisfied with this reply.

After adjourning the session, she went right over to him and they talked for fifteen minutes, alone in the meeting room.

This showed two things about the new Presiding Bishop. First, contrary to some reports, her Christology is orthodox. There have been some who have held that extra ecclesiam nulla salus—outside the Church there is no salvation. But this does not jibe with Jesus’ behavior toward Gentiles nor to Paul’s teaching about grace. What is essential, as the PB noted, is that Christians do not know how God saves people outside the New Covenant. Somehow Jesus Christ, through whom all things were made, makes provision, since through him all people are offered salvation.

The other aspect of this incident is that +Katharine Jefferts-Schori cares about people who do not agree with her. She did not know that I was standing outside the meeting room with two other bishops, chewing the fat, until we realized that the two of them were still talking in the room. So this was not for show.

By now it is well known that some conservative bishops switched their votes to put her over the top. “They even brag about it,” remarked one Anglican Communion official to me. All I have to say is—

“Thanks, guys.”

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

This could be very good news, to hear that +KJS affirms Jesus to be the 'final self-revelation of God.' Now, she might use her influence to put a stop to the idea of continuing 'revelation'and put into play the words 'application' and 'discovery.'

Hopefully, she won't append the phrase to be 'Jesus is the final self-revelation of God for us' and she will do her part to inspire us to evangelize all those of other faiths. Yes, this could be good. Let's she what she does.

Anonymous said...

I wonder when you will become so sure of the rightness of KJS that you will be able to stop defending her.

As it is you sound as guilty as anything -- like a child who has done something wrong.

You also sound like a small toddler who thinks her plaything is just the most wonderful thing ever produced.

How about letting the lady stand or fall on her own feet -- rather than running her down with such dubious adoration.

Anonymous said...

That's a perverse use of Vatican II. The Vatican statement acknowledged that Christians outside of the Roman Church could also be saved by faith in Jesus. That's a completely different view to KJS's which is that some who never acknowledge, or even deny Christ, will be saved.

Jake said...

From the RCC Catechism:

Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.

I believe that is exactly what Bp. Katharine has said, is it not?

toujoursdan said...

Peter O said...

That's a perverse use of Vatican II. The Vatican statement acknowledged that Christians outside of the Roman Church could also be saved by faith in Jesus. That's a completely different view to KJS's which is that some who never acknowledge, or even deny Christ, will be saved.


Given the Pope's (JP and Benedict's) comments about and treatment of other faith leaders, I think they not only apply this to separated Christians but people of other faiths.

toujoursdan said...

And I should note that it is similar to the Presbyterian statement:

"Jesus Christ is the only Savior and Lord, and all people everywhere are called to place their faith, hope, and love in him. No one is saved by virtue of inherent goodness or admirable living. No one is saved apart from God's gracious redemption in Jesus Christ.

Yet we do not presume to limit the sovereign freedom of 'God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth' (1 Tim. 2:4). Thus, we neither restrict the grace of God to those who profess explicit faith in Christ nor assume that all people are saved regardless of faith."

Anonymous said...

I am the first anonymous (Frank is my name) and in response to
"I believe that is exactly what Bp. Katharine has said, is it not?" I would point out that we only have Whalon's comment that he heard her beginning a conversation with reference to this. And, most of Whalon's article is about bashing some conservative bishops it seems . .. I didn't get the end of it. So, my point anyhow, is that we have to wait and see what else she says. I don't think anyone gets an A+ in christology judy for beginning a conversation with 'My views are similar to . . '

So let's hope in her (I think) weak interview about other faiths she was trying, strategically, to win a listening ear. Anyone can have a bad strategy. If her fundamental commitment shows itself to be incarnational, trinitarian, and deeply rooted in the vision of the Scripture, then I will be the first to say 'Hallelujah!' Nothing of an extended length that I have seen so far gives me confidence for that, but I am honestly open to it.

Unknown said...

This picture is the most disgusting image I have ever seen. Yes, some conservative Bishops voted to put her in place. The Episcopal Church was lost already, why delay it any longer with a middle of the road PB? Show the majority of Episcopalian's, that don't hear sermon's on world politics every Sunday, who actually runs their church. I have been active in two different churches for 20 years and I never even heard of the MDG.

Anonymous said...

Oh ye of little faith, it is a good and right thing to give +KJS the benefit of the doubt! Everything I have read and heard from reliable sources, she is listening and doing a great job, everytime a woman/female is in a position normally where a man has always been, some men just love to bash women, we are created equal under God......Equal under God, time will tell, however there is no perfect world, +KJS has barely been elected, so pray and hope, get rid of the hate and judgement.

MarkBrunson said...

Thank you, Susan, for allowing us a place to be reminded why the conservative god is not God.