Episcopal Church: Proclaiming the Gospel
One more reason I’m proud to be Episcopalian . . .
The leadership of the Episcopal Church has affirmed its inclusion of gay and lesbian members and has rejected the demands of conservatives for a parallel leadership structure.
Here’s the news story from The New York Times, March 22, 2007:
Episcopal Church Rejects Demands for a 2nd Leadership
From the statement issued by the church’s House of Bishops:
“We proclaim the Gospel of what God has done and is doing in Christ, of the dignity of every human being, and of justice, compassion, and peace. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ there is no Jew or Greek, no male or female, no slave or free. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God’s children, including women, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ’s Church. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God’s children, including gay and lesbian persons, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ’s Church. We proclaim the Gospel that stands against any violence, including violence done to women and children as well as those who are persecuted because of their differences, often in the name of God.”
The leadership of the Episcopal Church has affirmed its inclusion of gay and lesbian members and has rejected the demands of conservatives for a parallel leadership structure.
Here’s the news story from The New York Times, March 22, 2007:
Episcopal Church Rejects Demands for a 2nd Leadership
From the statement issued by the church’s House of Bishops:
“We proclaim the Gospel of what God has done and is doing in Christ, of the dignity of every human being, and of justice, compassion, and peace. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ there is no Jew or Greek, no male or female, no slave or free. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God’s children, including women, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ’s Church. We proclaim the Gospel that in Christ all God’s children, including gay and lesbian persons, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ’s Church. We proclaim the Gospel that stands against any violence, including violence done to women and children as well as those who are persecuted because of their differences, often in the name of God.”
posted by Darrell Grizzle | 7:16 AM
4 Comments:
Good for the Episcopal Church!!!
That is a well-crafted statement, and it is nice to see inclusion rather than exclusion from one of our religious faiths.
I'm not familiar with the Episcopal faith. What is their belief regarding salvation? If someone does not believe in Christ, does not accept him as their savior, what is their position? Damnation? If not, bravo. If so, further inclusivity may be in order.
I liked the nod to the fact that atrocities are also done in the name of Christianity (by those who I believe, have twisted and perverted Jesus' message).
Just last week in my yoga class, one of the students started spontaneously talking about pork, and how Muslims will kill you in the name of Allah. She had never even *heard* of the Crusades. And I don't mean a Billy Graham crusade, either!
Poor Jesus. He has gotten some seriously bad PR. I am certain he would not be allowed in church if he manifested on Earth today. Probably he'd be out on a corner drumming somewhere. That's where we'll find him.
I agree with Celeste. I think we'd find Jesus today at a drumming circle, not in the cavernous auditorium of a suburban megachurch!
Steven, there's a wide range of views in the Episcopal Church, from conservative to liberal, but I think most Episcopalians do not believe in a literal hell and so would not believe in damnation. Most mainline Episcopalians believe we can find God's truth in other traditions, which is why our Sufi group in Atlanta meets each month at the Episcopal cathedral (they've also hosted events with Tibetan Buddhist monks).
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