Comments on: 3rd Episcopal diocese splits from church over gays

By: blacksteel

blacksteel — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:29:59 +0000

I’ve followed the reports about the growing tensions in the Episcopal Church and the greater Anglican fellowship ever since the ordination of Bishop Robinson. Many articles create a dramatic impression that the U.S. Church is hemorrhaging. But, in fact, the number of conservatives splitting away is minuscule, no more than about 1% of the total membership, according to one article.

Frankly, I think the liberals have been far too tolerant and lenient towards the conservatives, even as the conservatives have been taking every opportunity to demand their own way or no way. Long ago, the conservatives should have been shown the door and told not to let it hit them on the rear on their way out.

After all, if the conservatives were the majority, that’s what they would do to the liberals.

By: Dave in CA

Dave in CA — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:44:11 +0000

To LOrion,

Make an effort. The Episcopal Church is wonderful community (a few narrow-minded Cro-Magnon notwithstanding.) My husband and I celebrated a full High Church Nuptial Mass on October 18 at our parish church, St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal (Anglican) Church in Hollywood. No shilly-shallying around with “covenant” or “blessing” ceremonies. It was a full blown marriage, done by a guest priest (a dear friend) with our rector serving as deacon, and preaching the homily. There could be no greater affirmation of our place as equal members in our community of faith than that.

I also agree with gew…let them go. Just check the property at the door. The generations of the faithful who provided the donations to build your churches had no intention of ever placing them under the authority of Rwanda, Argentina, or any other Philistine prelature.

Cheers,
Dave Lynch

By: bud burgoon-clark

bud burgoon-clark — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:26:57 +0000

Quincy was and is a small, weak anglo-catholic diocese in the old Upper Midwest “Biretta Belt”, so called because the faith was planted there by Tractarian missionaries in the 19th century. They have 1,800 people in the DIOCESE; contrast that with All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Pasadena CA, a long-time leader in the fight for equality for all: they have 4,000 people in one PARISH.

Quincy isn’t much of a loss. Their bishop probably believes that WOMEN don’t have souls, never mind GLBT people. I have debated him before. The notoriously homophobic rector of All Saints’ 6th Ave in San Diego is now a part of that diocese. Good riddance to all!

Bud Burgoon-Clark
San Diego CA
Married to a MAN and proud of it!

By: LOrion

LOrion — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:09:16 +0000

If I can get myself to believe in a God again who allows his name to be used to promote hate, I would renounce my Catholocism and become Episcopal I think.

By: Trace

Trace — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:02:05 +0000

And this is a form of cleansing for the Episcopal Church. The church is stronger without these splinter groups. I’m just sorry that so much effort has been given to keep the splinter churches in the fold.

By: desert bat

desert bat — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:57:25 +0000

They are not splitting over gays. That is their talking point so that they do not have to talk about how they are splitting over equal rights, like, we have ours and that is quite enough for us.

By: Ken C.

Ken C. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:53:19 +0000

The dioceses of Quincy and Fort Worth have also been two of the most notoriously resistent to women clergy for many years. So its not like this is a surprise.

By: gew

gew — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:08:46 +0000

C’mon kids, it’s time for another rousing chorus.

“And they’ll know we are Christians by our love by our love, yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

Let ‘em go. Open the doors wide and let the goats go.