Today's news about the Episcopal Church is not surprising. It is the natural result of the church's reckless disregard for the consensus of the Anglican Communion and its total refusal of sober and meaningful dialogue. It is a vivid example of American exceptionalism. It has more than a passing resemblance to the misguided unilateral invasion of Iraq eight years ago. Like that regrettable adventure, the Episcopal Church, arguing from what it thinks is a pure and unblemished motive, has rejected the consensus of the Anglican Communion that more time, prayer and thought need to be spent on this particular issue. It's like that old Davy Crockett maxim, "If you think you're right, go ahead." This kind of bold, unreflected and premature action is profoundly unchristian for at the expense of personal opinion and political action, communion is broken. The election and enthronement of Rt. Rev'd Glasspool was a schismatic act. I said it. It's schismatic. That's the plain truth. Regardless how you feel on the issue (I'm really still on the fence, myself), the actions of the Episcopal Church are spiteful and unchristian. It reflects a mightier than thou attitude that is far removed from the humble and prayerful attitude that is required for truly Christian discourse. It amounts to the American church shouting from a mountain top, " I am a right and you are wrong." It is disgusting and the Anglican Communion should have taken actions like this well before this point.
Unfortunately, I think the Episcopal Church has made up its mind and doesn't really value its participation in a global body of Christians whose lives are biblically centered and are informed by both the catholic and reformation traditions. These people are obviously bigots and are not worthy of communion with the Episcopal Church. It is classic American exceptionalism. Anyone who disagrees with our position is obviously wrong. Nearly, fifty years ago Thomas Merton wrote in Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, "That we can no longer lean from a higher and rarified atmosphere and look down from the firmament to the men on earth to show them the patterns of our ideal (republic). We are in the same mess as all of them." In Merton's view, America has always regarded itself as new and unspoilt and a perpetual frontier. We are always leading the way. We spread democracy around the world because obviously our system is always better than others. The Episcopal Church certainly follows this trend. We need to engage in dialogue soberly and and without judgment and prejudice towards those who disagree. There are certainly good Christians on both sides of the issue. But we seldom hear from the good Christians because their quiet humble voices are drowned out by the thundering voices of bombastic ideologues on both sides of the issue. What we need in the Episcopal Church is more prayer, more love and more respect. We must pray that the recent actions of the Anglican Communion will serve in humbling the Episcopal Church and bringing it back to the table of dialogue. We should pray for our bishops, especially those who are at the center of the controversy; that they be signs of unity and not of division, that they may know the presence of Christ in their lives, that they may discern, through the Spirit, God's will for His Church.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who alone workest great marvels; Send down upon our Bishops, and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace; and that they may truly please thee, pour upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen. (1662 Book of Common Prayer)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hZ7lngr2tI8fYpjZsEJFuAswftWAD9G7A1AO0
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