Episcopal bishops try to buy time on sexuality issues

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Colorado Episcopal Bishop Rob O'Neill joined his colleagues Tuesday, pledging not to push same-sex unions and openly gay bishops until a wider consensus emerges in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The U.S. bishops, meeting in New Orleans, were responding to a demand by the conservative Anglican majority overseas to renounce their pro-gay policies by Sunday, or face censure or even expulsion from the 72 million- member communion.

However, conservative churches in Colorado won't buy the bishops' carefully worded compromise, the Rev. Jim Paul, of Fort Collins predicted Tuesday.

"We've heard all this before," Paul said.

Paul said his 225 parishioners at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Fort Collins will announce on Sunday's deadline whether they plan to leave the diocese for a more compatible Anglican organization. He expects other Colorado churches to make similar decisions.

"They're being very quiet out there, but we know other parishes are lined up behind us," he said.

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8 Comments
Posted September 26, 2007 at 1:13 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Bob Lee wrote:

“....a more compatable Anglican organization…”

Well, if TEC is IN the “Communion” with the ABC and the CofE, then
does that not leave the other “Anglican” organizations OUT? Simply: will the Global South not leave the Anglican Communion?

bl

September 26, 1:22 pm | [comment link]
2. Adam 12 wrote:

The current crisis may have confused the adjectives we use but not the bonds that hold reasserters together.

September 26, 1:39 pm | [comment link]
3. Scott K wrote:

The irony for TEC is that, despite their strong and clear language condemning foreign episcopal interventions, their weak response from NO will only increase the rate of individuals, congregations and dioceses signing up with overseas bishops and primates.

September 26, 2:04 pm | [comment link]
4. azusa wrote:

Is this a straw in the wind? A reputed ‘conservative’ elected primate of the South African Church:
http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=3840

September 26, 2:53 pm | [comment link]
5. deaconjohn25 wrote:

Jim Naughton of Washington said it accuratelyl when he observed: “We do not want to backtrack on our commitment to Gay and lesbian Christians.” And somewhere else an American
Episcopal bishop endorsed promoting homosexuality in the rest of the Anglican world when the time was right.
    Some compromise!! Gays with live-in partners are still OK as bishops and more could be chosen. Same-sex blessings are still OK for those who want to do thim.  And the Bible is still treated as so much fish-wrapping paper.
    In the meanwhile the plan is to evangelize the rest of the world to America’s decadent views on sexual morality. Sad! Sad! Sad!

September 26, 2:57 pm | [comment link]
6. kb9gzg wrote:

until a wider consensus emerges in the worldwide Anglican Communion

Emphasis on “until?” Don’t they mean “unless,” which was—I think—what the Dar communique used?

September 26, 7:30 pm | [comment link]
7. kb9gzg wrote:

Oops! Sorry to have missed Chip Webb’s corner on this issue. Nothing new under the sun….

September 26, 7:37 pm | [comment link]
8. chips wrote:

See O’Neil may be bending.  If a large group bolts en masse he cannot afford but to reach an accord - he will need the money and they are the easiest buyers. Settlement/buyouts can fund his diocese until his retirement.

September 28, 10:34 am | [comment link]
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