Robert Munday: What would Gamaliel do?

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Bp. Schori has elsewhere expressed the view (also reported here) that, "if all sides in the current debate over sexuality and Scripture could 'hold their truths more lightly,' they might yet find a way forward."

Well, okay, if you want to try holding your "truths more lightly," here's a place to start. Let's assume that Gamaliel is right (and he certainly has been proven right about the beginning of Christianity). These Anglicans are as much a division in the Episcopal Church over a difference in religious views as the early Christians were from the Jews. How about applying Gamaliel's test to our present situation? How about dispensing with all the lawsuits and, instead, start negotiating settlements with departing Anglican congregations? "For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

Or am I being too biblical?

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori • TEC Conflicts

4 Comments
Posted November 26, 2007 at 5:20 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Townsend Waddill+ wrote:

The link for the whole article is here:

http://toalltheworld.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-would-gamaliel-say.html

November 26, 12:22 pm | [comment link]
2. Eugene wrote:

Depends which way you look at it.  Why not let the TEC go on its way for a while.  If their movement is not from God it will fail.  So all the reasserters should wait it out and not be so quick ( a mere few decades) to jump the ship.

November 26, 12:50 pm | [comment link]
3. MargaretG wrote:

Eugene

I think the steady direction shown by this graph of attendance in New Hampshire suggests that if the reasserters wait it out for a few decades there will be no-one else left
http://12.0.101.88/reports/PR_ChartsDemo/exports/ParishRPT_1126200744853PM.pdf

Does that not suggest that your Gamaliel test has already been met and it is clear that this is not from from God?

November 26, 5:41 pm | [comment link]
4. Pageantmaster [KJS to Coventry] wrote:

I would like to have met Gamaliel, he must have been someone very special.

November 27, 11:53 am | [comment link]
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