Seraph mentioned that I have not commented on the week long fiasco that was ECUSAs General Convention. I usually lay low on ‘church matters’ so as not to be too esoteric for our readers.
However, I am no longer sure that ECUSA (and many of the other mainline denominations) on a national level can call itself a ‘church’ at all. Churches do not put matters of faith and morals up to a ‘vote,’ nor are they driven by secular agendas. No one has a ‘right’ to be ordained, it is something that God calls you to. No one has a ‘right’ to anything in God’s Kingdom. We relinquish our rights for the sake of Christ and the sake of the the Body, the Church.
Conventions and Conferences only cause more and more people to become disillusioned with what they thought was a church. What these poor folk learn is that there is nothing ‘one, holy, catholic, or apostolic’ about elitists voting away the soul of their own faith.
PS The photo is not from the General Convention, but from Trinity Wall Street’s celebration of Trinity Sunday in 2005. A mime and clown mass. Kyrie Eleison.
I agree, Father. Democracy is something which, quite frankly, is a bad thing for a hierarchical church. I talked about this issue the other day over on my blog. To think that yeas defeating nays is somehow the work of the Holy Spirit can be a very dangerous notion.
Are you sure it is not from General Convention?
“No one has a ‘right’ to anything in God’s Kingdom. We relinquish our rights for the sake of Christ and the sake of the the Body, the Church.”
How can you be so sure about that?
The last sentence could be infered to say: We relinquish our rights for the sake of…………., the Church.
Sounds like domination to me.
In my opinion the gist of this post is one of the major missunderstandings promoted by the various translations/interpretations and re-writes of the Bible.
What if Jesus spoke to show us – make clear what our rights really are??????
ANON (it matters not who I am, I just needed to speak my mind)
We relinquish our rights for the sake of Christ and the sake of the the Body, the Church.”
How can you be so sure about that?
Jesus tells us to take up our cross and follow Him. Jesus does not tell us to remain as we are and do whatever we’d like to do. Ultimately, it is for our own good that conform to His likeness, relinquishing oursleves for the godliness of Him. Does it sound like domination? I don’t care if it does. I don’t want to be like my old sinful self. I want to be like Jesus.
This is no misunderstanding. I know my “manifold sins and wickedness, which I from time to time most greviously do commit.” Our right is not to continue sinning—sin is not a right of the Christian. Jesus did speak to tell us what our rights really are. He showed us on a cross.
If you don’t like that, then don’t follow Him. I, on the other hand, can’t not follow Him. He is the only man who holds the words of eternal life.
-j
the other anynomous.
Here again we are relecting on the ALMIGHT. Let us not forget who we are in that relationship and show respect to OUR FATHER. Obedience to our Father isn’t domination.Who knows best!
My refference to domintaion was in regard to the “Church”, not the Father.
Perhaps I mis-spoke – “What if Jesus spoke to tell us what our true ‘heritage’ is”?.(as opposed to rights)
good conversation Padre,
More need to interact with you on this…
http://www.jazztheologian.typepad/improvisus
jt
Father Neo…Nichol here. I found you! Fun! So here is my brothers blog if you want to check it out and say hi. I am telling you that you guys are almost the same person. Well maybe not but close. Have a great trip with Sarah!
Oops. I forgot the link! Here it is.
pastorgavinellis.blogspot.com
Nichol