Friday, March 05, 2004

This may surprise you given my rant yesterday. But I don’t think conservative parishes should leave the ECUSA . . . yet.

After all, the Archbishop of Canterbury and conservative U. S. Episcopal leaders have asked conservatives to at least wait until the Lambeth Commission makes it report in the Fall. And part of being Biblically conservative is giving a lot of weight to what church authorities ask of you.

And the Lambeth Commission was set up by the Primates to try to find ways for conservatives and not-so-conservatives alike to stay in the Anglican Communion. Conservatives have put up with a lot for years and years. Hanging in there for another year or so is not much to ask given that there is an effort to accommodate them.

And, believe me, as a former member of a mainline denomination, I know how aggravating it can be. Yet even this non-Episcopal Fundamentalist is praying and holding out hope for a realignment that would enable conservative North Americans to stay in the Anglican Communion (and maybe let this WannabeAnglican in, too).

Yes, there may be a few bishops who are practically forcing conservatives out. But even in tough circumstances, most conservative parishes can surely hold out for another 10 months or so.

I do absolutely feel that parishes and parishioners should insist that not one dime go to the national ECUSA. For one thing, that's the language national Episcopal leaders understand best. If that demand is not met, then don’t put one dime in the offering plate. There’s plenty of good causes that need our money. Apostasy is not one of them.

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Now, my rant yesterday may also give the impression that I think all liberal Episcopal bishops have horns underneath their funny pointy hats. Not so. One bishop in particular deserves honorable mention, the Bishop of Alaska.

Unlike certain other bishops, the Rt. Rev. Mark L. MacDonald actually works with dissidents in good faith and permits Adequate Episcopal Oversight as requested by the Primates and North American conservatives. Hats off to him . . . or toboggans off, as the case may be that far north.

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I’m not heading to Alaska, but I’m going to be busy this weekend. So I might not post.

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