The End of The Episcopal Church? Not Likely
Posted on August 5th, 2009
by Austin Bramwell |
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The past three weeks have been some of the most momentous in the history of the Anglicanism — by some reckonings, let us not forget, the second largest Christian denomination in the world.
To recap: The Anglican Communion — the global network of national churches symbolically headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury — has been splitting apart ever since The Episcopal Church (historically, the Anglican province in the United States) approved the consecration of a non-celibate gay bishop in 2003. In response, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates of the various Anglican Provinces called for an “Anglican Covenant” that would clarify the Provinces’ duties to one another. In the meantime, they asked TEC to refrain from blessing same-sex unions or consecrating bishops living in sexual relationships outside of marriage. Whether Anglicanism would survive as a global church hinged on whether TEC would honor these moratoria.
As of three weeks ago, we know the answer: No. TEC’s bishops voted overwhelmingly to approve resolutions (i) stating that individuals in same-sex unions may be called to “any ordained ministry” and (ii) calling for the development of liturgies for the blessing of same-sex unions. Despite subsequent tergiversations from TEC, these resolutions constituted a frank repudiation of the Anglican Communion’s call for moratoria.
Two weeks later, the Archbishop of Canterbury issued a long statement announcing that efforts to hold Anglicans together had failed. The Archbishop now envisions a “two-tiered” Anglican church. One tier would be fully Anglican in the sense that member Provinces would be in full communion with one another and abide by the Anglican Covenant. The other tier would be in some as-yet-undefined sense less than fully Anglican – Anglican-identified, perhaps. TEC would clearly fall into the second tier.
Theologically, the outcome is sad but also encouraging. A more coherent Anglican church has emerged out of the crisis. Just a few years ago, even the most optimistic of those who conceive of Anglicanism as a third branch of the one Catholic church (the others being the Roman Catholic church and Eastern Orthodoxy) could not have imagined that the Anglican Provinces would move to strengthen their “instruments of communion” and bind themselves to a common Anglican Covenant. Anglicans have long had to experience their Catholic identity vicariously — that is, by preserving tenuous resemblances to the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox churches, whose claim to be Catholic is not in doubt. Now that vicarious experience is becoming more meaningful. The Archbishop of Canterbury himself argues that Covenant Provinces must, before making decisions, consult not only with each other but also with “ecumenical partners” (i.e., the Roman and other churches). The Vatican, meanwhile, has welcomed the emergence of a more unified Anglicanism. The Anglican Communion may yet become the “third branch” of the Catholic church that the Oxford Movement championed.
As for American Episcopalians, they can only experience their break with the Anglican Communion as exhilarating. For years, TEC prided itself, somewhat pretentiously, on its “Anglican comprehensiveness” – that is to say, its ability to tolerate a variety of approaches and doctrines within the same church. That tradition has now been superseded in favor of a new, dominant tradition of New Prophecy. Like some modern Pentecostals, TEC believes that God introduces new revelations into the world – for example, through congenital sexual appetites — that can supplant scripture, tradition and even reason. New Prophecy has quietly established itself as the official orthodoxy of TEC, most of whose dioceses have been waging a slow war of attrition against orthodox priests and parishes. Many, perhaps the majority of Episcopalians believe it would be positively sinful to remain affiliated with a global church that rejects New Prophecy. That TEC has taken such a courageous stand against the Anglican Communion fills them with joy.
TEC’s position is not at all dire. Despite its anti-intellectualism and declining membership, TEC will always be the public face of “Anglicanism” in the United States. Just look around Manhattan: Trinity Church in lower Manhattan sits reproachfully atop Wall Street like a patient hostess amidst unruly guests; the Church of the Heavenly Rest on Fifth Avenue crowns Carnegie Hill with two massive piers standing like the very pillars of best society. TEC is the church of Groton School in Massachusetts and St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire – to this day, potent reminders that the former Protestant Establishment never exactly disappeared. TEC visibly admonishes onlookers: We were here first. Even TEC’s New Prophecy is pitched almost exclusively to upper class whites.
Episcopalianism is now inconsistent with Anglicanism. Remarkably, Anglicanism is just another example of the immigrant experience in America – that is, the experience of standing on the outside looking in. TEC will always be there for those who feel that they truly belong. Whether it had any valid theological claims was always beside the point.
Filed under: Religion
Although this site is fairly conservative, I have to commend the author for writing such a reasonable article. I often read articles from American Conservative in an effort to try to understand the Conservative viewpoint so that I as a minister can reach out and welcome not only the liberal but the conservative Christian. It is only through joint effort can the works we do be truly Works for God.
I respectfully disagree with much in “The End of the Episcopal Church ….” 72-year-old “cradle Episcopalians,” we were married in a Christian liturgy adapted from the Book of Common Prayer by a UCC minister in a Connecticut college chapel in June. I am a retired ordained minister in the Episcopal Church. In 1963 I was ordained a deacon and in 1965 a priest in the Diocese of Massachusetts. Those were days of “don’t ask, don’t tell” - although in 1958 the examining psychologist for my admission to postulancy for Holy Orders made it clear to me that the testing had indicated homosexuality as a part of my make-up.
In 1955 I began my partnered life; Bob and I will celebrate our 54th anniversary as a couple next month. We have never had a negative incident regarding our life together. (Bob is a retired public, secondary school educator.)
Our reasons for marrying at this time are noted within the wedding rings icon on our http://www.nolan-pingpank.com - along with the service leaflet and a few pictures.
We are, of course, pleased that the Episcopal Church (which is far from anti-intellectual) can accommodate well informed conservative as well as progressive theological and moral convictions - evolving interpretations consistent with the Prayer Book’s Catechism. Throughout the Anglican Communion, many faithful people in other Churches agree with us, and many - perhaps most - do not. The Archbishop of Canterbury is free to speak his uninfallible mind on any issue, but he has only his persuasiveness of the moment as an influence in the Communion.
In that all Christian Churches evolve in one way or another and at different speeds, constant tension will always exist between conservatives and progressives, preservers and pioneers. Each cares deeply about its teachings. Some believe themselves to be the first and last word on matters of doctrine and morality, and they defend themselves with “evidence” - the criteria for which each Church selects. Far from a “relativism,” this is a reality in virtually every human field of study and experience; all fields have their respective schools of thought.
Your article commented, “TEC will always be there for those who feel that they truly belong.” Correct, and it may become smaller in number. However, our Lord said, “Feed my sheep,” not “Count them.” Each religious body will feed its flock according to its learned wisdom. Would that each could agree to differ with the other without rancor, while always searching for greater clarity. The same counsel is relevant to all of us - conservatives, progressives, and schools of human thought in every field.
[...] Bramwell explains the troubles of the Episcopal [...]
The Episcopal church seems bent on destroying itself.
They are only living off the fat of previous generations - literally - the land grants and endowments given when it was a healthy, vibrant church.
” that the testing had indicated homosexuality as a part of my make-up.”
Rev. Nolan… while you talk ‘tolerance’ that has NOT been the stance of the leadership of ECUSA - they have deliberately driven out alienated ‘conservatives’ For example there were Episcopals who wanted who wanted to share their expierence of coming out of homosexuality via a relationship w/ God. The Episcopal leadership stamped out those voices.
The imposing of a clearly political agenda by Church leadership, and their intolerance of anyone opposing it (no different than “PC” on university campuses) , has been the source of this rift.
While I am not a ‘fundamentalist… I think St. Paul makes it pretty clear about sexual immorality…- and changing the translations isn’t going to help with a basic truth.
I certainly have been guilty of sins, and no doubt most modern congregations, even ‘conservative’ ones - have people who engage ‘drunkenness and sexual immorality’ ..but they would never think to condone it through church policy as you and other gay activists have done.
I left the Episcopal Church 15 years ago due to my frustration with a denomination that refused to take a stand on anything except NOT being bound by scripture. If you try to accomodate everything, you will stand for nothing. When the Nicene Creed becomes optional, the virgin birth and ressurection become debatable, and there is no guidance regarding sexual morality other than “anything goes,” then it is time to move on. Shame, shame and more shame
The Episcopal baptismal covenant says “seek and serve Christ in ALL persons.” This is especially difficult for those seeking to judge others. Perhaps others will grow into this idea in time. But it takes a while. Look how long we happily hated Jews, blacks, and Catholics, for that matter. Righteous hater: Self-righteous bigot. When they start stoning adulterers we’ll know they’re sincere.
Eric, as the old saying goes the Church stood on a three legged stool of reason, scripture and tradition…apparently the ECUSA has discovered levitation… because there’s nothing else supporting it.
Austin: Yale used to require chapel and is nominally ‘Episcopal’ (as is Columbia and Dartmouth ) do you honestly think that just because there are some gothic buildings that these institution are ‘Christian” in any meaningful sense?
Like many, I am tired of fighting people like Rev. Nolan. They ‘win’. Let them have it, let it topple, let the universities topple, let country topple… none of these institutions can stand the weight of their Marxist ideologies.. the only thing holding them up is us…
The ban on homosexual sex in the bible is not at all clear. It starts with a single ban on male homosexual sex in Leviticus (the Mosaic bible is clear when it wants to include women in its prohibitions). This seems to be a prohibition on men’s not joining in on the production of more Israelites for the sake of survival of the tribes. Then there are vague prohibitions in the Epistles against excessive sex. The big hit against homosexual sex is a matter of “natural law”, which is the invention of the clergy and philosophers AD. I have never understood the fanatical adamance of the various abrahamic religion against homosexual sex or unions.
Once, long ago, the fear was that acceptance of homosexuality would cause the crops to die. Given the expense of farm subsidies, this should point in the direction of favoring such unions.
NGW - Yale actually used to be Congregationalist (in fact up until just a few years ago, I believe). In any case, I agree that it is not Christian.
Mr. Tuchler — I’m not an exegete, but Jesus as his words are reported in the gospel seems to have had a fairly rigorous view of sexual morality (”adultery in the heart” and all that). One may infer that our Lord sought to narrow the categories of licit sexual behavior rather than expand them. The Church has thus quite properly treated various types of sex acts as sinful unless specifically permitted.
The Anglican Bishop of Durham, biblical scholar NT Wright, in the July 15 London Times:
“Many in TEC have long embraced a theology in which chastity, as universally understood by the wider Christian tradition, has been optional. Jewish, Christian and Muslim teachers have always insisted that lifelong man-plus-woman marriage is the proper context for sexual intercourse… It is a deep structural reflection of the belief in a creator God who has entered into covenant both with his creation and with his people (who carry forward his purposes for that creation).
Paganism ancient and modern has always found this ethic, and this belief, ridiculous and incredible. …the biblical witness is scarcely confined, as the shrill leader in yesterday’s Times suggests, to a few verses in St Paul. Jesus’s own stern denunciation of sexual immorality would certainly have carried, to his hearers, a clear implied rejection of all sexual behaviour outside heterosexual monogamy. This isn’t a matter of “private response to Scripture” but of the uniform teaching of the whole Bible, of Jesus himself, and of the entire Christian tradition. “
Ms Schori has now made an edict that property will not be allowed to be sold if it will go to churches of the new Anglican Church of North America. The canons absolutely give her no such authority but she seems to have the majority of bishops cowered by her numerous depositions. (She has deposed more bishops than in the previous entire history of the denomination.)
The irony is that the grand old buildings will be albatrosses dragging down the denomination. The cost of upkeep of these buildings is skyrocketing as parish membership undergoes rapid decline. More and more the focus will be just maintaining the buildings.
The denomination announced among its many budget cuts, it has eliminated the entire evangelism department. They are eating there seed corn. The denomination is plummeting. In contrast, the ACNA is exploding. There is no reason for any hope in the TEC.
This is so true: “Whether it had any valid theological claims was always beside the point.” As a cradel “agnostic” Episcopalian - TEC is like being a cultural Jew. It really has nothing to do with what you believe.
Also, the liberal message sells very poorly. There was a recent survey of clergy of mainstream denominations where the UCC came out on top - of liberality of the clergy with respect to homosexuality and abortion. Guess which was the fastest declining denomination this year? The UCC. The UCC hasn’t seen the lawsuits and controversies of the Episcopal denomination which had the second most liberal clergy and was last year’s fastest declining and, most likely, will be next year’s when the exiting of the four dioceses is taken into account.
The Anglican Church’s dis-integration began long before Gene Robinson was ordained. It began when the church deep-sixed its historic prayer book, the traditional Book of Common Prayer. (The 1979 book of the same name bears the same resemblance to the original as a Chinese “Rollexx” in the dollar store bears to the Swiss original.) The prayer book was the common “glue” that held together an institution that spanned, at one end, Methodists in belief and practice, and at the other, Roman Catholics. Once they were no longer bound by a shared tradition, the faultlines were exposed. I grew up in the Episcopal Church and, quite frankly, my issue is leaving wasn’t who was ordained. It was the words used to ordain them. Tradition matters.
I totally agree with poster Carolyn Schuk. The decline of the Episcopal Church began many years before the Gene Robinson issue. I cannot see how this church can even still call itself a Christian Church with what it now allows to go on and it’s current belief structure. If the Bible is not our guide thru this life, then what is? I finally got tired of all the mess and left for the Catholic Church. Time is to short on this earth to have my time tied up with issues that shouldn’t be a question. There is to much yet to do on this earth.
“there are vague prohibitions in the Epistles against excessive sex. ”
Mr. Tuchler, what is vague about this? :
New International Version (©1984)
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
International Standard Version (©2008)
You know that wicked people will not inherit the kingdom of God, don’t you? Stop deceiving yourselves! Sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals,
1 Corinthians 6:9
Like I said, the TEC will probably just change the translation.
While I appreciate the dead earnestness with which so many people voice their opinions on the issue of homosexuality and the Episcopal Church, I, a lifelong Episcopalian, just can’t whip up any real fervor about the issue. As someone here said, any biblical strictures regarding homosexuality are vague and subject to various interpretations. However, if one looks at the Ten Commandments, the purported word of God, written in God’s own hand, shining bright, is “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” I say, let’s go after the adulterers, and when we’ve straightened them all out, let’s worry about straightening out the gays. (Pun not intended, but appreciated.)
In all seriousness, the “gay” issue is smoke and mirrors. Who will die, or lose their house, or be unable to feed their families if the Episcopal Church ordains a gay person? What frosts my cookies about my own beloved church, and all of the other churches, is the dead lack of the prophetic voice in relation to the abysmal mess of the economy.
Nathan rebukes David using the example of the rich man, with hundreds of sheep, who takes the lone ewe lamb of the poor man to feed his guest. How is that different than the Masters of the Universe being bailed out of the chaos they created, using the pennies of the poor? How is it different than the insurance companies making record profits while fewer and fewer people have coverage, and those who do are refused care, or refused coverage if it turns out they need care?
The Episcopal Church, all the churches, should be Nathan to the David of the powerful and wealthy, with a finger in the face, and a rebuke on the lips. But, frankly, it won’t happen. We would rather huff and puff about an issue of taste, which is what the gay thing is, at bottom, than talk turkey about real moral, ethical, Christian imperatives like justice, peace, and charity.
You know why?
Because it might reduce revenues, if we really acted like Christ.
“As someone here said, any biblical strictures regarding homosexuality are vague ”
Its amazing how those who support an unsupportable position keep repeating something which is patently untrue.
“. Who will die, or lose their house, or be unable to feed their families if the Episcopal Church ordains a gay person?”
Well the Episcopal Church is clearly dying so I think you have your answer.
.
One more point, its almost absurdly funny how the EC leadership keeps talking about ‘inclusiveness’ and poo poo the dwindling membership, defiantly saying ‘let them leave’ (but leave your money), because, they theorize, if they become more ‘inclusive’ (which means adapting PC dogma) somehow the doors will flood with all colors and creeds (after all this is the episcopal ‘church’) embracing ‘diversity’.
Its in complete defiance of reality because most ethnic group churchs are far far far more conservative than even conservative Episcopalians, and of course some of the most fierce opposition to the ECUSA’s inclusion in the Anglican communion come from the african Bishops.
I have a theory about that. I think, that Africa, they are much closer to death than us. If a family is broken because a husband leaves its not food stamps and latch key kids, its starvation, if you are promiscuous, its not a vague feeling of emptiness, its AIDs.
That’s not to say that engaging in such behavior isn’t deadly for people and civilizations. But our wealth provides a buffer to the consequences. In the same way the Episcopal church’s wealth has provided a buffer to their behavior - but the same result - death is right around the corner.
This business is over. The real Episcopalians either have left or are leaving. The question now is who will get the property, and sundry ramifications of the costs of litigation. NGW’s statement that “we are all that is holding it up” is no more than the truth. The homosexual activists white-anted both the hierarchy and many congregations. Self-forbidden to defend ourselves, too reserved to express disgust or anger when it might have done some good, we conspired in our own expulsion. They own it now, but are destroying it and will continue to destroy it. We will build another Church, and have learned enough to keep them out of it.
‘Dear Lord, even though the only reason we became Protestant was so our fat mean king could divorce his faithful wife, we’re sure you’re on our side…’ - ‘The Simpsons’
A dynastic, nationalist and Erastian schism from Rome followed by heresy (Protestantism) which was swamped by the ‘Enlightenment’… yet haunted by Catholicism (the old buildings with the old saints’ names, the old clergy titles, the remnants of liturgy) and haunted by what King Henry had done… which produced Anglo-Catholicism which I took on board at face value as a very young man…
… but Michael Grace is right. Anglicanism including Episcopalianism is still on paper a Christian church, at least for now: the creeds are still in the books. But discreet unbelief has been normal there since the 1700s. ‘Don’t believe in that cr*p?’ Neither did the English upper class or America’s founding fathers.
Long before James Pike opened his mouth (he brought that unbelief out in the open), before the first official women priests and ‘out’ gay priests and before anybody seriously rewrote a prayer book.
All ‘Anglicanism’, the Anglican Communion, really is, is a decennial tea party in which your bishops get to meet the Queen. As neither side in this row claims to be the one true church, that invite seems to be what they’re fighting about.
It’s a Protestant church so its doctrine is fallible thus changeable. New Prophecy makes perfect sense for them. If they want to pretend two men can marry each other they can go right ahead. It’s none of my business.
The only thing I still care about in all this is if these people go after our freedom not to pretend that and if they are taken seriously in so doing.
You’re right; they won’t go out of business. They’ll probably settle at below a million members on the rolls.
Most of their few Middle American churchgoers not on board with the rich whites’ New Prophecy got fed up and rightly just left.
BTW the Orthodox Church is the world’s second biggest Christian church. Interesting contrast: a communion of independent churches with not only no Vatican to run it but not even a Lambeth Conference (the tea party once a decade) yet the result is not Anglican (liberal Protestant) but Catholic.
“W. F. Kammann, on August 5th, 2009 at 1:03 pm Said:
The Episcopal baptismal covenant says “seek and serve Christ in ALL persons.” ”
“. Look how long we happily hated Jews, blacks, and Catholics, for that matter.”
By your reasoning, we still hate Jews because we don’t accept them into the Church even though they reject Christ.
No one here and no one I know who objects to ordaining Gay clergy advocates hating anyone. Does AA hate alcoholics because it condemns alcohol abuse?
Oh, Gosh, I just realized I was trying to reason with an out of touch leftist. No matter what you say, they chant the same slogans and catchphrases over and over.
In the absence or abandonment of tradition, the TEC will fail, as it is failing. In the town where I live, the Episcopal Church just closed its doors for lack of congregants. The beautiful 1910 church was sold to the thriving Reformed Church, whose zealot of a minister has gotten a federal grant to tear the beautiful building down and turn it into a home for veterans. (On a side note, tons of historical preservationists gave him and the town a number of proposals showing why it would have been more cost effective to simply buy three houses with the federal money to house the homeless vets, but this zealot’s plan has nothing to do with helping veterans and everything to do with helping the developers who will do the tearing down and the construction. Thus do we reinact a miniature version of the Reformation in our little town in NJ.)
IN any case, I grew up in the Episcopal Church and have since left it for the Catholic Church. If the church is going to sanctify gay marriage, I always wonder what their theological argument is against general promiscuity or bigamy or incest, other than the politically correct belief that bigamy is something practiced by incredibly un-hip people in Utah while gay marriage is practiced by incredibly hip people from Martha’s Vineyard.
Could one of the hip apologists for the TEC posting on here explain what the difference theologically between the Church’s new embrace of gay marriage and its rejection of bigamy?
The Byzantine Catholic Church, Ukrainian Catholic Church, and Chaldean Catholic Church are certainly going to be interested to know that they have been declared non-Catholic by your statement that, “…those who conceive of Anglicanism as a third branch of the one Catholic church (the others being the Roman Catholic church and Eastern Orthodoxy).”
Burns: Get me the Pope!
Smithers: He’s unavailable.
Burns: Then get me his non-union Chaldean equivalent!
Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
Got news for the writer of the above article, anglicanism is in NO WAY the second largest Christian denomination. There are over half a billions Orthodox Christians from Russia to Greece to Romania to Japan and even the rapidly declining liberal lutheran church out numbers worldwide anglicanism. Catholic Christianity has grown from 800 million in 1980 to one and a half billion in 2009.