{"id":373,"date":"2004-08-25T08:17:12","date_gmt":"2004-08-25T08:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/?p=373"},"modified":"2004-08-25T08:17:12","modified_gmt":"2004-08-25T08:17:12","slug":"this_is_the_problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/?p=373","title":{"rendered":"This is the problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

I read this article today posted on the House of Deputies\/Bishops listserv post by Kendal Harman<\/a>.
\nHonestly, I agree with many of his points – I experience very similar things at General when I talk with many here concerning more traditional understanding of theology, scripture, et cetera. I am told that I am known as the “Evangelical” among my classmates. Generally speaking, they are right, although I am continually drawn to High-Church and non-reactionary Anglo-Catholic piety and worship. After all, my field-placement parish is a “non-fussy, Anglo-Catholic” parish, and I love it. I am \u00c2\u201cEvangelical,\u00c2\u201d now (unlike before I became an Episcopalian) in the tradition of Anglican-Evangelicalism, not American-Evangelicalism, which has infiltrated Anglican-Evangelicals in this country and which now motivates those challenging and separating from the Episcopal Church USA.
\nThe difference I have with the writer of the article is his understanding that there can only be one legitimate understanding from Scripture of the issue of homosexuality. In this way, the “traditionalists” are not comprehending those who believe that Scripture taken as a whole does not condemn life-long, monogamous, same-sex relationships. There is no comprehension on their part that anyone can have an alternative interpretation of Scripture and still have a high-view of Scripture and still align themselves with Scripture.
\nThe author is right – liberals do not honestly comprehend the “traditionalists.” Likewise, “traditionalists” do not honestly comprehend how there can be any legitimate interpretation of Scripture concerning homosexuality other than their own. The author’s point is applicable to both sides.
\nHere is the article:
\n
\nDate: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 16:58:10 -0400
\nTo: “bishopsdeputies”
\nFrom: “kendall harmon”
\nSubject: [HoB\/D]
\nAs one deeply opposed to the consecration of V. Gene Robinson, I find a
\ndisturbing response from those on the other side. They cannot fathom the
\nposition of those of us opposed.
\nI listen to how they explain why we feel the way we do, and I find they
\nsimply don’t get it. They misread, misinterpret, and misunderstand those who
\ndon’t agree with them. I do not think this is mischievous or intentional on
\ntheir part. I simply think they cannot comprehend our reasons.
\nSadly, this leaves them entirely unprepared and surprised by the unfolding
\nevents. I find this alarming for their own sakes. Their spin on events leads
\nin the wrong direction, their concept of the division is flawed, their hopes
\nfor reconciliation are based on fabrication.
\nLet me try to explain this failure to understand us. I do this not to change
\nany minds, but to help them see what may be ahead.<\/em><\/p>\n


\n
\nWhat is missing is nothing less that a conceptual category of our position.
\nBecause of that void, they must resort to ideas they think ought to fit.
\nThey assume we liken the consecration to the U.S. pre-emptive strike in Iraq
\nor the issue of ordination of women. They explain us as being right-wing,
\nfundamentalists, literalists, homophobic, reactionary, or Jerry Falwell
\ntypes. Wrong on all counts.
\nThe most blatant expos\u00c3\u00a9 of this naivet\u00c3\u00a9 and error which I have experienced
\nwas listening to the debate in the House of Bishops at the 74th General
\nConvention at Minneapolis. Bishop after bishop claimed that the opposition
\nat home would disappear and the negative reactions overseas would never
\nmaterialize. A recent example was the headline in Episcopal News Service
\nabout the recent meeting of the bishops in Nairobi. There, about 20
\nconservative bishops asked the Lambeth Commission to give the Episcopal
\nChurch three months to repent. The headline in ENS was “Mixed message from
\nNairobi.”
\nLet me give an analogy. Let’s say that I see a mad elephant coming to our
\ncamp. I cry out a warning. Unfortunately, no one else in the camp has ever
\nseen an elephant. Instead, they make the assumption that an elephant must be
\na skunk, so the severity of the warning is not taken up. Those in the camp
\nreached wrong conclusions with dreaded consequences. Preparing for the
\nstench of a skunk is a lot easier than for the devastation of a mad
\nelephant – but misguided thinking doesn’t stop the oncoming elephant.
\nWhat is the elephant and what is the missing concept? This is easier to see
\nif we look through others’ eyes. Let me give two examples, the first a
\nfrequently heard statement from overseas leaders: “You gave us the Bible and
\nthat has brought the truth and power and love of Jesus Christ to us. But now
\nyou have abandoned the Bible you gave us.”
\nThe other comes from the underground church of China and tells of the
\nsacrifice taken for God’s word. Four pastors were arrested and the
\ncongregation’s Bibles confiscated. The authorities brought them out to a
\npublic place with many from the congregation present. The Bibles were on a
\ntable, where there were also four bowls of offal – disgusting and debasing
\nthings in a gruel. The authorities said to the pastors that the Bibles would
\nbe returned to the congregation if the pastors would risk their lives and
\ndrink what was in the bowls. With little hesitation all four pastors stepped
\nforward and drank. Then they said, “Now return the Bibles to the
\ncongregation.”
\nCan we see what is missing in the ethos of the Episcopal Church today? We as
\na whole have a void when it comes to living with the Bible as the infallible
\nauthoritative word of God, full of love and truth, judgment and direction.
\nFor the most part that is simply absent. Moreover, that kind of statement
\nmakes many very nervous.
\nHow did this happen? In my seminary classes some of my teachers presented
\nthe Bible in a way that deliberately undermined its authority and its
\nintended sense. For many the beginning point was the need to make the Bible’
\ns message palatable to the current culture. Our challenge was to wheedle and
\nadjust to get it in line with The Washington Post.
\nThe story that best captures this attitude is when David brought the ark
\ninto Jerusalem. At one point the bullocks pulled the cart over a rock and
\nthe ark started to fall. The priest Uzza stuck out his hand to steady it and
\nwas rebuked and struck down for thinking that God’s ark needed the steadying
\nhand of a mortal.
\nThis issue undergirds all others. On several occasions I have said that
\nwhatever is wrong on the issues of sexuality is not as wrong as the Church
\nleaving 1.5 billion people in today’s world unreached, without the knowledge
\nof Jesus Christ. I still believe that.
\nWhat separates the Church on the issue of V. Gene Robinson’s consecration is
\nscripture. We who are opposed to what took place in New Hampshire do not
\nbelieve that new information has surfaced in the 21st century that
\ncontradicts God’s revelation. We do believe that a careful and regular
\nreading of the Bible brings God’s power and his wise direction. To inwardly
\ndigest his word brings grace for sinful people and correction for our
\nculture – as it has for all people, all cultures, and all times.
\nIf the other side really wants to know where we are coming from, start here.
\nListen to us – and then you can see what is coming.
\nThen you can understand why two dozen primates would break communion with uson this issue, why the Anglican Communion Network of Parishes and Dioceses
\ncontinues to draw leaders and allegiance, why biblically minded
\ncongregations are willing to walk away from their properties, why faithful
\nmembers refuse to let their money fund another gospel.
\nYes, this issue is alarming and serious. All the more so if the other side
\ndoes not understand us.?
\n-The Rev. Tad de Bordenave is director of Anglican Frontier Missions. He
\nlives in Richmond, Va. This article appeared in the August 29, 2004 The
\nLiving Church magazine, pages 13-14; readers are reminded that “The Reader’s
\nViewpoint” article does not necessarily represent the editorial opinion of
\nThe Living Church or its board of directors.
\nPosted but not written by
\nDr. Kendall Harmon
\nSouth Carolina<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I read this article today posted on the House of Deputies\/Bishops listserv post by Kendal Harman. Honestly, I agree with many of his points – I experience very similar things at General when I talk with many here concerning more … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=373"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}