Episcopals Take Their Crayons and Go Home

Posted on December 22, 2006
| buzz-it! | Huff it!

Last week nine Virginia Episcopal parishes voted to leave the U.S. Episcopal church to affiliate with the Episcopal Church of Nigeria. (see Harold Meyerson, Dec 20, WashingtonPost.com.)

[The] Anglican archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, … has called the growing acceptance of gay relationships a “satanic attack” on the church, and … supports legislation in his country that would make it illegal for gay men and lesbians to form organizations, read gay literature or eat together in a restaurant. (Independant Gay Forum)

Their reason? American Episcopals have blessed gay unions in some local parishes (not as a national, churchwide policy), and ordained a gay bishop, Gene Robinson, in New Hampshire, in 2003. The last straw? The denomination selected a WOMAN, Katharine Jefferts Schori, as presiding bishop (head of the national church) last summer.

I’m imagining these same churches ten or fifteen years ago, when social attitudes about full gay participation in church and society were beginning to change and when traditionalists had all the power. In such times there would have been tremendous pressure for other, more inclusive parishes to conform. Now that full participation for women and gays has become the dominant position, these same churches, rather than accept change and, more importantly, see the value of that change, decide their archaic principles are more valuable than the church itself.

What arrogance. What childishness. Shame.