c l a s s i c a l
Those who love The Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, who are like-minded individuals, hang on every word she utters. One can hear the eager enthusiasm in the cheers and applauds between pauses in her latest speech to those in South Carolina who decided to remain with the national church.
We need to bear in mind that the Christ-centered South Carolina Bishop, Mark Lawrence, explicitly stated that he had not officially abandoned The Episcopal Church (link), but was in prayer with other priests in the South Carolina Diocese, when he received word that his resignation had been accepted, and that the South Carolina Diocese was no longer in union with The Episcopal Church. (link//link)
I had been praying through those months that the Diocese would remain in the national church, because whenever a conservative Diocese departs, the über liberals garner that much more control. The conservatives within The Episcopal Church could have learned a great deal from the Southern Baptist Conservative Resurgence of the late 1970s, early 1980s.
Addressing the controversies in South Carolina, Presiding Bishop states:
I had been praying through those months that the Diocese would remain in the national church, because whenever a conservative Diocese departs, the über liberals garner that much more control. The conservatives within The Episcopal Church could have learned a great deal from the Southern Baptist Conservative Resurgence of the late 1970s, early 1980s.
Addressing the controversies in South Carolina, Presiding Bishop states:
The question is less about who's right and who's wrong in the midst of the current controversies. It's more about how we deal with those who disagree -- the other sheep in the flock, and the variety of shepherds around us. Are we going to be good shepherds, partnering for abundant life? (link)
She also states: "Our task is to heal the breach." (link) How might one be an agent for positive, gospel-oriented change and healing? How might we "deal with those who disagree" with us? Well, if we take the Presiding Bishop's lead as an example, we'll consider South Carolina Bishop Mark Lawrence, and those with whom we disagree, as possessing the mind of a self-absorbed rogue, bigot, and terrorist.
Do not be fooled. The Presiding Bishop is well educated. She chooses her words carefully and states them unapologetically: "Somebody decides he knows the law, and oversteps whatever authority he may have to dictate the fate of others who may in fact be obeying the law, and often a law for which this local tyrant is not the judge." She knows exactly how to turn a phrase; she does not misspeak.
The pronoun "he" refers directly to Bishop Lawrence. He knows "the law," a reference, no doubt, to the Constitution and Canons, and he overstepped his authority as Bishop, in her opinion (certainly not in the opinion of those in his Diocese, nor most in the worldwide Anglican Communion).
But she is quite mistaken in the implication that he dictated the fate of others. Those few in South Carolina who wanted to remain with The Episcopal Church were encouraged by Bishop Lawrence to do so. The majority decided that their Bishop was right -- biblical, even -- while their Presiding Bishop is and has been in the wrong theologically and morally.
Her disagreement with Bishop Lawrence's alleged "overstepped authority" aside, she informs us what is really on her mind concerning "those who disagree," to use her own words, as she continues:
Do not be fooled. The Presiding Bishop is well educated. She chooses her words carefully and states them unapologetically: "Somebody decides he knows the law, and oversteps whatever authority he may have to dictate the fate of others who may in fact be obeying the law, and often a law for which this local tyrant is not the judge." She knows exactly how to turn a phrase; she does not misspeak.
The pronoun "he" refers directly to Bishop Lawrence. He knows "the law," a reference, no doubt, to the Constitution and Canons, and he overstepped his authority as Bishop, in her opinion (certainly not in the opinion of those in his Diocese, nor most in the worldwide Anglican Communion).
But she is quite mistaken in the implication that he dictated the fate of others. Those few in South Carolina who wanted to remain with The Episcopal Church were encouraged by Bishop Lawrence to do so. The majority decided that their Bishop was right -- biblical, even -- while their Presiding Bishop is and has been in the wrong theologically and morally.
Her disagreement with Bishop Lawrence's alleged "overstepped authority" aside, she informs us what is really on her mind concerning "those who disagree," to use her own words, as she continues:
It's not too far from that kind of attitude to citizens' militias deciding to patrol their towns or the Mexican border for unwelcome visitors. It's not terribly far from the state of mind evidenced in school shootings, or in those who want to arm school children, or the terrorism that takes oil workers hostage. (link)
A commenter named Ray Bannister, at Juicy Ecumenism, wrote:
But the Presiding Bishop was not merely over-the-top in her comments. Those Episcopal churches in South Carolina that departed from The Episcopal Church, under the godly leadership of Bishop Lawrence, are portrayed by her as in step with a bigoted (e.g., the Mexican border comment), terrorist (e.g., school shootings, oil workers taken hostage) and right-wing, redneck, NRA-types mentality (e.g., arm school children). Her comments are not in the slightest bit shy of ad hominem, manipulation, and slander.
Moreover, I find the Presiding Bishop's expressions as rather hypocritical, given her affirming views on abortion. (link) If I were her, I would tread a bit more carefully about school shootings and gun control, given that she believes a woman should retain the right to murder her child in the womb! For all her hue and cry about social justice, I would like to see a lot more social justice for unborn babies in their mothers' wombs. The most dangerous place for a baby in America seems to be the womb.
If one desires to be a bridge-builder, or a peacemaker (Matt. 5:9), then I would suggest not taking the example of liberals like the Presiding Bishop -- someone who demonizes her opponents, thereby attempting to manipulate those caught in the cross-fires, and spins reality as well as history.
The LORD says, "O my people, your leaders mislead you, and confuse the course of your paths" (Isa. 3:12). This cry is no more appropriate for our day than in that of Isaiah. So we pray: God, rise to argue Your case; stand to judge the peoples. LORD, enter into judgment with the elders and princes of Your people (cf. Isa. 3:13-14). LORD God, give us shepherds after Your own heart, who will feed Your flock with knowledge and understanding (Jer. 3:15).
You have to hand it to liberals: they do know how to manipulate words. She refers to the "Mexican border," as if the nasty Americans are trespassing. She didn't dare call it the "American border" or "U.S. border with Mexico." I'm guessing she doesn't own a vacation home in southern Arizona or New Mexico where illegals regularly trespass and vandalize the property of American citizens. (link)I, too, had the same impression. Again, the Presiding Bishop chooses her words wisely, and she states them unapologetically.
But the Presiding Bishop was not merely over-the-top in her comments. Those Episcopal churches in South Carolina that departed from The Episcopal Church, under the godly leadership of Bishop Lawrence, are portrayed by her as in step with a bigoted (e.g., the Mexican border comment), terrorist (e.g., school shootings, oil workers taken hostage) and right-wing, redneck, NRA-types mentality (e.g., arm school children). Her comments are not in the slightest bit shy of ad hominem, manipulation, and slander.
Moreover, I find the Presiding Bishop's expressions as rather hypocritical, given her affirming views on abortion. (link) If I were her, I would tread a bit more carefully about school shootings and gun control, given that she believes a woman should retain the right to murder her child in the womb! For all her hue and cry about social justice, I would like to see a lot more social justice for unborn babies in their mothers' wombs. The most dangerous place for a baby in America seems to be the womb.
If one desires to be a bridge-builder, or a peacemaker (Matt. 5:9), then I would suggest not taking the example of liberals like the Presiding Bishop -- someone who demonizes her opponents, thereby attempting to manipulate those caught in the cross-fires, and spins reality as well as history.
The LORD says, "O my people, your leaders mislead you, and confuse the course of your paths" (Isa. 3:12). This cry is no more appropriate for our day than in that of Isaiah. So we pray: God, rise to argue Your case; stand to judge the peoples. LORD, enter into judgment with the elders and princes of Your people (cf. Isa. 3:13-14). LORD God, give us shepherds after Your own heart, who will feed Your flock with knowledge and understanding (Jer. 3:15).
