The Spiritual Crisis In The Episcopal Church. Much has been said and written about the controversy over the revisionist teachings of TEC. The truth is that TEC (1) denies the unique divinity of Jesus Christ and (2) takes a position on human sexuality which undercuts marriage and is destructive to the family unit designed by God and revealed in Scripture. These are not positions and teachings which are merely "revisionist" or "liberal." These are positions of those who have abandoned the Christian faith.
Jesus says in the Bible that "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ( John 14:6) This is a cornerstone of the Christian faith and Anglican worship. It is what we believe in the Diocese of San Joaquin. It is our mission, and that of the Church, to bring all people into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
TEC at GC 2006 refused to pass a resolution endorsing John 14:6. By extension, TEC questions the validity and authority of Holy Scripture. According to the leadership of TEC, Jesus simply represents one of many ways of coming to a relationship with the Father. According to the leadership of TEC, the mission of the Church is "social justice" and "world peace" and not the Great Commission as set forth in Matthew 28.
TEC's unrepentant adherence to these heresies has wrought havoc within the American Church and throughout the world-wide Communion. At least 22 of the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion have declared impaired or broken communion with TEC. Vast numbers of faithful Anglicans have left and continue to leave TEC on a daily basis. Major parishes across the country have left and continue to leave in record numbers. (We are not immune in this Diocese having lost one parish already.) The statistics are staggering and clearly demonstrate that TEC is disintegrating. This is not surprising given that TEC has chosen to walk apart from the Christian faith.
Does This Spiritual Crisis Really Affect Us? You already know the answer to this question: it's "YES". Heresy is insidious by nature and, over time, the victim becomes desensitized to its effects. There are four recognizable stages from prolonged exposure. Initially, there is condemnation of the heresy; then it is tolerated; then it is accepted; and, finally, it is practiced. TEC is currently preaching and practicing heresy and the majority of TEC's leadership will not repent as evidenced by, among other things, TEC's refusal to comply with the Windsor Report.
Continuing in communion with TEC poses a clear and present danger to the spiritual health of the Diocese and its parishioners. TEC's continued membership in the Anglican Communion is tenuous and excommunication or isolation is a reality which, in turn, threatens the Diocese's place in the Anglican Communion. We must remember, we are Anglicans first and Episcopalians second.
What Does Scripture Tell Us To Do? When faced with unrepentant and public false teaching, Scripture is very, very clear. Christians are called to withdraw from Eucharistic fellowship. There are many biblical references directly on point, among them: "If anyone comes to you bringing a different doctrine, you must not receive him in your house or even give him a greeting. To greet him would make you a partner in his wicked work."(I1 John, 10-1 1. Also Mt. 8: 17, I Cor. 5:11-13, Gal. 1:8, 2 Thes. 3:6, Rev. 2:20; BCP, p. 409.)
+John-David
3 comments:
Bishop Scofield is Bishop for Laura Chapman Rico, who comes up every year for the VBS in Anvik.
Have you seen this, Jim? I'm not endorsing this; I am just passing it on:
Episcopal News Service
November 20, 2006
San Joaquin bishop sent letter from Presiding Bishop
[ENS] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori -- concerned by current affairs
in the
Fresno-based Diocese of San Joaquin, California -- has written to its bishop,
the Rt. Rev.
John-David Schofield. The diocese, which is scheduled to meet in convention
December 1-2,
includes an estimated 10,000 Episcopalians in some 48 congregations. The text of
Jefferts
Schori's November 20 letter follows.
November 20, 2006
The Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield
Diocese of San Joaquin
4159 E. Dakota Avenue
Fresno, California 93726
My dear brother:
I have seen reports of your letter to parishes in the Diocese of San Joaquin,
which
apparently urges delegates to your upcoming Diocesan Convention to take action
to leave the
Episcopal Church. I would ask you to confirm the accuracy of those reports. If
true, you must
be aware that such action would likely be seen as a violation of your ordination
vows to
"uphold the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this Church has
received them." I
must strongly urge you to consider the consequences of such action, not only for
yourself but
especially for all of the Episcopalians under your pastoral charge and care.
I certainly understand that you personally disagree with decisions by General
Conventions
over the past 30 and more years. You have, however, taken vows three times over
that period
to uphold the "doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church." If
you now feel
that you can no longer do so, the more honorable course would be to renounce
your orders in
this Church and seek a home elsewhere. Your public assertion that your duty is
to violate
those vows puts many, many people at hazard of profound spiritual violence. I
urge you, as a
pastor, to consider that hazard with the utmost gravity.
As you contemplate this action I would also remind you of the trust which you
and I both hold
for those who have come before and those who will come after us. None of us has
received the
property held by the Church today to use as we will. We have received it as
stewards, for
those who enjoy it today and those who will be blessed by the ministry its use
will permit in
the future. Our forebears did not build churches or give memorials with the
intent that they
be removed from the Episcopal Church. Nor did our forebears give liberally to
fund endowments
with the intent that they be consumed by litigation.
The Church will endure whatever decision you make in San Joaquin. The people who
are its
members, however, will suffer in the midst of this conflict, and probably suffer
unnecessarily. Jesus calls us to take up our crosses daily, but not in the
service of
division and antagonism. He calls us to take up our crosses in his service of
reconciling the
world to God. Would that you might lead the people of San Joaquin toward
decisions that build
up the Body, that bring abundant life to those within and beyond our Church,
that restore us
to oneness.
I stand ready for conversation and reconciliation. May God bless your
deliberation.
I remain
Your servant in Christ,
+Katharine
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
John: Right you are. However, to paraphrase a famous confrontation: "I know Bp John-David Schofield, and Bp Schori is no John-David Schofield.
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