TEC: A Church under judgement - Andrew Carey

Anglican Mainstream

By Andrew Carey, CEN

At the recent Lambeth Conference I had a couple of conversations with so-called ‘conservative’ Americans, both amongst the press and the bishops. I was even able to give the Bishop of Springfield (no relation to ‘The Simpsons’) some pointers on the rules of cricket as we snatched five minutes in the bar to watch England being clinically defeated by South Africa.

Their depressing and urgent situation in The Episcopal Church becomes ever clearer over time, despite all of the efforts of their liberal church leaders to try and persuade the rest of the Anglican Communion that really we’re just like you. Close watchers of the US, and readers of this newspaper, will be more aware than most of the state of that Church. Heterodoxy is never punished, whereas orthodox impatience is the subject of lawsuits all over the country. And the amount of heterodoxy uttered in The Episcopal Church is truly astonishing. Even leaving aside the virtual atheism of Bishop Spong’s ‘Twelve Theses’, we’ve had bishops claim that the church can ‘re-write the Bible’, others make sweeping apologies for Christian mission to those of other faiths, while the Presiding Bishop views Jesus as just one way among many.

Furthermore, they’ve had scandals the likes of which would destroy the Church of England in the eyes of the world, with our much more effective national press conducting the funeral rites. They’ve had thrice-divorced bishops, a child-abusing bishop, as well as one who’s covered up sex abuse by his brother, a priest. There’s been a drug-dealing priest, others who’ve been exposed in a pornographic magazine for engaging in bizarre sex with Brazilians. This is truly only the tip of the iceberg. Any one or two of these cases would have been a national scandal in Britain, in the US it’s only a few column inches.

With whole parishes and dioceses deserting the national Church amid such widespread heterodoxy and scandal, followed by a wave of litigation and squabbling over property, it’s impossible to see The Episcopal Church as anything other than a disaster area. If there ever was a Church under the judgment of God, it is this one.

    Comments & Responses

  1. This article is unworthy of Mr. Carey, the CofE Newspaper and Anglican Mainstream. It slanders the Episcopal Church on the basis of charges it does not substantiate.

    Posted by Mark Harris  on  08/28  at  12:06 AM

  2. As a Professor and educator, and as a multi-generation Episcopalian, I think Andrew Carey describes current conditions very truly.  In the part of the country where I live, there is startling heterodoxy and “new-age” propaganda in a church deeply committed to forces with sexual and other radical agendas. Nationally, for instance, the church is aligned with extreme organizations that do not reflect the values of traditional parishioners--like the RCRC, supporting unlimited abortion rights.  The church is also implacably embarked on a campaign of deposing traditionalist clergy (even aged retired clergy who labored all their lives for the church) and of launching lawsuits against traditionalist parishes.  I had hoped to continue through a lifetime as a teacher in the Episcopal Church; that’s how I wished to end my days.  But it is now unthinkable for many parishioners to have our children taught in such an environment and by such new tenets as we face today; many alert traditionalists feel there is no alternative but to separate from a church that they can no longer recommend to young people, loved ones and neighbors. If Archbishop Williams is to provide a meaningful Pastoral Forum and “holding pattern” (probably too late now), traditional Christians need it today--needed it yesterday; many can not stay in current conditions--not while needing to save their souls even more than to keep their affiliation.  I, too, thought I would never leave and would cling forever to the Episcopal Church; I write this with searing pain, as I still have great love for what this church once was and, of course, for the longstanding Anglican way.

    Posted by  on  08/28  at  04:45 AM

  3. I too believe that TEC is under judgment. It is one that TEC’s leaders has called down upon themselves.

    The apostasy of many of TEC’s clergy makes the Episcopal Church a toxic environment for children.

    Consider this statement by John Butcher, a TEC priest in California:  “"Perhaps you have noticed that the creeds speak of the birth of Jesus and then of his death. There is no mention of the life of Jesus, no mention of the teachings of Jesus, no mention of the healing power of Jesus.The heart of the gospel is missing. The creeds are defective and need to be taken out of service. Instead, let us proclaim clearly the gospel of the Resurrected Jesus, “The seed of true humanity is within you. Follow it!” Gospel of Mary (Magdalene) 4:5

    John Butcher wants to do away with the historic Creeds of the Christian Faith because they are incompatible with what he regards to be the heart of his religion. That is because his religion isn’t Christianity. Butcher is a Gnostic.

    It isn’t simply that Gnostics hold convictions and practices that are incompatible with Christianity. They hold different views of justice, language, truth, love, in short, a different view of Reality.

    Posted by Alice C. Linsley  on  08/31  at  10:06 AM
    4. Page 1 of 1 pages
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

Next entry: The Diocese of Singapore restates her stand on human sexuality issues

Previous entry: A Word in Time: An Open Letter to the Anglican Communion

<< Back to main