ECUSA Things.

Canon Harmon has linked to some important article, essays, &c today re our current Anglican difficulties; among them are these three:

• Ephraim Radner, "If there is a future for ECUSA & the Anglican Communion, then what?"

"Now let me note, in the most sketchy and incomplete way, some of the topics that will need to be discussed anew, with the seriousness of an engaged and fearless mind and heart, if a re-commitmentto our Communion bonds is to be real and fruitful. These will need to be discussed within the context of the “presumption for tradition”; but they will need to be discussed nonetheless, openly and responsibly. The Lambeth Conference, Primates, ACC, and Windsor itself have made this clear in general. And unless there is a willingness to engage such questions, the “bonds” we claim are our lifeline as a Church-in-Communion will be window dressing at best, lies at worst."

• The Telegraph, "U.S. Bishops Set for a U-Turn on Gay "Marriages."

"Until now, the majority of American bishops have refused to compromise their liberal ideals, despite the fury of conservatives from Africa and Asia and appeals by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

They have argued that the equal treatment of homosexuals is a matter of justice which overrides the Church’s official teaching that active homosexual clergy and gay “marriage” are contrary to the Scriptures.

However, it appears that the threat of expulsion from the worldwide Church has concentrated their minds and, though they refuse to admit that they were wrong in principle, they may concede that they should not have acted unilaterally."

Mary Johnston, "Facing the Spectre of Schism."

"ECUSA has given us a token gay bishop, but instead of fearlessly pressing on for full participation of gays and lesbians in every aspect of the church’s common life, some are now wringing their hands over whether or not to refrain from ordaining any more GLBT bishops or even allowing official sanction for same-sex blessings for fear of further offending conservative Anglican sensitivities. Come on, Church! Get a backbone! It is time to stand up and say to those whitewashed, conservative apparitions of self-righteousness still haunting our denomination, “By the way that you call ‘heresy’ worship we the God of our ancestors! (Acts 24:14) Here we stand! We will not back down!” These rigid, religious iconoclasts are attempting to change directions for the good ship Grace, pointing it backwards into the stagnant moorings of religio-social anachronism, rather than allowing it to chart a new course carrying God’s message of hope and acceptance to the marginalized and misunderstood. Put simply, we cannot allow them to commandeer the ship. If they do, we will have no choice but to put out in a lifeboat, and like St. Brendan of old, chart a course of faith into new territories, confident that God goes before us."