As is the custom every three years, the Episcopal Church holds the General Convention and the latest one just concluded in Columbus, Ohio.
To say the least, it was controversial.
The delegates elected a new presiding bishop and chose a woman-the wrong woman, Katherine Schori, Bishop of Nevada.
In and of itself, have a woman as the presiding bishop is nothing I object to. It is that Bishop Schori was the most liberal of the seven candidates. In her acceptance statement, she spoke of the need for universal healthcare, more acceptance of gays and lesbians in the church, a whole host of other liberal social concerns. Too bad she did not address the spiritual needs and or concerns of the members of the church. That would mean Bishop Schori would have to take a strong position, something that unless the is a social conciouness to it, most are unwilling to take.
Then in regards to the gay and lesbian issue, the delegates and bishops did a double take. At one point a resolution passed to ignore the Windsor Report that asked to put a moratorium on elevating non-celibate gays and lesbians to bishops.Then at the end of the day, they did an about face and decided to accept a watered-down support of the Report and thus there will be a moratorium on elevating gays and lesbians to becoming bishops. And that is a good thing.
The Anglican Communion is at the breaking point and because so many liberal Episcopalians do not follow traditional Anglican ethos of using Scripture, tradition and reason to get from point a to b, they are hastening the process.
But someone must have got to them because this watered down acceptance of the Windsor Report will stop the hemorrhaging-for now.
I for one think that many of these liberals do not want to face the prospect of years of spending in courts as more and more parishes and possibly whole dioceses break away. Now those that support the strong liberal positions at the expense of biblical knowledge and practice may actually listen to those who are really moderate and even traditional and find the common ground to spread the Great Commission of delivering the saving message of Jesus Christ.
It is time to work together for the common good of all people, not just the liberal or conservatives favorite group