In case anyone wonders, I thought it good to publish some musings on General Convention, recently completed in Anaheim.
1. While it is important to welcome all people, sinners and saints alike, to God's Church to hear the good news and find salvation and strength, the so called "inclusion resolutions" seem to represent a departure from the traditional Christian understandings of Scriptural authority, Holy Matrimony, and holiness of life. They also would seem to be a clear repudiation of the repeated call of the Anglican primates for individual provinces to not break the bonds of affection between us by unilateral actions.
2. I agree with Bishop Jefferts-Schori that God has given His Church guardianship of Word and Sacraments, and would add that He has entrusted to her the work of bringing the nations to Christ. I would agree with the traditional understanding expressed by Cyprian (I think), who said that there is no salvation outside the church. I would also agree that many people have undervalued the role of the Church in our salvation. But I found the Presiding Bishop's remarks about personal relationships with Jesus to be very troubling, and contrary to all that I have experienced and known in the Bible; especially when taken in the context of some of her earlier statements about the unique mission of our Lord.
3. For some time, I have struggled with the tendency of many in the Episcopal Church, and in Western Christianity in general, to redefine the traditional understanding of Scripture. The resolution stating that certain parts of the Christian Scriptures are anti-Semitic seems to represent a flowering of this undervaluing of the Bible as the revealed Word of God and the rule of our life.
4. I deeply appreciate the example of the traditionalist bishops at General Convention, who have consistently acknowledged the need for traditionalists to stay within the Episcopal Church not only as missionaries, but because a strong Catholic ecclesiology demands it. In their positions I find strength in some very difficult and trying times. I also appreciate the respect that many of the non-traditionalist bishops offered to the theological minority.
5. I come away from all I have read about the Convention with an increased resolve to live within the spirit of the Windsor Report and the Anglican Covenant as promulgated by the Archbishops of the communion. I commit myself to attempt to lead a godly, righteous, and sober life in keeping with the clear teachings of Scripture. And I pray that God will give me strength, wisdom, and humility, to speak and write clearly and plainly as I seek to be the watchman at St. John's Lancaster.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A Tough Month
This 
has been a difficult month, but it has had its blessings as well. On the twenty-eighth of June, my father died. He was a good man, and he set the standard for who I ought to be. Christ was in his heart, and it was a place of love and forgiveness. He served God and the Republic well, he cared deeply and had a great sense of humor, and I miss him terribly. Then came General Convention in Anaheim. The Church that I love so well, or at least the largest part of her North American branch, voted to normalize monogamous sodomy, declared the New Testament to be anti-Semitic, and repeated several chronic socialist agenda items that have been banging about mainline protestantism for several decades . There were no real surprizes, but my heart is still heavy, and I ask God's forgiveness for my own shortcomings this side of glory. This week, a dear friend and brother of m
ine has been in the hospital and the Docs can't figure out what ails him, another dear friend has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and this afternoon, Rebecca and I found out that our beloved West Highland White Terrier Quincy just might have cancer. It has been a difficult month indeed.
But on the other side of the ledger, my folks were able to move in with us before Dad died, and that is a good thing. Friends from our past and present poured out more love on us than anyone deserves during Dad's illness and burial and beyond. God met us in the Burial Service (1662 BCP Daily Office with Commendation and Committal.) I shall never hear the Navy Hymn again without fond memories of my father. And for it all, Tristan and Ashley and Margaret were here with Dad and with us. Matthew was able to join us for the services (both Masonic and Christian), and served with distinction, along with Dave Halt and Mel Truex, comrades from adventures long past.
has been a difficult month, but it has had its blessings as well. On the twenty-eighth of June, my father died. He was a good man, and he set the standard for who I ought to be. Christ was in his heart, and it was a place of love and forgiveness. He served God and the Republic well, he cared deeply and had a great sense of humor, and I miss him terribly. Then came General Convention in Anaheim. The Church that I love so well, or at least the largest part of her North American branch, voted to normalize monogamous sodomy, declared the New Testament to be anti-Semitic, and repeated several chronic socialist agenda items that have been banging about mainline protestantism for several decades . There were no real surprizes, but my heart is still heavy, and I ask God's forgiveness for my own shortcomings this side of glory. This week, a dear friend and brother of m
ine has been in the hospital and the Docs can't figure out what ails him, another dear friend has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and this afternoon, Rebecca and I found out that our beloved West Highland White Terrier Quincy just might have cancer. It has been a difficult month indeed.But on the other side of the ledger, my folks were able to move in with us before Dad died, and that is a good thing. Friends from our past and present poured out more love on us than anyone deserves during Dad's illness and burial and beyond. God met us in the Burial Service (1662 BCP Daily Office with Commendation and Committal.) I shall never hear the Navy Hymn again without fond memories of my father. And for it all, Tristan and Ashley and Margaret were here with Dad and with us. Matthew was able to join us for the services (both Masonic and Christian), and served with distinction, along with Dave Halt and Mel Truex, comrades from adventures long past.
Three of our greatest blessings revolve around our children. First, Tristan is home safe from Afghanistan. I praise God for his mercies usward, and pray his consolation on those seven families in Lima Company 3/8 who grieve the loss of their sons.
Second, Matthew and Ashley have traveled to the Diocese of South Carolina for a summer internship there. God willing and Bishop Lawrence consenting, he will soon begin the discernment process for Priestly ordination in that beautiful and most orthodox part of the world. May God shower his blessings on Bishop Salmon for his vision and discernment in the lives of my children. Finally, Margaret's first birthday party was celebrated in true southern form (for details see Ashley's excellent blog http://horatiusatthebridge.blogspot.com/), and we, like her paternal grandparents, were blessed to be present.
Life is truly a mixed bag, but through it all, I have found God's sweet presence to be a constant and abiding comfort. From the bottom of my heart, I pray that all who read this might know Him as Saviour and Lord, and that they might find that same peace that I have known.
Life is truly a mixed bag, but through it all, I have found God's sweet presence to be a constant and abiding comfort. From the bottom of my heart, I pray that all who read this might know Him as Saviour and Lord, and that they might find that same peace that I have known.
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