**Rowland Croucher**
Guest
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 Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:36 am Post subject: Speaking for Both Sides of the Homosexuality Debate |
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(The ABC confesses he took a risk, trying to speak for Traditionalists
and for Liberals... But I have a deep admiration for someone who at
least has the wisdom and maturity to attempt such an almost-impossible
feat :-)
*****
Archbishop of Canterbury accuses Anglicans of threatening 'death to each
other'
The Archbishop of Canterbury has accused the opposing sides in the
Anglican Communion's divide over sexuality of "threatening death to each
other", in an emotional plea for peace.
By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 12:23PM BST 30 Jul 2008
Dr Rowan Williams warned liberals who have elected a gay bishop and
blessed same-sex unions that their actions are felt as a "body blow" by
some, and create "literal physical risk" in countries where Christians
are persecuted for tolerating homosexuality.
But he also told conservatives, some of whom have defected from their
national churches in protest at the liberal developments, that their
reactions are felt as an "annihilating judgement" that "pours scorn" on
the whole church's legitimacy.
He repeated his belief that only new rules and guiding bodies to set the
boundaries for members of the 80 million-strong Communion can prevent
"further disintegration".
Dr Williams made his comments in his second Presidential Address to the
670 Anglican bishops who have gathered in Canterbury for the
once-a-decade Lambeth Conference.
In an unusual move that he admitted was "risky", the Archbishop took on
the persona of both a conservative and a liberal to imagine how each
side feels about the divide that began when America's Episcopal Church
elected the openly gay Gene Robinson as a bishop and the Canadian church
agreed to bless same-sex unions.
Dr Williams told the warring factions that must express "mutual
generosity" to find out what their opponents feel and need, to create a
proper conversation .
In response to their modernising moves, conservative clergy in America
have taken their dioceses into African and South American churches,
while last month 300 bishops staged a rival summit at which they
announced the formation of a new movement for Anglicans who adhere to
traditional Bible teaching.
Taking on the persona of a traditionalist, he imagined them telling a
liberal: "We don't see why welcoming the gay or lesbian person with love
must mean blessing what they do in the Church's name or accepting them
for ordination whatever their lifestyle.
"Your decisions make a vast difference to us. Imagine what it means when
those neighbours are non-Christians, delighted to find a stick to beat
us with. Imagine what it is to be known as the 'gay church' in a context
where that spells real contempt and danger.
"Some of us know quite a lot about carrying the cross. But when that
cross is laid on us by fellow-Christians, it's quite a lot harder to bear."
He then imagined that the "not so traditional believer" might tell a
traditionalist: "We know we're pushing the boundaries – but don't some
Christians always have to do that?
"We are often hurt, angry and bewildered at the way many others in the
Communion see us and treat us these days – as if we were spiritual
lepers or traitors to every aspect of Christian belief."
Dr Williams concluded: "At the moment, we seem often to be threatening
death to each other, not offering life.
"What some see as confused or reckless innovation in some provinces is
felt as a body-blow to the integrity of mission and a matter of literal
physical risk to Christians.
"The reaction to this is in turn felt as an annihilating judgement on a
whole local church, undermining its legitimacy and pouring scorn on its
witness.
"We need to speak life to each other; and that means change."
He said this should mean a Covenant of guiding principles, as well a new
structure to decide what would be a "grave and lasting" course of
divisive action by a church.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/2471066/Archbishop-of
-Canterbury-accuses-Anglicans-of-threatening-'death-to-each-other'.html
--
Shalom/Salaam/Pax! Rowland Croucher
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/ (20,000 articles 4000 humor)
Blogs - http://rowlandsblogs.blogspot.com/
Justice for Dawn Rowan - http://dawnrowansaga.blogspot.com/
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