Another one bites the dust. Or, rather, another one deals with the devil.
Trinity Episcopal Church of Bristol, Connecticut has aligned itself with Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola and his homo-hating Anglican offshoot, Convocation of Anglicans in North America.
Akinola founded the movement to counteract the Episcopal Church’s increasingly inclusive – and thus “alarmingly” progressive – stance on gays, especially openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson‘s 2003 ascension in New Hampshire.
In a statement following the split, Trinity’s rector, Rev. Donald Helmandollar, echoed Akinola’s conservative views:
How about we take this to the next level?
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We have remained with the Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church has demonstrated, continues to demonstrate, that they are walking apart from the communion.
Helmandollar’s church now joins a number of Virginia churches who have gone over to the dark side, exasperating the Anglican schism.
Another five Connecticut parishes have been considering the move, as well, especially after they unsuccessfully sued Connecticut Bishop Andrew Smith. News Time Live elaborates:
Trinity and five other parishes had sued Connecticut Bishop Andrew Smith in 2005 seeking several million dollars in damages. They say he violated their civil and property rights after they tried to break away from his authority because he supported the election of Gene Robinson, bishop of New Hampshire. A federal judge dismissed the case last year and the parishes are appealing.
…
Leaders of the six parishes also brought religious charges against Smith. But last month, a national review committee of the Episcopal Church dismissed the charges.
Obviously the righteous people of Trinity Church think Akinola and company will treat them right. For some reason, however, we doubt it…
GreatBritChick
They could have remained Episcopalian and still remained Anglican. Akinola will continue to “treat them right” until he starts asking them for money.
DavidM
Fortunately, I am not the only one who is blown away by the rampant homophobia running through the Anglican Communion and within our own Episcopal Church by those who are breaking away. Akinola and his kind have only begun to plant the seeds of their ugly work. How seemingly intelligent people can follow him and others like him is beyond my realm of human comprehension. It may take awhile, but I believe many of these break-away churches will live to regret their decision, once Akinola really takes control of them. Already he has shown his true agenda for power and control through his blatant desire to be the Divine Right authority of the Anglican Communion, and to drag everyone back to the Dark Ages almost gleefully.
Paul Raposo
A neighbor of mine is Anglican and she stated that “we”, (that is “they”) must understand Akinola and heed his opinion because of what the whites did to him and his ancestors. Because of that history, he understands oppression and wants to escape it and save those who are oppressed as well. Uh huh.
What about the oppression he wants to visit upon not just religious LGBT’s but all LGBT’s?
So how much of this is faith based and how much is race based?
Paul Raposo
A neighbor of mine is Anglican and she stated that “we”, (that is “they”) must understand Akinola and heed his opinion because of what the whites did to him and his ancestors. Because of that history, he understands oppression and wants to escape it and save those who are oppressed as well. Uh huh.
What about the oppression he wants to visit upon not just religious LGBT’s but all LGBT’s?
So how much of this is faith based and how much is race based? Is there a touch of white guilt floating around?
G. Macquire
I left the Episcopal church (TEC) to join an Anglican mission church because the leadership in the Episcopal church no longer believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ, doubt his birth by the Virgin Mary and do not accept the bible as the inspired word of God. These are the core beliefs of Christianity. Since they are no longer practicing Christianity, but have become in essence a cult, I needed to move to a Christian Church. I suspect that most of those leaving the TEC have the same view. If you are a member of the TEC, I recommend that you take a good look at what the leaders of the church are really saying about Christ.
I understand that homosexual persons view it otherwise given the rejection by certain segments of the society they experience in their daily lives. Perhaps if I were homosexual I would have the same view and judge all leaving the TEC as being homophobic. But I would be wrong!
If you are a actively practicing homosexual, the true christian church views you exactly like all the rest of US sinners. If you ask a true Christian if they would exclude any person from attending and participating in Christian worship they would answer with a resounding NO! As would I! All sinners are welcome to come to Christ, myself included.
Please do not judge too quickly those who have decided to leave the TEC for the Anglican church or other Christian churches. Only God and the person making such a decision knows their heart and each person will be judged based on that knowledge in the end.
Peace be with you.
cjc
Mr. Macquire reminds me why only consider myself a cultural Christian, much like a cultural Jew. You know, celebrate the holidays, go through the motions but not getting all bound up in pointless theological arguments.
And also with you Mr. Macquire, but please stay the hell away from me.
Hesychios
There is no such thing as a “cultural Christian” in the context expressed by cjc. It’s just a hollow post-Christian shell.
That’s ok for those who only want their lives to be a meaningless modern show, but not for real Christians who have to live the life.
It requires sacrifice, and facing our faults, even saying “no” to ourselves and some of our own deepest desires. We are sinners but we do try to live according to the precepts set forth in scriture. Biblically a Christian cannot accept sex outside of marriage, and a marriage is only between a man and a woman in love who are free to make such a decision. As much as we might even want to change that we cannot.
As an Orthodox Christian I may not even partake of sex the night before receiving communion, I have to fast, pray, and go to confession as well. Most Peopl with Protestant or Catholic backgrounds (Gay or not) wouldn’t have even heard of such strict discipline just for communion.
Vicki Robinson is engaging in personal behavior that we traditional Christians would normally try to discourage in our own children. Biblically he is living in sin, no different than a hetero living in a sexual relationship with a woman he is not married to. He is not just a poor example of a bishop, but no real bishop at all in the Christian sense. He is morally bankrupt and totally self-absorbed.
The good news for Gays is that TEC is rapidly morphing into a non-Christian religion, it has had “bishops” that deny all manner of Christian doctrine (including a well-published atheist, Mr. Spong). So any homosexuals should feel comfortable going there if they are looking for some New Age solice and enlightenment. They will welcome you warmly, I am sure.
But if that is what you want take care to make some serious contributions to the church for it’s upkeep, it is heading down the financial soil pipe and will need a great deal of support from the Gay community to keep the doors open. Actual traditional Christians are heading for churches where the Faith and morals are preached according to the 2000 year tradition and scripture. It is their right, it is their duty, and they are on their way.
Michael