Is the Church Disintegrating? (priest, ritual, tradition, America, churches)

[spiritually inclined]

I often read about people saying, especially conservatives, that the Episcopal church is disintegrating. Is there any truth to this?

James

[applewuud]

Are you talking about the Episcopal Church of the U.S., a member of the Anglican (Church of England) communition, or all churches based on the Catholic government model of archbishop/bishop/priest?

If you're talking about the former, there is a current crisis stemming from the ordination of a bishop in New Hampshire who is openly gay. The conservatives see this as contrary to Biblical law and reason for their congregations to split from the Episcopal Church of the U.S. Some have tried to secede and come under the supervision of Anglican bishops from more traditional countries (e.g., Nigeria). There is talk that if the U.S. church doesn't recall this action, it should no longer be part of the Anglican Communion, but it seems the Archbishop of Canterbury is reluctant to do this and they are seeking reconciliation.

The thread http://www.religiousforums.com/forum...ear#post508457 covers this in depth, from last June when the Episcopal Church was in convention.

[sojourner]

The conservatives would like to have you believe that the fabric is tearing, because it serves their purposes of separating the liberals from themselves. The liberals are holding out for reconciliation which, IMO, is the better and truer course.

Throughout the history of the American Church, conservatives have split off, claiming that it was really the liberals who split off, by virtue of their liberal stance. However, I think that the ECUSA (the Episcopal Church as we know it) is the only American Angilcan body currently in communion with Canterbury.

Someone please correct me if I'm mistaken about that.

[Terrywoodenpic]

Originally Posted by sojourner

The conservatives would like to have you believe that the fabric is tearing, because it serves their purposes of separating the liberals from themselves. The liberals are holding out for reconciliation which, IMO, is the better and truer course.

Throughout the history of the American Church, conservatives have split off, claiming that it was really the liberals who split off, by virtue of their liberal stance. However, I think that the ECUSA (the Episcopal Church as we know it) is the only American Angilcan body currently in communion with Canterbury.

Someone please correct me if I'm mistaken about that.

You are quite correct about the ECUSA
How ever there are numerous churches in the USA and Canada that call them selves either Anglican or Episcopal. some only exist in a single state and all are very small.
You will find them all in the following list...
Anglican Churches not in the Communion

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by spiritually inclined

I often read about people saying, especially conservatives, that the Episcopal church is disintegrating. Is there any truth to this?

James

The news of our demise is greatly overstated.

[Terrywoodenpic]

The whole Anglican communion is in discussion on a number of matters.
The Ordination of practising Gay Bishops and Clergy.
The ordination of women bishops.

As all the national churches in the communion are autonomous. there are bound to be differences as they progress in these matters at different rates.
The African Anglican Churches ( the most numerous) are the most conservative.
The North American Episcopal's the most Liberal.
and the Church of England are catching up in these matters with North America.
There is very little chance that the ESCUSA and the British Anglicans will let them selves be split on these issues. The Anglican faith has learnt how to accommodate differences over many hundreds of years, and is now probably the most accepting and diverse of all churches.

[sojourner]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

The whole Anglican communion is in discussion on a number of matters.
The Ordination of practising Gay Bishops and Clergy.
The ordination of women bishops.

As all the national churches in the communion are autonomous. there are bound to be differences as they progress in these matters at different rates.
The African Anglican Churches ( the most numerous) are the most conservative.
The North American Episcopal's the most Liberal.
and the Church of England are catching up in these matters with North America.
There is very little chance that the ESCUSA and the British Anglicans will let them selves be split on these issues. The Anglican faith has learnt how to accommodate differences over many hundreds of years, and is now probably the most accepting and diverse of all churches.

With regard to your last statement: Isn't that the genius that Cranmer gave to the Anglican Church, and isn't it the mainstay of the Church's continued spread?

[Terrywoodenpic]

Originally Posted by sojourner

With regard to your last statement: Isn't that the genius that Cranmer gave to the Anglican Church, and isn't it the mainstay of the Church's continued spread?

he did a great job with the prayer book and reconciling an otherwise Catholic people to a protestant faith., in a way they actually agreed with.
They liked the catholic faith but not the power of the Church, the wealthy monasteries, nor the power of the pope over their daily lives.

[spiritually inclined]

They liked the catholic faith but not the power of the Church, the wealthy monasteries, nor the power of the pope over their daily lives.

This statement is true of me as well and why I am considering joining the Episcopal church rather than the Roman Catholic Church.

James