-WHY CONSERVATIVES WILL LOSE AT GENERAL CONVENTION

Conservatives (I mean evangelicals, traditional anglo-catholics, and just plain conservatives) will lose the battle at General Convention. There never really was any doubt, but some events drive the point home.

And let me say that the connotation of “conservative” to me relates to the root “conserve.” Conservatives are usually slow to change, but the motive is often (not always) to conserve something valuable.

The official Episcopal News Service is easily seen to be an organ for promoting the institutional cause of ECUSA. Significant news highlighting the conservative cause is often ignored, as is news that reflects poorly on the liberal cause. I won’t bother you with my useful definition of “liberal.”

But news and talk that sparkle for the institutional cause of ECUSA go immediately to the “Top Stories” tab on the website. As I write this, the top story is Desmond Tutu receives Union Theological Seminary's highest honor. The subtitle is: “Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town delivers timely message of tolerance.”

More on this, but first, let me note the second feature—'What Witness Will We Make?' (subtitle: “Episcopal Divinity School president looks toward General Convention”). This is not a news item, but a speech given by the Right Rev. Steven Charleston, Episcopal bishop and dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was speaking at an alumni function and (as ENS puts it) “raised what he considers the most important question facing the Episcopal Church today.”

I don’t expect to see a verbatim of any speech by an Anglican Communion Network Bishop between now and General Convention.

While Bishop Charleston takes shots at zealots on right and left, the thrust of this eloquent speech is clearly in the direction of the steps taken at General Convention 2003 of full inclusion of all baptized persons in all the liturgical blessings and all orders of ministry of ECUSA.

Now, back to the lead story. Archbishop Tutu is an icon of courage, conviction, and faith. He was affirmed with “thunderous applause" when he was honored with the highest award of Union Theological Seminary (N.Y.). His speech on the occasion moved from the battle over apartheid to the cause of those “oppressed” because of their “sexual orientation.”

A sidenote: Maybe one thing we will learn in the aftermath of our loss at General Convention is that gay advocates don’t agree with us on sexual orientation not being the point. For them, orientation and sexual expression are one piece of cloth. While a relatively small number of people with homosexual inclination remain celibate, the majority say, “It is my nature (orientation and more) and, by God, I will live it out.”

The punch for the Anglican world in Tutu’s speech came with these words, invoking our Lord:

"And if we really believed that our worth is intrinsic, not dependent on extrinsic attributes, would we really get so hot under the collar, threatening to breach communion over sexual orientation, because like ethnicity, like skin color and gender, it is a variable that does not affect the worth of a person?" he asked.

He said he "cannot stand silent when persons are penalized about something I believe they can do nothing about—their sexual orientation."

"I do not believe that the Jesus who was on the side of the weak and the persecuted would accept the treatment generally being meted out by us Christians to an already persecuted minority," Tutu said. "Inasmuch as you have done or not done it to the least of my sisters and brothers, you have done or not done it to me? Who are these least?"

Conservatives will lose the battle at General Convention because speeches like those of Archbishop Tutu and Bishop Charleston will capture the high ground in the hearts of Deputies and Bishops. Conservatives will appear reactionary, narrow, and stuck in the past—trying to conserve an outlook on the Bible and tradition that ECUSA long ago left behind.

-THE SHAPE OF THE ICEBERG

In case you missed this elsewhere, here is an audio file by Kendall Harmon on the seriousness of the crisis for ECUSA and the Anglican Communion. Take the time to listen to it.

The analogy of an iceberg is sobering.

Other speeches at the same event by the bishops of the Diocese of South Carolina are also valuable.

-BISHOP WRIGHT ON THE WINDSOR REPORT (FROM 2004)

[NOTE (after General Convention): This analysis, first published in October 2004 after the release of The Windsor Report, is quite relevant in the time after the General Convention of The Episcopal Church. Those who seem confused about what the majority of the Anglican Communion may do now will find hints of one possibility here.]

Bishop N.T. Wright of Durham, England, was a member of the Lambeth Commission, which issued The Windsor Report. He is also one of a select group of English church leaders who have met with the Archbishop of Canterbury to prepare for the aftermath of ECUSA's General Convention.

Look again at an article by him for The Church Times (England) that spelled things out for ECUSA.

His very good homey illustrations don't hide his bear-trap mind. ECUSA Bishops and Deputies to GC will blow off his perspective to the harm of our church.

To understand all the recommendations in Section D (moratoria, etc.), Wright urges us to:

Note carefully what is said in the crucial paragraphs 134 and 144: We invite the persons concerned with the events in New Hampshire and New Westminster to express regret that "the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached" in the actions that were taken [my italics].

This is far more than merely saying, in effect: "We regret that some of you weren’t up to speed with modern thinking, and so have been puzzled and hurt." It is saying: "We recognise that there were proper constraints, belonging to the bonds of affection at the heart of our common life, and we went ahead and breached them." Everything else follows from this.

The initial regret statement by the Episcopal House of Bishops expressed regret for the pain they caused.

The Report of the Special Commission adds, with its Resolution A160: "We repent of any failure to consult," as if we are somewhat unclear whether that is the case. It is one of the clearest facts of this whole mess that we certainly failed to consult and then failed listen to a universal chorus of voices asking us to stop.

Wright worded the situation this way (as if in our shoes): "there were proper constraints…and we went ahead and breached them" by our actions regarding New Hampshire.

The point of Wright's words must be honored by GC as part of the moves necessary to remain in the Anglican Communion. Our best attempt so far still falls short in this key component.

Thanks to Kendall Harmon for recyling the Times article.

-SOBERING WORDS FROM BISHOP LIPSCOMB

The Rt. Rev. John Lipscomb of Southwest Florida has published a sobering analysis in the in the May/June 2006 issue of The Southern Cross. This bishop is known as a careful reconciler. His strong words should be given full weight. I’m not even going to try to exegete his final sentence, but it shouldn’t be read without care.

What I’m interested in remembering for the weeks and months ahead is this: “Anglicanism is the test of a new way of being the church catholic. The difficult question we face in this next General convention will be our ability to sustain such a Communion.”

We are not catholic through an iron-clad structure (and The Windsor Report doesn’t call for one!). We are catholic through mutual commitment that is proved in mutual action. ECUSA broke that bond at General Convention 2003. Now is our only predictable chance to fix what we broke.

Once again, thanks Kendall Harmon for posting this for all of us.

-A LINE MANY CAN’T CROSS

Perhaps it is far enough away from Easter to look at some Easter sermon reflections from Gene Robinson. The Witness website has a section of Lectionary Reflections and Robinson provided the Easter installment.

He makes a move from the great stone removed from Jesus' tomb to stones that block us until we see that the resurrection has rolled them away also. Robinson offers his transformation regarding his sexuality as an example.

Years ago, my sexuality seemed like an unmovable stone in my way, a burden so huge that it seemed to threaten every thing I held dear. Accepting being gay seemed impossible; affirming and embracing it was beyond comprehension. And then just as surely as Jesus called to his friend Lazarus to "Come out!" of his tomb, Jesus called me to come out of my tomb of guilt and shame, to accept and love that part of me that he ALREADY accepted and loved [his caps].

While we might place this epiphany in a much earlier time, before his sexuality found much expression, there can hardly be a doubt that he would include his living as a gay man in his new freedom. He extolled his sexual relationship as sacramental at General Convention 2003.

The impact of this sermon reflection must be that for Gene Robinson, and for the gay advocates in ECUSA, Jesus has "already accepted and loved" gay sex in committed relationships. Heterosexual couples, in moments of boldness and clarity would be willing to make such a claim for their passion. Gays in ECUSA seek the same freedom.

Deputies will hear speeches marshaled by Integrity and The Consultation affirming, in so many words, the holiness of gay sex in committed relationships. Is this too obvious to write?

Approving Gene Robinson as a bishop for the universal church meant we accepted that his sexual relationship—his lovemaking—is regarded as holy. If you think I’m pushing the language too far, remember that he said it in hearings before General Convention 2003.

Conservatives are said to be gripped by homophobic revulsion when they balk at this point. But, any revulsion comes from the creation order hymned in the opening chapters of the Bible, affirmed by Jesus, and applied by Paul.

The gay agenda touches something foundational and they know it as well as anyone.

General Convention: Do not try to push us over a line thousands of us can’t cross.