From the Washington Post:
The Rev. Robert Duncan, 60, is not a Lutheran, but he is a Luther, of sorts. The former Episcopal bishop of Pittsburgh has, in effect, said the words with which Martin Luther shattered Christendom and asserted the primacy of individual judgment and conscience that defines the modern temperament: " Ich kann nicht anders" -- I cannot do otherwise.
I should never take notice of certain conservative folks in a complimentary way. They say something sensible, but when I comment approvingly, their lapse into good sense shows itself an aberration, and they begin to utter nonsense once again.
The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh recently became the second diocese (the first was in Fresno, Calif.) to secede from the U.S. Episcopal Church since, but not entirely because of, the 2003 ordination in New Hampshire of an openly gay bishop -- Gene Robinson, a classmate of Duncan's at General Theological Seminary in New York in the 1970s. Before the Robinson controversy, other Episcopalians, from South Carolina to Southern California, had disassociated from the Episcopal Church and put themselves under the authority of conservative Anglican bishops who serve where the church is flourishing -- often in sub-Saharan Africa, where a majority of Anglicans live.
Georgie, Georgie, a diocese may not secede from the Episcopal Church. The bishop may leave. Priests may leave. Lay members may leave, but the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh remains what it is. Those who leave are not secessionists; they are ex-Episcopalians.
Because Protestantism has no structure of authority comparable to the Vatican and because it does not merely tolerate but enjoins individual judgments by "the priesthood of all believers" concerning beliefs and obligations, all Protestants are potential Luthers. Hence it is evidence of spiritual vigor that Episcopalians in Quincy, Ill., and Fort Worth will vote on disassociation from the U.S. communion on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14, respectively.
Luther was Catholic. Would that then mean that all Roman Catholics are also potential Luthers? By what reasoning do you conclude that, because individual clergy and members of the Episcopal Dioceses of Quincy and Fort Worth decide they will no longer be Episcopalians, this is evidence of their spiritual vigor?
That's not all. Those departing are in full accord with Flannery O'Connor:
Duncan and other protesters agree with the late Flannery O'Connor, the Catholic novelist: "You have to push as hard as the age that pushes against you."
Read the whole silly commentary - or not. Whatever.
PS to Georgie: There is no such entity as the US Communion. The name is the Episcopal Church, or TEC for short. Got it?
Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Mimi. Georgie's commentary left me scratching my head too.
ReplyDeleteOh Mimi- your words are amazing.
ReplyDeleteLuther? Is he kidding?
Spiritual vigor does not mean loving other humans unconditionally; or helping the poor, the widow, the orphan, the begger; or even showing basic hospitality.
ReplyDelete"Spiritual vigor" means upholding a set of tenets that say some are unworthy of participation at the table of Christ, and we must be the Lord Protectors who protect that table, since God won't come down and do it to our satisfaction.
At least, that seems to be George's definition. It's certainly a worldly definition. Has precious little to do with the Holy Spirit, however, which Scripture tells me goes where it wills.
And that's the problem, isn't it? The Holy Spirit isn't interested in being Luther at all. At least, not in the sense of drawing boundaries around who is accepted, and who isn't.
George Will is an ass. This proves it.
ReplyDeletePuleeze, everbody! Think of the last thing George Will wrote that made sense. Of course you can't think of anything; no one's memory is THAT good!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, Fran, thank you.
ReplyDeleteRmj, the poor, the widow, the orphan, hospitality? What can you be thinking?
I am continually amazed at the folks who believe that the table of the Lord needs their protection from the impure hordes.
Yeah, Lindy. That about covers it.
Padre, I gave you a link. He did actually say something sensible.
ReplyDeleteI think that George Will is not a Lutheran. You can use those words of Luther however you want. They don't prove anything. Lutherans care about the proper application of the Gospel. He read the Bible and discovered grace in there, and he could never disavow that. that's why he said "here I stand."
ReplyDeleteGeorge used to an Episcopalian. My theory is that he left after the negation of the 1928 prayer book, and all that that negation entailed. Think what you want about George, but he's one of the ones that you've left behind. (in your well-meaning prophetic actions) he's kind of pissed off.
ReplyDeleteDiane, I believe it's true that Will was once an Episcopalian and not a Lutheran, as Anonymous says.
ReplyDeleteAnon, either he did not know much about the church to which he belonged, or he's forgotten what he knew. He said on the Colbert Report that he is now agnostic.
Robert Duncan is no Martin Luther.
Nice comments. I ranted about his commentary on my blog, too - picking apart his misrepresentation of Martin Luther and of progressive Episcopalians. Argh. It got me riled up.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
George Will Misrepresents Luther in Attack on Episcopalians
Chris, welcome. Will does not get this right. He should have done a bit more research. He insults Lutherans and Episcopalians.
ReplyDeleteI will have a look at your post.
I thought Geo. was an agnostic/athiest type.
ReplyDeleteLuther does get quoted a lot, and probably out of context as often as not. That's the down side of having been such a wordsmith.
the negation of the 1928 prayer book, and all that that negation entailed
ReplyDeleteIs this supposed to be some kind of joke? A Zen koan?
The 1928 BCP (with which I was raised) wasn't ever "negated". It was simply revised (and the theology and Christian ethics therein vastly improved!). All that was best about the '28, lived on.
Now, I would argue, the noble 1979 BCP needs a revision, too (TEC should do so every generation). Get a life!