From the Casper, Wyoming, Star-Tribune:
Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the Law in the Old Testament was not regarded by Jews as grim or confining, the head of The Episcopal Church said Thursday.
"The Law they called Torah is seen as life-giving, as blessing," Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori told the annual meeting of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming.
"Jesus summarizes the Law that [Old Testament scribe] Ezra reads as 'love God' and 'love your neighbor' and we might add to that frequent biblical message, 'don't be afraid,'" Jefferts Schori said during her sermon at a jazz Mass at the Parkway Plaza in Casper. "Fear not, because God loves you and the world is actually far more gracious than you can ever [imagine]."
....
The convention, which ends Sunday, follows the July national General Convention in Anaheim, Calif., during which the delegates approved resolutions allowing the ordination of homosexuals, and granting clergy the authority to marry those in same-sex relationships.
During a panel discussion Friday, Wyoming delegates recognized the risk of those resolutions.
"We stepped off the cliff with the sexuality (resolutions)," said the Rev. Ann Fontaine of Atlantic City. "We hope the angels will bear us up, but we don't know."
Anglicans have never claimed to base their decisions solely on the Bible, Jefferts Schori said. "We start there, but that's not the only piece we bring to our decision-making."
The few biblical passages about same-sex relationships may be talking about exploitive relationships, she said. "Jesus doesn't say anything about same-sex relationships of the kind the church is talking about."
Bishop Katharine's words are spot on. And there's our Ann being quoted with the jumping off a cliff metaphor, which, or so it seems to me, we are called to do quite often as we try to follow Jesus and walk the Gospel way.
Sigh.... The Presiding Bishop is still being questioned about her statement that "the great Western heresy" is that we are saved as individuals, rather than in community. I hope she continues to stick to her guns and defend her statement, because she's right.
Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling-place,
no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
(Psalm 91:9-12)
I enjoyed the two Wyoming diocesan conventions I attended while doing an interim there. Great people and everybody knows everybody. Ann's statement is spot on, we are called to go off the cliff and so few are willing to do it.
ReplyDeleteAmelia, then you know Ann. It was good to meet her in Anaheim after knowing her for years online.
ReplyDeleteAs to jumping off cliffs, it's a matter of trust.