Readers Responses on the Lambeth Conference
Episcopal News Service. July 16, 2008 [071608-06]
The July 16 readers' responses relating to the Lambeth Conference follow.
Bishops! Remember William White while at Lambeth
Joan R. Gundersen, Aspinwall, Pennsylvania
Actually White cleared the way for consecration of THREE bishops in England, but the third duly elected person (David Griffith) from Virginia was unable to raise the funds to travel with the other two to England. He died in 1789 at the start of General Convention. Virginia elected a new candidate (James Madison) who was consecrated in England in 1791. In fact all 4 bishops were present at General Convention in 1792 and took part in the consecration of Thomas Claggett as Bishop of Maryland. For some reason Bishop Madison is often left off the list because only the 3 most senior bishops are listed in the line of succession. His presence meant that even those who did not accept Bishop Seabury's consecration, however, could find no fault in Claggett's succession.
Church need not be afraid, New Hampshire bishop tells Putney gathering
Gregg Conroy, Nashville, Tennessee
I am amazed that Bishop Robinson would characterize the issues within the Anglican communion as being "over two men or two women who choose to make a Christian family together." I think such a statement goes beyond over-simplification since there are a great many theological issues separating the "liberal" from the "conservative" in the Communion. Some other issues that come immediately to mind include the unique nature of Jesus (is Jesus "a" way or "the" way?), the fallibility of the Bible and cultural versus absolute moral values.
ENGLAND: I am not coming to Lambeth to protest, New Hampshire Bishop Robinson says
Bo Register, Macclenny, Florida
What part of 'not invited' does the man not get? The Heretic should stay at home, and not even darken a church-house door until he is willing to repent.
Lambeth unplugged
Sue Thompson, Pacifica, California
"May the Holy Spirit's presence be evident this summer at the Lambeth Conference, and may we be astonished by what transpires." The closing line of this article says it all, doesn't it? It isn't about biblical authority, Right and Wrong, orthodoxy, revisionism … It's about being the people of God, called to announce the healing and reconciliation available when the kingdom of God comes near. Kudos for getting to the heart of the matter
Readers Responses on the Lambeth Conference
Charles Kelley, Gainesville, Georgia
The comments of Deb Brunsberg from Minnesota strike me as misleadingly dishonest. To say that one must be chaste outside of marriage -- and, by the way, we deny you the right of marriage -- is perverse. Why try and pretend to be accommodating? Why not come out and say we prohibit any homosexual relationship? Because that is the net effect of the previous combination. If a physical relationship is only allowed in a marriage and homosexuals are prohibited from marrying then the only conclusion is that a physical relationship is prohibited for homosexuals.
To hide behind this syllogism is shameful. One who takes that position is attempting a smoke screen to hide his intolerance. Far better to be honest and proclaim one's intolerance.
ENGLAND: I am not coming to Lambeth to protest, New Hampshire Bishop Robinson says
The Rev. Robert Carroll Walters, Worcester, Massachusetts
Once again, language is blurred in that no distinction is made between gay, openly gay and non-celibate gay. Some of us who have no difficulty accepting and supporting men who are clergy and open about their sexual orientation do take issue with a man who is willing to divide the church over his relationship with his boyfriend. It is also certainly appropriate that loving parents not reject their gay children, but to say that God made them that way begs the question when it comes to horribly malformed fetuses and the severely retarded.
Readers Responses on the Lambeth Conference
David L. Greene, Cleveland, Georgia
The central question underlying whether a monogamous gay relationship constitutes sex outside of marriage, or, in Ms. Brunsberg's words, "living in sin with another man," depends upon our understanding of what is a marriage.
Too often, religious and other societal groups have decided that the marriages of outsiders are not true marriages. In 17th-century New England, for example, Puritan churches refused to accept Quaker marriages and arrested married Quakers for fornication. In more recent years, the Federal government has accepted that a couple's living together as married and considered such by their community is all the evidence necessary for programs like pensions for soldier's widows. Until the 20th century, there were more unrecorded marriages than those for which they were legal records. Few, however, questioned that such couples were indeed married. In the specific case of Bishop Robinson: he has been living in a faithful monogamous relationship for some two decades. Even though it is not accepted as a legal marriage in many jurisdictions, I have little doubt that the Bishop and his partner consider themselves in a marriage. And, more important, I believe that they are married in the eyes of God. Fidelity and monogamy are much-need virtues; whether such a permanent relationship fits legal definitions is a confusion of law with morality. I congratulate Ms. Brunsberg on maintaining her own chastity. That too is a much-need virtue.
Church need not be afraid, New Hampshire bishop tells Putney gathering
Dorothy MacFadyen, Mesa, Arizona
I have refused to join the Church due to Bishop Robinson's being allowed to administer to all Episcopal churches in New Hampshire. Having lived in San Francisco I know the pressure put on people by the homosexual community. I miss not being a member but will follow the Bible in refuting homosexuality as normal lifestyle.
Bishops! Remember William White while at Lambeth
Dolly Green, Lubbock, Texas
Thank you for such a well-written and well-thought-out article. I only wish more of the Church would read, mark, learn and inwardly digest it.
A brief history of the Lambeth Conference
Dodie Pedlow, Lake City, Florida
I am an old lady now. My belief in God has strengthened through the years. My opinions on what God wants of us have changed considerably through my continuing my formal education in sociology, history, science and religion, which is still in progress. Looking at the issues that torment the leaders in the church, problems that have existed since the beginning of civilization, socially and scientifically can be resolved so simply by true belief, not by suppositions by modern man or even the authors of the bible, also men. God said "Love one another." He did not list any exceptions. Amen
Salisbury diocese welcomes Presiding Bishop, Sudanese bishops for pre-Lambeth hospitality initiative
Rachel Lucas, Salisbury, United Kingdom
We have just had the most inspiring 'conversation' and question-and-answer session with Bishop Katharine in our Cathedral. Her wisdom, clarity, humor, humility, compassion and ability to listen and empathize with people won everyone's hearts, and we pray that her presence at the Lambeth Conference will help to bring about reconciliation and acceptance of different points of view. We so hope that her sermons broadcast on the BBC will have reached many of those who have given up on the church because of what they hear of its divisions and bitter conflicts. She certainly demonstrated "a better way," Thank you so much for coming to Salisbury.
Church need not be afraid, New Hampshire bishop tells Putney gathering
The Rev. Susan Bruttell, Plantation, Florida
Fantastic! How wonderfully courageous of Rev. Fraser and the congregation of St. Mary's to act like Christ -- open and inclusive –and to embrace Bishop Robinson by inviting him to preach. It is a sad state of affairs when anyone, let alone a Bishop, in the church has to wear a flack jacket and have armed bodyguards for protection. I applaud St. Mary's and hold the whole state of Christ's church in my prayers during this exciting, but challenging time. God is still in charge and the Spirit continues to move throughout Christendom. Thank you Jesus!