What Do Conservative Episcopalians Want?

What do conservative Episcopalians want? If we are to achieve reconciliation and love, which the Lambeth Commission’s Windsor Report asks us to strive for on “issues of sexuality,” we need to do specifically what we were asked to do by the commission.

Let us clarify the ostensible question in dispute: Should people in non-celibate non-marital relationships be considered wholesome examples who can be ordained as Christian leaders? Notice the focus is on behavior and on Christian leadership.

It is exhausting beyond measure to hear the debate summarized as those for and against gay ordination or people. All are welcome in our parishes and in the ordination process too. We all struggle and we all need compassion and pastoral care. The question is should the standard for sexual behavior be changed, and we argue that it should not.

Under the surface, though, conservatives believe the real issues are deeper. The authority and interpretation of Scripture, the doctrine of marriage, the nature of the church—who makes decisions and how these are made—and even the gospel message itself are really in dispute. It is for these reasons above all that we are profoundly concerned.

We believe the Windsor Report is a big compromise. There are all kinds of extremely important issues which remain unaddressed in the report’s recommendations. It is, however, a unanimous report by some Anglicans throughout the world, which has been viewed as the positive way forward by many Anglican leaders and groups. We take this very seriously as a minimum step to create the space necessary for any healing for a Communion that has been severely damaged by conflict.

The election of Nevada Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori as the church’s new presiding bishop is a big disappointment to conservatives, but not a surprise. Our primary concern is her theology, which is strongly in favor of the new theology and practice which the Episcopal Church has embraced in contradiction to the teaching of the Anglican Communion. We find it highly significant that her whole diocese, just a few days before the primates meeting in October of 2003, moved ahead to allow same-sex blessings to occur for those who desired them.

Continued on page 2: A Christian family at the breaking point... »