Rant on, Part 2

So it’s time to finish that rant. I hope to write more frequently than I have so far- but life does have a tyranny of the urgent. (I think that’s a fancier way of saying the squeaky wheel gets the oil). So here we are with this socially sensitive and justice minded group of people. They wouldn’t presume to export democracy- or support a war that alleges to foist one culture’s values upon another culture. AND YET this same group of folks, in the name of inclusivity and sensitivity to a particular sub-set of American culture, has said to the other cultures associated with it within the Anglican communion, “We know more than you. We are prophetic and farther along in our understanding of God’s ways. We will take this course of action- ordaining gay clergy and bishops, and blessing gay marriages- and you should accept it and allow us our choice in this matter.” My only feeling towards this is horror when I consider how amazingly arrogant it is. Because of the nature of the Anglican communion, we are intertwined with other cultures- all under this self-identification as Anglicans. And yet, when the VAST majority of Anglicans world-wide say that the ordination of homosexuals does not reflect their views and understanding of what God has called them to do, PECUSA simply shrugs and says “You are from a backwards culture- you don’t know as much as we do- we are smart, rich, well educated Episcopalians. You are poor Africans or Asians surrounded by animist cultures that just don’t know how life really is.” (reference the Bishop of Newark’s remarks concerning the chicken dinner at Lambeth 1988).

Admittedly, no self respecting Episcopalian would ever say that sort of thing. And yet, it is just this inability to step outside our own culture and see ourselves from a different perspective that is the very behavior we decry in the international policy of US politics. Arrogant- that is my rant. To say to the rest of the Anglican communion that we disagree with you is one thing- to say that we are right and we won’t apologize for stepping outside the norms- that is another thing. To say to bishops who struggle to stay alive amidst Muslim populations who will kill anyone caught in homosexual behavior “Part of your church that you are trying to represent sees this behavior as laudable.” I mean, I can’t imagine what the average Muslim thinks when they find out that Anglicans in the US are ordaining active homosexuals. I’m not trying to say that the Muslim perspective on homosexual behavior, or women for that matter, is right and that I agree with it. But when I put myself in the place of someone trying to explain Christ and the church to a predominately Muslim culture- oh my goodness! What a mess. And to have my brethren in the US be totally unsupportive….even working against me. The same could be said for electing a female presiding bishop.

Let me touch on the election of Katherine Jefferts-Sciori for just a second. I have no knowledge of this person- I haven’t read anything she’s written or even know that much about her. So, that is out there. What I think is that about 90% of the delegates and people in the church at large saw her as the token female on the slate. Since we talk a lot about inclusivity and such- it would look bad if our entire slate of PB candidates was all white 50 something men. And the slate was a lot of white 50 something men- plus Jefferts-Schiori and one Hispanic. Taken along with her experience (she has only been ordained a little over 12 years) and her diocese (one of the smallest and not very representative of the church) I don’t think many saw her as a serious candidate. And what happened? The portion of the church that likes to be ‘prophetic’ and ‘cutting edge’ and in my opinion likes to stir up trouble- they saw a chance to make yet another statement to the international Anglican communion without issuing a statement from committee. (A statement that resembles someone thumbing their nose). And once Jefferts-Sciori got a foot in the door so to speak- people jumped on the train and away it went. Now, I’ve already said I wasn’t there and I don’t know much about it. But if I understand blogging just right- it doesn’t matter- it’s my opinion. Feel free to comment.

So, my major complaint with PECUSA is that they are unbearably arrogant, insensitive to anyone who doesn’t think as the majority does, ready to discount, or even oppress anyone who doesn’t agree with the majority rule. Doesn’t sound so open minded and inclusive after all, does it? There again I have written more than enough for a day (or a week as the case may be). So now what?