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It's still too early to tell who will be elected to the post of bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, but as we suggested, the rocky relationship between the church and its members has already manifested itself in the split of at least one congregation.
The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in West Chicago saw around 100 of its congregants depart this past weekend. After their final service, which was by all accounts a good natured and lively affair, they walked to their new space about a quarter-mile away. Their new church, named Resurrection Anglican Church, falls under the governance of the Anglican Church of Uganda.
It's interesting to note that the split comes on the heels of the election of Rev. John Guernsey (of Virginia) to the post of bishop in the conservative Anglican Church of Uganda. The Rev. Guernsey, along with his congregation, decided last year "to leave the Episcopal Church over disagreements on biblical authority and the 2003 consecration of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, a practicing homosexual."
The election of Rev. Guernsey to bishop took place in Mbarara, Uganda, not here in the states. In case you didn't know, the maximum penalty for being openly homosexual in Uganda is life in prison. And what is Rev. Guernsey's new gig as bishop? He will "watch over" the churches stateside and make sure they come under the province of the Anglican Church of Uganda.
We suspect this is only the first in a series of congregation separations around town.
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it's does not equal its
Did anyone see the front page of the Sun Times? The parishoners "bearing the cross" hit Elton John levels on the Gaydar.
I had to do a double take to realize that these were the people protesting gay rights.
Talk about repressed sexuality! I bet the Men's bathrooms at the new "Resurrection Anglican Church" will seriously be in play!
Front page link [its kinda small]: media.suntimes.com/email_edition/cover/cst_front_300.jpg
Here is a better link for the Sun Times. It is truly amazing:
www.newseum.org/media/dfp/jpg10/lg/IL_CST.jpg
The Chicago diocese is ready for change. The lesbian nominated for bishop may be one of the least radical theologians up for the job.
It will be interesting how this turns out as the US church is a major funder of Anglican programs around the world. Many of the African churches may not agree with the US church's positions on gays and women, however they don't have a problem with their money. Fiscal need may determine the US church's role in the Anglican Union.
This is pretty exciting. I don't think that I ever expected to see a major religion deal with these issues so publicly in my lifetime.
@guest 4: You are absolutely right that it's exciting (@guest 1, that's the proper use, it's = it is) to hear this sort of debate in the public eye. Definitely stuff for the history books.
Guest #1 (and I know it's the same person) is always harping on it's vs. its, but most of the time, he/she has it wrong him/herself. Funny.
What a relief, someone else has already pointed out how the two gentlemen carrying the cross look like they'd be more comfortable in a welcoming/inclusive/affirming parish. Like ours...
Anyway, I'm not that familiar with "Rez," but I'm under the impression they've been leaving the Episcopal Church for several years. They started talking seriously about it in February and March of this year. They have made a graceful exit and I'm grateful for that, but their timing puts them right in the spotlight, and I wonder about that. Otherwise, I'm happy for them as they've struggled for a long time to be comfortable in a liberal diocese. And we can all move forward.
ginny
(sorry, messed up on your registration process)
I trust the Pope. If an 80 year old virgin doesn't know the way regarding sexuality, then who does?
Most people do not want to be married by a Bea Arthur look alike dressed in a priest costume.