The Episcopal Divide

I grew up an Episcopalian. I was baptized and confirmed, served as an acolyte and a lay reader. My mother remains a die-hard Episcopalian to this day. Growing up Episcopalian I heard all the old saws about them, the best being: "in all things moderation." Episcopalians have been known for their tolerance, their etiquette, and their primacy of place in America's civil religion. Ronald Reagan's state funeral was held in Washington's National Cathedral and was presided over by former Senator John Danforth, himself an Episcopal Priest -- this despite the fact that Reagan was born and raised Disciples of Christ and in his Hollywood years and later attended a Presbyterian Church.

Schism is anathema to Episcopalians. My own research area is the Nonjuror movement, which was a schism movement, but it always understood itself to be the righteous remnant. When the Episcopal Church says the Creed they put emphasis on the word Catholic, as in "one holy catholic and apostolic church." That it is in the throes of division now is incomprehensible. This is the church of Bp. James Pike after all. The tent has always been big, but now the fabric of the tent is being torn asunder. Though I'm no longer Episcopalian, it pains me to watch these events.

A New York Times article today speaks of the current travails within the church, which has led two historic Episcopal Churches in Virginia to secede and place themselves under the leadership of a controversial Nigerian Bishop. This in itself is anathema to Episcopalians who believe that diocesan and provincial boundaries are not to be crossed. To invade the diocese of another is to create schism and is therefore tantamount to sin. And such is the case now. The issue at hand is supposedly homosexuality, but I think it's more than this. The real issue is the status of the Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori You see most of the churches and dioceses that are up in arms also believe that women shouldn't be priests.

You see there is now a Presiding Bishop who is a woman heading a church that has bishops who refuse to ordain women. That, I think, is the real issue. But Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire is the scape goat. Only time will tell what will happen, but perhaps this schism has been in the making for thirty years.

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