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By Rev. Canon David H. Roseberry Submitted by Injun Joe Date: 2003 Nov 30 Comment on this Work [[2003.11.30.14.49.9050]] |
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November 3, 2003 Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Yesterday marked the end of the Episcopal Church as a meaningful spiritual leader and moral voice in our country and around the world. The consecration of an openly gay man to the office of the apostles is a clear rejection of the teaching of the Scriptures and of the faith of the church.I feel a special grief over this time in the church. It is not just academic theology and cold doctrine that are at stake. From a pastoral and personal perspective, I know that broken people need a whole savior! Most of you know that I went through a divorce over 20 years ago. I was a broken person, ignorant of the Bible's important teaching for my life. But the redeeming power of our God made it possible for me, like any sinner, to seek and receive forgiveness and healing in Christ. That's the whole point of the last three months, really - that any person living outside God's best can change his heart and start anew. The power of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ makes all things new...especially people like you and me.As for our future, I believe two things will happen over the next few weeks. First, many parts of the wider Anglican Communion will formally separate or impair their relationship with the Episcopal Church. This should greatly trouble us. The Body of Christ is broken. The effect of yesterday's consecration will be seen in the years to come in form of moral, spiritual, numerical, and financial decline.Secondly, a new church will begin to arise. Anglicanism is an historic and richly wonderful expression of the Christian faith. It is irrepressible. New expressions and new alignments of Anglicanism will begin to emerge starting today. Believers all around the world are eager to put the past three months behind us and get on with the mission of discipleship. I believe that Christ Church has been raised for such a time as this. This congregation embodies the strength and dynamism necessary for this new Anglican expression of the faith. We are biblical. We are liturgical. We are relevant. I propose that we seize the day of opportunity before us to lead and help shape the next chapter of Anglicanism in North America. Our bishop is solidly behind us. I am refreshed and eager for God's next step for us. (And contrary to rumor, I do not intend to leave my role and office as the rector of Christ Church!) Our church is strong and it must remain strong. We must surge forward with the kind of mission and ministry that has brought us to this place: evangelism and discipleship.Keep Christ Church strong. Pray, work, and give for the spread of the Kingdom through our ministry here. Let us not forsake the future. Let us get ready for it and move forward with faith and hope. In the next few weeks you will hear more about the plans and challenges ahead. I remain faithfully yours in Christ, The Rev. Canon David H. Roseberry |