The loss of the Spirit

It would appear that most of my comments on the result of convention want to focus on my anger, dismay, horror, on the fact that I am a gay Episcopalian.
I must clarify,
I was not happy with the statements out of the house of Bishops re Windsor, but I could understand what they were trying to do and before convention took a “lets wait and see” attitude.
When these were brought up at convention some passed with amendment and some could not be amended in a way to satisfy the polity of this church, and so they were defeated. This is how our church speaks its mind and moves forward.
My anger is NOT because I am gay, but rather because I BELIEVE that the way things were handled was wrong.

My anger is because the leaders of this church have denied what they previously claimed was of the Spirit.

My anger is because our PBE sold out her supposed convictions for a POSSIBLE invite to tea at Lambeth.

My anger is because title and position were used, and accepted, to bully a vote in a desired direction.

My anger is because the Episcopal Church has denied its validity outside of the C of E, thus claiming that catholicity in the church is only through a recognized head. (Remember we were denied once before and went elsewhere for our bishops, thank you church of Scotland)

My anger is that we have based our calling on that of the Archbishop of Canterbury not on the call of Christ.

There is a great deal of hurt, a lot of pain to go around. The platitudes being offered are so hollow and really make me question the strength of our belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Did Christ say to the blind man,, “Well my father works in mysterious ways, I am sure something good will come of your affliction” or “Those seizures your child is having, it is Gods will for now and by learning to work with them you will see the Spirit at work”. I could go on with this, but I shall not, let your own mind work on these analogies.

One of the comments being spread around is that this is a sacrifice we must bear for the sake of unity and to be in conversation with our sister churches. Huh? What happened to the example of the martyrs? Yesterday was St Albans day, we have coming up the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, look to their example. Look to the example of our Lord Jesus Christ! All could have escaped crucifixion, execution, by simple statements, statements that would have gone against their calling; statements they knew were wrong and grievous to the heart of God.

Are we the Church of Jesus Christ, his body on earth, or are we the church of Constantine?

If we are of Christ, we are called to compassion and to love our neighbors even our enemy those who would wrong us, to forgive. I couldn’t agree more, but where are we asked when turning the other cheek to stop speaking truth? When do we stop preaching the Gospel because hearing it offends? If we are called to preach the Gospel and it is not accepted then we are called to shake the dust from our sandals and move on, not to change what we preach till we are heard.

The Episcopal Church has escaped her crucifixion, for now, and what witness to the world has she given. I only hope like Peter, and the martyrs of the faith, she turns to accept her call to witness to a greater glory than the palaces of this earth can provide.

Peace
Bruno