Hmmmm

As I see it, the primary role of a Bishop (overseer) has always been to preserve the Gospel and the adherence thereto of the congregations in his See. The current crisis is from Bishops who believe it is their duty to bring God up-to-date on the wonderful progress we have made in perfecting ourselves that He was somehow inattentive enough to miss.

On the other hand, individual independent congregations who have no benefit of outside oversight, correction or debate have to guard against running down rabbit trails of imbalance between law and grace. Some have become rather cultish.

It would seem to be a chicken-or-egg conundrum if we focus on these two circumstances only. Isn’t the self-directed human propensity for individualism (Original Sin) the real issue here?
Heresy doesn’t seem to be the exclusive province of either congregations or bishops in my view. But the lack of appropriate and healthy tension between elders and overseers, assuming each is orthodox in his own right, not only allows for disorder and schism but drives it to some extent. YES! Where the word is, there is faith which leads to the true church. Without faithful shepherds, though, the sheep usually nibble their way off the path. And the further they stray, the louder the bleating when corrected. Enter the elders and overseers.

Case in point is our own denom’s collapse as one faction’s anti-biblical activism has escalated to the level of loudly (and litigiously) declaring itself the only arbiter of truth and attempting to force those opposed into silence by the re-definition of itself as a hierarchically authoritative body. In a sense, their world is one of “bleatery”. Success is found by bleating loud enough to convince themselves they are the shepherds. And, like sheep, they trample any who stand in the way of that belief. Sadly for all, they can only end up being autocratically in charge of a dwindling population of people who have no values and, hence, will not hesitate to overthrow today’s “winners” when they start feeling constrained in some way. Agnosticism contains it’s own form of tyrany in response to someone’s Truth rearing it’s ugly head.

The beauty of an episcopal structure such as we have in this diocese, though certainly not expected to be perfect, has demonstrated the mutually respectful tension between our Rector and our Bishop that keeps us (mostly) out of the weeds. Both are steeped in honest orthodoxy and each has a view from different perspectives shaped by differing responsibilities. But both have demonstrated faithfulness to their ordination vows – especially the First Promise.

The dynamic they generate helps me find my way back from anger, condemnation and heart-wounding rhetoric when they arise from the ashes of my grief – ruefully not a completely successful endeavor in my case. Watching how they are walking this out, though, reels me back in. Thanks be to God.

Martha, not a “duh” to all.

There are those in the Diocese of South Carolina (my Diocese) who believe contrary. It is the episcopacy and the “catholicity” (a faulty view of catholicity which the Rector of St. Andrews, rightly, has posited) of the church which takes precedence. And so, for them, apostacy is not an adequate reason to depart the church. And, for them, “schism” is worse than heresy. I wish I were kidding you, but sadly I am not.

The quote by Luther has long been known to this scribe. Let’s put that quote to an application of Canterbury or servcies where apostate bishops preside? Are those bishops in “communion with Christ?”

That’s a nice straw man you’ve set up SC Priest – set ‘em up and knock ‘em down. Luther is clearly right with his understanding of the episcopacy and the true church, but perhaps we could turn the page in Dr. McGrath’s book, to the thoughts of Calvin:

“For Calvin, the marks of the true church were: 1)the Word of God should be preached and 2)the sacraments should be rightly administered…
And as the evangelical churches conformed to this identification of a church, there was no justification for further division within them.” (Introduction to Christian Theology, p. 398)

Say what you will about DioSC relation to TEC, but “let that roll around in your mind for a while” as we consider our inter-diocesan relationships.

T. Prescott, I’m assuming that by your criticism of SC Priest you assumed SC Priest to be me. He/she is not. Thank you, though, for pointing out the book did not end on p.397, but continues on p.398 with a quote from the esteemed John Calvin (may his name be praised forever). I was not aware of that. With your help I have now read John Calvin’s definition of the church (how did I miss this over the past 21 years of ministry?). And, again, TEC fails. How? It has not faithfully preached the Gospel. And, as the sacraments are tied inextricably to the Gospel message it raises the question are they even sacraments (I’m not suggesting that efficacy of the sacraments are affected in any way by the ‘worthiness’ of minister at the Table in anyway – rather as signs they must correlate to that which they signify – if what they signify has been denied – what do they signify?) Ah, but I am sure those words are only straw for my next straw man.
Rob, thanks for the comment. As I do indeed know your stripes I take your question with the intended brotherly love. And, thank you. The quote (as was Brother Jewel’s a few weeks ago) is primarily to remind ANY Episcopalian who may wander across this blog of our heritage: that we once were a Reformation church – lost, from my point of view – as most Episcopalians seem to see themselves as the Roman Catholic JV team rather than the robust Protestant, Evangelical and Reformed church I believe we were created to be. As for the SAMP landing pad post 40 Days? I believe it will be ACNA rather than a structure that forsakes the three ordained orders of ministry – at least that’s my advocacy. But, we’ve not yet discerned a call to depart TEC and join ACNA.

When did church discipline get thrown under the bus as on of the marks of the churh?
I can’t see how any serious counseling in a church setting works without discipline as its last resort. Perhaps my PCA stripes have not washed away?