The Goat Pen

I am simply pointing out that America is not Bull Conner's Birmingham that most liberals try to portray it as. This supposed cesspool of racism and bigotry even recently elected an African-American as President. Twice. Despite my many policy differences with Obama, that was a proud moment for me and the overwhelming majority of Americans.

Wait a minute: you ARE aware that we recently elected an African American as President twice, aren't you?

Almost?? That's a generous reading...

The Episcopal Church is considering a new gender-neutral prayer book:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act ... 25a21bfeda

Ghost, if you’re still out there someplace, and as our resident Episcopalian, what is your perspective?

And, on a probably related note...

Minnesota Churches Close As a Way of Life Fades

http://m.startribune.com/as-minnesota-c ... 486037461/

"Ghost, if you’re still out there someplace, and as our resident Episcopalian, what is your perspective?"

Speaking of Ghost, at least "holy ghost" has always been gender neutral. If it's good enough for the holy ghost, it should be good enough for you...

I was wondering how long it would take for this subject to show up. Every three years the 'How-Can-We-Further-Splinter-The-Church' Committee delivers it's latest artistry to the General Convention. The matrimony revision of 3 years ago was a hard act to follow and but they would not rest on their laurels. This latest sacrifice to the God of Inclusion will take 12 years to implement so maybe I'll be dead by then, but if I'm not maybe the new BCP will at least post the 'Our Father' and the original creeds in the appendix with the 39 Articles of Religion that we can piece together an underground Morning Prayer or Compline service.

Heh heh... Ghost, I sort of admire your loyalty, in a way, I guess.

What was the matrimony revision of 3 years ago?

Also, this line "maybe the new BCP will at least post the 'Our Father' and the original creeds in the appendix with the 39 Articles of Religion that we can piece together an underground Morning Prayer or Compline service" reminded me of this article:

https://www.theonion.com/nation-s-oppre ... 1819578481

The visceral hostility of the American Left towards traditional Christianity is quite real. You are its poster child.

The only question is how bad it would get for us under a US government controlled by the Inquisition of tolerance, pluralism and inclusion. Will they just take away our tax exemptions and stop there? Or will they go full on re-education camps?

Poor, poor christians. So persecuted, so aggrieved...

Professor Tiger wrote:Heh heh... Ghost, I sort of admire your loyalty, in a way, I guess.

Well we have a fairly orthodox bishop and conservative diocese that rejects the national church decrees and does some actual gospel work.
I doubt I would have hung in there if I lived in a looney left u.u. diocese.

Back in my Anglican days, there were a few oases of traditionalism in PECUSA. I lived in one of them - the Diocese of Quincy (IL) - and met then-Bishop Ackerman a few times. There were also Ft. Worth and San Joaquin, and any parish whose priest was a Nashotah House grad. I've been away from the Episcopal/Anglican world for quite a while now, so I'm sure all that has changed. Which Diocese/Bishop where you live in Florida is still theologically sane?

The worldwide Anglican communion outside the West still seems to be doing well. Last I heard, traditional Anglicanism is booming in Africa. There used to be more Anglicans in Uganda than in England. Jolly Good, I say...

Booming in Africa, LMAO...

Why do you have a problem with Africans, hedge? I never figured you to be a racist.

I'm in Central Florida which was led ably for 20 years by John Howe, and succeeded by Greg Brewer who is not the lightning rod Howe was but stands firm in the face of continued lunacy elsewhere. Most of the dioceses you cited have since 'seceded', i.e. the bishop and most clergy left the TEC for to attach to another Anglican province and left a remnant to embrace the establishment. Remaining oases of sanity can be found in Dallas, Middle Tennessee, Springfield, Northern indiana and North Dakota's dozen or so communicants.

It is good to hear that there are still some knees that have not bowed to Ba’al.

Back in my Continuing Anglican days, churches that left PECUSA lost their buildings, red doors, stained glass windows and pipe organs. The prospect of being forced to gather in a mobile home converted into a makeshift chapel was a pretty powerful incentive to stay for most Episcopalians.

Most still do, but they eventually establish new homes with red doors, stained glass, and carry on with smells and bells. My parish started in a mechanics garage 70 years ago, if need be we'll do it again.

That’s the spirit!

In a few years we may all be secretly worshiping in garages, barns, catecombs...

"Remaining oases of sanity can be found in Dallas, Middle Tennessee, Springfield, Northern indiana and North Dakota's dozen or so communicants."

One man's oases of sanity is another man's pockets of madness. To each his own. It is heartening to hear how these oases/pockets are contracting, though. North Dakota?? Lovely...

"It is good to hear that there are still some knees that have not bowed to Ba’al."

Baby steps. Nice to hear that Ba'al hasn't found purchase for his talons (yet!) in North Dakota, though. LOL...

"The prospect of being forced to gather in a mobile home converted into a makeshift chapel was a pretty powerful incentive to stay for most Episcopalians."

Nice (but not surprising in the least) to see how naked venality is still the main motivation for many people to stay with this scheme, and bald-faced bribery still the carrot, although with very mixed results...

"In a few years we may all be secretly worshiping in garages, barns, catecombs..."

Godspeed...

Ya know...that whole "Happy Holidays" thing. It kinda sounds suspiciously like "happy Holy days". We are going to have to work on that.

"Happy Oppressed Workers Get a Break Day." Too long, comrades?