The Color Orange

Just a note on the troubles currently faced by the Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church in the USA is one member. For all the high talk of morals and spiritual discord, the underlying truth is this: it's a struggle for power and influence. The election of Bishop Gene Robinson, who happens to be in a monogamous same-sex relationship, was simply the proverbial straw causing problems for the proverbial dromedary. African bishops, and some Episcopal ones, were agitated when women were ordained beginning in the 70s. But no one foresaw the growth of the church in Africa then, so their protestations were swept aside while the communion went ahead with what we saw as progress. Thirty years later, the church in Africa is so large, we can no longer ignore them. The ordination of gays, and other issues (i.e. same-sex marriage), is anathema to them. When they protested, Canterbury sat up and listened. The African Anglicans form a majority, one we should appease to keep the peace. Thus the 'Windsor Report' asking for a moratorium on all the divisive issues.

Too bad we Americans don't listen. Some dioceses in the USA openly flaunt the moratorium, while others break off and side with the African bishops. I'm with the side that flaunts the report. Don't ask me to step backward if you're not willing to step forward. We meet in the middle or we don't meet at all. And let's come to our senses and recognize this for what it is--politics in the guise of religion. If we were truly meeting at the foot of the cross, as Christ asks us to, our differences would be moot.