http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/108885
[The Roanoke Times] 16 Mar 2007--Q. How do you view the rift in the Anglican Communion with the Episcopal branch in the United States over blessings of same-sex unions and the election of V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003?
A. A majority of people within the U.S. Episcopal church have for years embraced a way of doing theology which ... Anglicans in other parts of the world thought were nonnegotiables.
And that a sizeable minority within the Episcopal church have said, 'wait a minute, you're throwing out the baby with the bath water -- yes we've got to think critically and wisely or we've got to engage in contemporary culture while we do that, but there are some things that we can't get rid of while we do that.'
So, it is an ... American debate ... it is perceived as an increased liberal theology or postmodern theology -- these are tips of the iceberg or something much larger to do with the meaning of Christianity as a whole. That is really where the controversy lies and not simply with issues of sexual behavior. ...
Despite what people think, it is not primarily a question about sexual behavior -- although obviously that is the presenting issue. It is primarily about whether can we trust each other anymore within this worldwide family. That could have blown up over a totally different issue.
An interview with New Testament scholar and Bishop of Durham N. T. Wright
No comments:
Post a Comment