Leaving the Episcopal Church: It's not about lifestyles; it's about believing that Christ is God

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08268/914413-109.stm

[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] 24 Sep 2008--For centuries, all Christian denominations shared core beliefs, of which the most central is that Jesus Christ is God and is a member of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Over several decades, many self-titled "progressive" Episcopalians have abandoned as superstition the faith as written and agreed to by the worldwide Anglican Church, of which the U.S. Episcopal Church is a fraction. They have rejected beliefs unquestioned in mainstream Christianity; for example, that Jesus is both man and God, as evidenced by his historical resurrection.

The core of our differences does not lie in the high-profile issues of lifestyle, such as gay marriage or ordination, but in our understanding of who Jesus is. Their departure from all that is Christian is now so great that most members of our worldwide Anglican Church cannot in good conscience celebrate the Lord's Supper with these progressive Episcopalians.

Many bishops and priests in the Episcopal Church today believe God is an impersonal spirit like "the force" in Star Wars, and that Jesus represents only a good example and teacher, but not God. That is not Christianity.

These leaders claim they represent a majority. They do not. The majority of Anglicans still believe in the tenets of Christianity, as do the majority of Christians worldwide.

The notes, phone calls and letters of support sent to former Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan following his deposition last week (and some in anticipation of it) from every corner of the globe, from "nonprogressive" Episcopal bishops and from leaders of other denominations indicate that any majority claimed by those who voted to depose him is a lie. The kangaroo court of the deposition itself broke every Episcopal rule for such proceedings and reported as a majority vote numbers which are questionable given the number of bishops eligible to vote who were not present.

A difference in beliefs within the Episcopal Church is distressing, but is not necessarily reason to leave. Unfortunately, many of those who hold "progressive" beliefs have gone further than disagreeing with Christian tenets. They have hijacked the denomination into which I was confirmed more than 30 years ago.