Blessed Clarity
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/index/site/article/blessed_cl
arity/
Four nominees for the office of Presiding Bishop were announced this week.
Of the four, three voted to confirm Gene Robinson’s election as bishop of
New Hampshire in 2003. One, bishop Parsley of Alabama, voted no. But don’t
let the “no” fool you. Since then he has actively worked to silence the
orthodox voices in his diocese as anyone at Stand Firm Alabama will tell
you. He may be doctrinally “orthodox” but apparently he won’t let a small
thing like that get in the way of institutional loyalty. Hence, the
quotation marks around the word orthodox.
Nevertheless, were I a betting man, I’d put my money on bishop Parsley. The
self-described moderates and even the orthodox delegates will likely cast
their votes for him if Brad Drell’s thoughts are any indication. That
should be enough to defeat the other three who are, by all accounts, solid
revisionists.
The silver lining in all of this is clarity. Unlike say bishop Jenkins or
bishop McPherson, Bishop Parsley will not fool anyone domestically or
internationally. He may not be a revisionist personally, but he is most
definitely a known collaborator with institutionalized revisionism.
Taken together, the slate of nominees does not signal a compromising stance
with regard to the rest of the Communion. Nor does it portend the
proverbial and long expected Windsor “fudge”. If this slate is any
indication, Columbus will be a clear and defining moment where the deep
theological chasm between ECUSA and the rest of Christendom will be
revealed. I pray it is so.
Matt Kennedy+
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