From the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

GUEST VIEWPOINT
Episcopal split related to core beliefs

By Warren Musselman

There are key points that need to be made, which were not included in the article that appeared in the Press & Sun-Bulletin on March 19 regarding the parishes of Good Shepherd in Binghamton and St. Andrew's in Vestal.

First, both orthodox and liberal Episcopal Churches have seen their membership dwindle since the General Convention 2003. The implicit suggestion in the article, that it is just orthodox parishes, is incorrect. Good Shepherd, in fact, has grown in attendance and membership since 2003, not shrunk as your articles suggested. Loss of members is accelerating, with orthodox parishes showing smaller losses on average and in some cases, like Good Shepherd, even showing growth.

According to the Episcopal Church's own statistics, the net loss of members was 8,200 in 2002, 35,988 members in 2003, 36,414 in 2004 and 42,443 in 2005. Though more recent official Episcopal Church numbers are not available, some estimates for 2006 are in the ball park of 70,000.

Secondly, the issue of same-sex blessings and the consecration of an openly non-celibate gay bishop, to be sure, are critical issues. However, both are symptoms of a much deeper problem, one that has been growing for a few decades.

It has not been widely reported, because of the preoccupation with the homosexuality question, but at the Episcopal Church's general conventions in 2003 and 2006, this governing body voted down resolutions that did nothing more than reaffirm the historic creeds of the church, and basic tenants of the Christian faith -- things that all bishops and priests promised to uphold and defend at their ordinations. It is not the sole issue of homosexuality, but rather it is the Episcopal Church's unwillingness to remain faithful to the Bible and historic Christian teachings that have caused the current crisis. The governing body of the Episcopal Church has chosen a path that will separate it from the Anglican Communion.

When bishops refuse to affirm the Nicene Creed and core essentials of the Christian faith, there is a crisis in the Church. When they vote to bless and call holy behaviors that the Bible defines as sin, there is a problem. When the leader of the denomination responds to Jesus' words -- "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me," (John 14:6) -- by stating that Christians should not say that Jesus is the only way to God, "If we insist we know the one way to God, we've put God in a very small box," orthodox Anglicans take issue.

Another statement was: "Christians understand that Jesus is the route to God. That is not to say that Muslims, or Sikhs, or Jains, don't come to God in a radically different way. They come to God through human experience, through human experience of the divine -- that doesn't mean that a Hindu doesn't experience God except through Jesus. It says that Hindus and people of other faith traditions approach God through their own cultural contexts; they relate to God, they experience God in human relationships, as well as ones that transcend human relationships." Orthodox Anglicans can only see such pronouncements as heresy.

These are some of the reasons why many orthodox Anglicans can no longer remain a part of the Diocese of Central New York and of The Episcopal Church. LGBT people are and will always remain welcome in our orthodox Anglican parishes. It is the radical changes in theology that are driving us out. The church is a hospital to heal sinners. We all qualify.

Warren Musselman is senior warden of St. Andrew's Church. His viewpoint was written on behalf of William Ritter, junior warden of St. Andrew's Church as well as John King Jr., senior warden, and Thomas Woolsey, junior warden, from the Church of the Good Shepherd.