Update: Bishop Benhase says to “wade deep into the waters” with those “with whom we disagree”

from Stand Firm by Sarah Hey

An alert reader -- and Episcopalian from the Diocese of Georgia -- sent me this little gem from Bishop Benhase . . .

“Secondly, there is the gift of koinonia, that wonderful New Testament Greek word that is often translated as “fellowship.” That translation does not do it justice. Koinonia means more than mere fellowship. It means, as St Paul amplified: “to bear one another’s burdens; to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” So, koinonia insists that we not just tolerate the others in our community with whom we disagree. Toleration has a respectful, but rather arms-length connotation. We rather are called to wade deep into the waters with them, whether those waters be clean and pristine or murky and potentially dangerous. “I have no need of you” is not something koinonia could ever countenance.”

I'm confused.

I thought that clergy of the Diocese of Georgia were to spurn and avoid participating in ecumenical services with those in the Anglican Church in North America.

But Bishop Benhase says we should "not just tolerate the others in our community with whom we disagree. . . . We rather are called to wade deep into the waters with them, whether those waters be clean and pristine or murky and potentially dangerous. “I have no need of you” is not something koinonia could ever countenance.”

Oh, yeh . . . wait . . . I get it. The above admonition just applies to how we conservative Episcopalians are supposed to treat those revisionist leaders -- like, you know, bishops -- in TEC who wish to affirm and bless gay relationships.

Really, this is incredible hypocrisy. What self-serving propaganda for the Georgia Episcopal pewsters!

It's clear by now to me that Bishop Benhase will be "the gift that keeps on giving" -- I'm just hoping I'll be able to keep up.