Akasie, Douthat, and General Convention (Mid-week Message)

Fr. Tony’s Mid-week Message  July 18, 2012

Akasie, Douthat, and General Convention

Last Sunday a lot of parishioners brought to my attention a couple of items in the media—in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times—that were highly critical and dismissive of the Episcopal Church and the recently completed General Convention. 

This coming Sunday during the 9 a.m. Parish Forum, Trinity Parish’s own Anne McCollum will give a first hand read out of the GC, which she attended as deputy for the diocese of Oregon.  She will be able to answer questions some of you may have.  


As to the two articles—both are seriously flawed. 


The Wall Street Journal article by Jay Akasie (a self identified but clearly misinformed Episcopalian) in particular made several claims that were patently false, and inferred several things that were highly prejudiced and misleading.  Scott Gunn, Executive Director of Forward Movement, replied to the article and identified most of the patent falsehoods, quoting much of Akasie’s original article.  It is worth reading and is found at the following link:  http://www.sevenwholedays.org/


The Sunday New York Times article by Ross Douthat (a somewhat conservative Roman Catholic) raised the larger question about the decline in liberal Protestant denominations, typified, he believes, by the Episcopal Church.  Douthat’s article at least gets most of its facts straight, but still misses important aspects of the important issues he raises due to his prejudices.  Diana Butler-Bass’s excellent reply to Douthat can be found at the following link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diana-butler-bass/can-christianity-be-saved_1_b_1674807.html?utm_hp_ref=religion 


The basic reason that some media people so want to trash the Episcopal Church at this time is that they disapprove of the General Convention’s decision to authorize optional rites for the blessing of same sex unions.  They say that Episcopal Church simply has forsaken the Gospel and Morality and has conformed itself to the world rather than conforming itself to Christ, and as a result will not prosper.  But this view misses the larger point that we Episcopalians have come to these decisions because of the Gospel, not despite it, on account of our reflection on scripture and life in the spirit, not in disregard for these.  


Jon Meachum gives an excellent discussion of the larger issue in the Time Magazine blog.  Here is the link: 
http://ideas.time.com/2012/07/16/god-and-gays/

One more great link on this subject:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-winnie-varghese/the-glorious-episcopal-church_b_1674981.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false  


See you Sunday.  Peace and Grace.


--Fr. Tony+