Be loving in everything you do." - I Corinthians 16:13-14
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"Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be brave. Be strong. Be loving in everything you do." - I Corinthians 16:13-14 |
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports [link requires free registration] that Bill Melnyk, who just last week vigorously defended his Druidism here in a Stand Firm comment thread, has decided to abandon Druidism.
The Rev. W. William Melnyk notified Diocese of Pennsylvania Bishop Charles E. Bennison of his turnabout in a telephone message Friday evening, Bennison said yesterday.
Melnyk did not say whether he would seek reinstatement as an Episcopal priest. He lost his post as rector of St. James' Episcopal Church in Downingtown in November when the news of his Druid involvement first came to light.
In a voice mail to The Inquirer, Melnyk said he had removed the Druid group's Web site from the Internet and was cutting his ties with Druid spirituality. He attributed his decision to "events that have transpired in the last 24 hours."
Evidently Mr. Melnyk made his decision late last week, only days after he defiantly "signed off" of Stand Firm. On Tuesday, April 12, Melnyk wrote, "So long and thanks for all the fish" (a line from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams). On Friday, April 15, Melnyk left this comment, and a similar one at TitusOneNine, in which he said, "I've taken down my website and retired from public life. I will not be leading any religious group of any kind."
I was concerned for Mr. Melnyk then, and I remain concerned for him now. I wrote here that "...among the denizens of this site he will find not only those willing to take him to task over his Druidism, but those who will provide him with the witness and support he needs should he seek a return journey. He will be doubly surprised when he learns that they are the same exact people."
Our prayers are with you, Bill Melnyk. May God deliver you safely to wherever it is you've headed.
(Philadelphia Inquirer article follows)
By Kristin E. Holmes
Inquirer Staff Writer
In a rapid change of heart, a local Episcopal priest is abandoning Druid spirituality - a decision made one day after it was reported that he had renounced his Episcopal ordination and become the founding priest of a Druid group.
The Rev. W. William Melnyk notified Diocese of Pennsylvania Bishop Charles E. Bennison of his turnabout in a telephone message Friday evening, Bennison said yesterday.
Melnyk did not say whether he would seek reinstatement as an Episcopal priest. He lost his post as rector of St. James' Episcopal Church in Downingtown in November when the news of his Druid involvement first came to light.
In a voice mail to The Inquirer, Melnyk said he had removed the Druid group's Web site from the Internet and was cutting his ties with Druid spirituality. He attributed his decision to "events that have transpired in the last 24 hours."
Melnyk did not elaborate, and said he would not comment further. He and his wife left over the weekend for a vacation abroad and were not available for comment.
Melnyk's involvement with Druidism caused a scandal in Episcopal circles, and he had declined to speak publicly about it for months. But when the news of his formally becoming a Druid priest was reported last week, he briefly decided to comment.
In an interview Friday, Melnyk disputed widespread accounts that his wife, the Rev. Glyn Ruppe-Melnyk, also an Episcopal priest, was equally involved in Druid activity.
The controversy had begun after a feminist liturgy written by Ruppe-Melnyk was posted on the Episcopal Church USA Web site. The liturgy, which had references to "God the Mother," was characterized by conservative watchdog groups as pagan and Druidic when they discovered it also posted on a Web site created by her husband.
Melnyk said the Web site was aimed at people who wanted to practice both Druid spirituality and Christianity. Ruppe-Melnyk denied that the liturgy had any Druid-inspired content.
Soon after, Melnyk resigned at the request of his parish vestry. His wife has kept her post as rector of St.-Francis-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Malvern.
After his resignation, Melnyk said he spent several months in reflection.
"I had been working on a ministry seeking to find common ground between two traditions, but the bishop of Pennsylvania and vestry of St. James said 'you can't do that,' " he said Friday. "So I decided I had to make the decision that had the most personal integrity for me."
That decision was to renounce his ordination vows and become a Druid priest. He called it a "joyous occasion." But by the weekend he reversed himself and cut his Druid ties.
I truly hope he has repented but his zigzag course is hard to follow. I for one will be waiting on fruits of repentance and a steady course for a while. Maybe Dumb Ox just shorted him out. I hope it isn't that he suddenly realized he has no job and can't dig or beg. Developing...
# Posted by: Prophet Micaiah at April 19, 2005 11:19 AMI think the reality is that Oakwyse is about 2 beers short of a sixpack.
LP&H
the snarkster
Reminds me of a cleverly liberal bumper sticker i see around: "Not all who wander are lost"
Maybe not, but those who follow such wanderers certainly are!
# Posted by: Marty at April 19, 2005 11:40 AMI am sorry to add a somewhat cynical response to this recantation of the recantation of the recantation.
My suspicion is that he now has a new druid name and has created a web site under that name . . .
However, I can always pray for him, wherever he may be.
# Posted by: Sarah at April 19, 2005 11:41 AMI received an Email from Bill Melnyk saying he is on retreat in Scotland till May 5. I hope you will join your prayers to mine, remembering Jesus is always looking for His lost sheep. I can in no way guess or speculate on the whys of this latest decision by Mr. Melnyk all I can do is have hope and faith that the Holy Spirit is at work.
# Posted by: PJL at April 19, 2005 11:58 AMThanks, PJL. Lost he definitely has been. Maybe he is on a journey back, maybe not, but wherever he ends up he's made a positive step. Prayers he needs and will get.
# Posted by: WTF at April 19, 2005 12:14 PMJust when I think that I'm beginning to like Marty, and imagine that perhaps we have some things in common, and being a Baptist isn't all that bad [it's actually looking better and better, in some ECUSA parts] he calls one of my heroes, JRR Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, a "liberal."
The fuller version of the quote is:
"Not all that glitters is gold.
Not all who wander are lost."
And it is in reference to Aragorn, who looks dirty and unimpressive as a lonely Ranger protecting the innocent and naive Shire, but is in reality a King.
I will be pronouncing the writ of excommunication shortly . . . as soon as I find the exact wording. But for now, know that all hope is lost for reconciliation, dialogue, inclusivity, or anything else.
Shattered,
Aspiring Samurai Warrior
Sarah: My condolences on your shattered faith. Would a big brownie with a melted Hershey bar on top help? My treat!
LP&H
the snarkster
We may have seen the power of a blog--BIGTIME--right here. May Bill find his way (back?) to simple faith in Jesus.
Oh, and, mmmmmmmmm for a brownie with melted Hershey bar.
# Posted by: Jim at April 19, 2005 01:05 PMMaybe the sacred oak turned into a Burning Bush?
# Posted by: SouthCoast at April 19, 2005 03:15 PMI hope that this is good news about Bill Melnyk. I would hope that Bill would feel that SFIF is a safe enough place that he would talk about his change of heart and the events that led to his change. Bill should certainly be in our prayers.
# Posted by: Tony at April 19, 2005 06:55 PMThanks for the post and the call to prayer, Greg.
Bill Melnyk, if you happen to read this blog in future, know that, opposed as I was and remain to a "neodruidic" perversion of Christianity, I will pray for you and would be among those who welcomed you back - as a Christian, with no prefix - to the Church.
# Posted by: Todd Granger at April 19, 2005 07:27 PM"Not all who wander are lost" is actually from JRR Tolkien. And the quote is not necessarily liberal, although it has been used by many liberals as an excuse for constant wandering, which Tolkien certainly wouldn't ever endorse.
Still, I wonder about Melnyk's wandering. And I hope he does find a destination (as Tolkein's wanderer eventually did).
# Posted by: ern at April 19, 2005 07:36 PMI'm sorry. No offense is meant, but I have a bad case of "Quotations" as well as been a Tolkien (and Lewis and Williams)reader. The poem is:
'All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost.
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring.
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
Will all due respect to my chocolate loving samurai's, i prefer the words of our very own Prophet:
"That which can be shaken will be shaken so that that which cannot be shaken will remain"# Posted by: Marty at April 19, 2005 10:08 PM
Marty, I trust you are speakin of our beloved prophet Apostle Paul in his anonymous letter to the Hebrews--Heb. 12:25-29--a most comforting passage to us but fearful to some.
# Posted by: Prophet Micaiah at April 19, 2005 11:01 PMHuh! Trust Marty to be all pious and bring up the Bible and all . . .
But if not the Bible, surely TLOTR . . .
Byrd: It's beautiful, isn't it? Thanks!
# Posted by: Sarah at April 20, 2005 07:14 AMYou're more then welcome, Sarah. It is a good poem, indeed. Which reminds me (though off topic) Did you know that Sam's song that he makes up near Cirith Ungol can be sung to "Kingsfold" (arranged by RVW). Some have found it comforting 8-)
The second verse is:
Though here at journey's end I lie
in Darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all Shadows rides the Sun
and Stars forever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell.
Here's a Ccel link to the melody:
http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0000/000057a.mid
Byrd,
Kingsfold is a beautiful melody. Maybe if we have a quiet news day, we could post favorite hymns in a thread [though considering yesterday, I wouldn't count on it!]
Though Sam's song is quite nice, the words typically sung to Kingsfold make it one of my favorite hymns:
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Come unto me and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down
thy head upon my breast."
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
and he has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink, and live."
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"I am this dark world's light;
look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
and all thy day be bright."
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my Star, my Sun;
and in that light of life I'll walk
till traveling days are done.
Words: Horatio Bonar, 1846
# Posted by: Sarah at April 20, 2005 08:38 AMI have to say that for that hymn I prefer the "Tallis" melody (that RVW used in the "Fantasia on a Theme by Tallis also... is there a pattern here? ) It is good to have more then one tune.
(I won't go into "Fun with the Metrical Index" right now.)
# Posted by: Byrd at April 20, 2005 08:46 AMIt's "Horatius Bonar", not "Horatio [Hornblower]" ... also, he wasn't Anglican - he was Free Church of Scotland.
# Posted by: Dumb Ox at April 20, 2005 11:31 AMMr. Tilting-at-Windmills . . .
Huh? Didn't say he was Anglican . . .
Byrd,
Is this the one?
http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0004/000443a.mid
# Posted by: Sarah at April 20, 2005 12:23 PMDidn't say you did, did I. Just didn't want anybody to hang Anglicanism around dear Dr. Bonar's neck, that's all.
# Posted by: Dumb Ox at April 20, 2005 01:15 PMCorrect me if I'm wrong, Greg, but anyone can post on this website. Absolutely anyone, and it's wonderful getting these insights from Baptists, Roman Catholics, even lapsed Unitarians. But if you simply hate Anglicanism, just flat-out hate it, then why, Dumb Ox, are you here? I'm just curious.
# Posted by: WTF at April 20, 2005 02:32 PMWTF: The answer to your question is obvious. Where else can you go to offend so many different people at one time?
LP&H
the snarkster
WTF,
Correct on all counts.
# Posted by: Greg at April 20, 2005 02:41 PMSomeone asks, "But if you simply hate Anglicanism, just flat-out hate it, then why, Dumb Ox, are you here? I'm just curious."
The Ox does not hate Anglicanism. The Ox is here to preach the Gospel, and to call upon God's people to Quit Sodom Now, and flee the wrath that is to fall upon the ungodly and apostate church.
The Ox is deeply concerned for the salvation of souls deluded by Babylon's false gospel. The fascination many of you have with the pagan worship of the RCC and the way in which you accommodate it's idolatry is very distressing to all true Bible Christians who have a heart's love for the souls of the lost and undone.
The Dumb Ox is preaching Christ's Gospel, i.e., that sinners must needs be born again, trusting only in the sacrifice of God's Lamb, and not add to that any sacramentalism or system of ecclesiastical good works or any reliance upon the "church" or the intervention of earthly priests or any other such pagan and false hopes.
The failure to clearly mark out the doctrines and teachings of the RCC, and of more extreme forms of sacramentalism in the Anglican Church, as false Gospels cursed by God, is cause for deep concern in the heart of the Dumb Ox, who continues to call upon you all to ...
Quit Sodom Now. Flee to that Mountain of the Lord wherein is your only place of safety.
Sarah--Can you come up with a link for the midi thingie for Kingsfold? I think that is the one I remember from my pre-Episcopalian days.
On the Ox. I had hoped we could just ignore him and maybe he would go away. Oxen aren't very sensitive to their surroundings. I'm real tired of the ranting. We got the message ox. If you are going to stay around, how about not just hurling things. Eeeesh!
# Posted by: Jim at April 20, 2005 05:21 PMJim,
Well, I'd like to take credit for it, but Byrd posted the link farther above for Kingsfold . . . a beautiful melody.
http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0000/000057a.mid
Perhaps if we keep posting about it, Greg in disgust will put up a section for hymns.
People who speak of themselves in the third person scare me. Have you ever noticed that many politician do this? It seems to indicate a loss of touch with self - some kind of break with reality.
# Posted by: Mary at April 25, 2005 09:56 PMPeople who speak of themselves in the third person scare you?
Well, I've stopped, so you can come back out now.
And besides, other people have already posted the fact that they LIKE posts that speak in the third person ... that it relieves the tension somehow.
Reminds me of what Jesus said:
They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. Luke 7:32
Just goes to show that you can never please everybody. Sometimes you can't please anybody!
Is John Pittman Hey, swearing off the third person, the Ox? Well, well.
# Posted by: Jim at April 25, 2005 11:58 PMJ.P. Hey - A person speaking about themselves in the third person just sounds artificial to me - I feel that way about anyone who does it not just you. But usually it is someone on TV giving a sound bite or an interview and I don't have the opportunity to tell them how much it gets in the way of me really hearing them and taking them seriously. I don't know of anyone who prefers that style of a person speaking about theirself. I appreciate that you've given your name and are speaking directly. Thank you.
I'm not asking you to please me with your style of writing about your position/beliefs - just that it is easier to try to understand you use your own first person singular directly and not as if you are quoting someone other than yourself. The bible quote you gave didn't fit the circumstance of your previous posts. For instance, if I wanted to tell you of something I did with a group of people, I would report it in the third person use of "we" - all of which is different from the way you wrote of yourself previously. Well, enough of that. I've bored myself now and everyone else.
# Posted by: Mary at April 26, 2005 11:09 PMJ.P. Hey - A person speaking about themselves in the third person just sounds artificial to me - I feel that way about anyone who does it not just you. But usually it is someone on TV giving a sound bite or an interview and I don't have the opportunity to tell them how much it gets in the way of me really hearing them and taking them seriously. I don't know of anyone who prefers that style of a person speaking about theirself. I appreciate that you've given your name and are speaking directly. Thank you.
I'm not asking you to please me with your style of writing about your position/beliefs - just that it is easier to try to understand you use your own first person singular directly and not as if you are quoting someone other than yourself. The bible quote you gave didn't fit the circumstance of your previous posts. For instance, if I wanted to tell you of something I did with a group of people, I would report it with the use of "we" - all of which is different from the way you wrote of yourself previously. Well, enough of that. I've bored myself now and everyone else.
# Posted by: Mary at April 26, 2005 11:10 PMHmmm, still no word from Bill Melnyk on his return to the Episcopal Church. I hope he has found the true faith as it is given to us in Scripture.
# Posted by: Tony at May 21, 2005 07:57 PMOkay. Visiting here is usually a bit of fun.
The real lesson in all this is that you simply cannot believe everything you read in the newspaper. (Need folks be reminded of this?) The Inquirer got nearly every detail wrong in both its articles. They just could not wrap their minds around all the nuances of the story. In reality, I never changed my position. Only my job.
And I still believe there is more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in anyone's philosophy.
Peace and Blessings to all,
Bill
"In reality, I never changed my position. Only my job."
I have not even the tiniest bit of remote surprise by this statement.
# Posted by: Sarah at May 24, 2005 08:24 PMHey Bill! Where ya been? Not down in Mexico with the Snarkster, I hope.
# Posted by: Greg at May 24, 2005 08:30 PMPlease stick around for awhile this time, Bill. It's been kinda dull around here lately. Arguing about Gene Robinson can get pretty tedious after awhile. Same old litany. "It's about sex." "No it isn't." "It's about sin." "No it isn't." "It's about the authority of Scripture." "You're a homophobe." "Oh, yeah. Well, you're a moral relativist." "Think the horse is dead yet?" "Don't know. Let's give him a few more whacks just to make sure."
I know we can count on you to give us some theological ideas that we can sink our teeth into and tear off and growl over, if you will pardon the disgusting carnivorous imagery.
Welcome back.
# Posted by: Rick Harris at May 24, 2005 09:11 PM"Hmmm, still no word from Bill Melnyk on his return to the Episcopal Church. I hope he has found the true faith as it is given to us in Scripture.
# Posted by: Tony at May 21, 2005 07:57 PM "
Tony ~ What version of the Bible are you using? Mine says absolutely nothing about the Episcopal Church. And which "true faith" are you talking about? The one that says "happy are they who take your children and bash them against a rock"?
Here's an interesting topic for discussion: What parts of the Bible do you reject out of hand (e.g. the prohibition against eating shellfish or wearing cotten/poly blends) and how to you justify your rejections, while criticisizing those who reject other things?
Peace,
Bill
"Reminds me of a cleverly liberal bumper sticker i see around: "Not all who wander are lost"
Maybe not, but those who follow such wanderers certainly are!
# Posted by: Marty at April 19, 2005 11:40 AM "
O come on, Marty. That was written by JRR Tolkein in "Lord of the Rings."
Bill
# Posted by: Bill at May 28, 2005 10:10 PM"We may have seen the power of a blog--BIGTIME--right here. May Bill find his way (back?) to simple faith in Jesus."
Actually, the power of blogs demonstrated here is how fundamentalist hatred can drive someone from the Church. No one can separate me from the love of Christ, but IRD, CT, SFIF and several others have joined forces to run me out of the ministry. Congratulations. You have purified the Church. How many more people will you neoPuritans run off before you think the Body of Christ is pure enough to suit you?
# Posted by: Bill, again at May 28, 2005 10:16 PMI John 2:18-19 & II John 7-11
# Posted by: Prophet Micaiah at May 28, 2005 10:28 PMCongratulations. You have purified the Church.
If only.
# Posted by: Greg at May 28, 2005 10:32 PMAaaaahhh. How it warms my heart for people to use the silly shellfish argument.
And actually, it's been an "interesting topic for discussion" for the past year and 9 months, and has been so thoroughly answered that it grows a *trifle* boring now . . . but since revisionists don't have a whole lot of ammo . . . feel free to check out just two of many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many . . . . posts about it.
http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/index.php?p=4350#comments
http://titusonenine.blogspot.com/2003_06_29_titusonenine_archive.html#105742154276495228
The *Great News* is for me to wake up this morning to learn that Stand Firm is now such an incredibly powerful organization that it can actually "run" people out of the ministry. I HAD NO IDEA!!!!
Greg! Send out a press release to this effect. People gotta know this!!
[Also . . . you need to prepare for the inevitable counter-move on the phase of the cycle that we've all noted, which is (let's all chant it now):
"You are nothing! There are only two of you! We yawn in boredom!!! What a small group of nothings!!!!! We can barely condescend to notice you!!!!! No one else cares or notices. The vast, vast, vast majority hardly knows you're there. You are not representative of anyone at all, even you!!!!!!"
"...joined forces to run me out of the ministry." Dang, guys, we need to figure out how we did that in case we want to do it again!
# Posted by: RC at May 29, 2005 02:30 PMBill,
I hope your time in Scotland was of benefit to your mind, body and spirit.
As for Neo Puritans- I need to read Puritanism for Dummies before I decide. Though as a move to save money over Christmas just might work. Sorry kids no gifts WE'RE PURITANS. But alas it would not work for me. I can't sew and would be unable to keep up a decent supply of Scarlet Letters. A is for Adultry.
But truthfully I see those of us that you call neo puritans as people who dearly love Jesus and His Gospel. It is not always an easy Gospel because it refuses to sugar coat our sins or anyone else's.
What horrid power sin has over our lives. We know this, but we also know that Jesus has and will and shall free us from that sin. That is the message I and maybe others want to get out.
That the love of Jesus overcomes sin. That forgiveness for our sins is always at hand. That when we approach God in humility and true contrition He never turns away. So maybe some call that Neo Puritanism. But if I see my brother or sister in prison and I could tell them where the key was. Would I be their brother if I refused to tell them how to find it?
God bless .
Bill - "before you think the Body of Christ is pure enough to suit you?"
As the son of a Baptist Minister, and a confirmed Episcopalian ....
It does not matter how "pure" we think the Church is .... we can only pray that we are "chaste" enough to be found pure for the Groom when he comes for his Bride....
But even then, as was written .... not all the virgins were acceptable, and when they knocked - they were sent away.
# Posted by: MrEd at May 29, 2005 08:30 PMNice to have you back Oakwyse. We're nothing if not open-minded around here, and always eager to hear both sides of the story. Quite a bit different that what you called the "fundamentalist hatred" that ran you out of the ministry. Far from hatred, we're just very curious about your slow drift from the Christian ministry into fluid paganism, your sudden about face back to the One True Church, and then your equally sudden turn away from the Church and your "ministry" (back to druidism, i presume).
All of this activity simply because your actions were held up to the light for all to see? And not out of hatred for you brother, but because your flock has a right to know the depths of your faith, and how and to whom you pray when away from the public altar, do they not? Do you have something yet to hide? Your flip-flopping on the matter of your own faith is not at all reassurring to the flock you were once ordained to lead. Holding your spiritual ambivalence up to the light for all to see is not an act of hatred, but one of love for the eternal souls of our Christian brethren -- and this includes your own, sir. Your career is the least of our concern.
# Posted by: Marty at May 30, 2005 08:03 PMWow. I gotta say people you represent well for your faith. For a while there I was tempted to believe that organized religion had a chance, I allowed myself to believe that people in groups could behave in ways that preserved the dignity of the individual. You reminded me why I don't bother sharing my ideas about religion with many people.
Your wagon circling in the face of new ideas and your vicious attacks voiced in the language of love but conveying nothing but Judgment (not your job) and pointless parochialism (not very attractive) do nothing to spread the gospel of Christ.
It is particularly tasty how you use the arguments for loving kindness to isolate and objectify. You make Mr.Bill into the "other", and so alien to you that you don't even notice how hateful you are being. Yeaah! Represent!! Jesus is going to pin a medal on you guys. Or maybe some politician with something to gain will recognize your actions to protect the faith. Maybe that's what you want... You know, rewards in this world to make up for the fact that you have separated yourself from the full fruit of God's love through your judgementalism and divisiveness.
Searching after truth is difficult. For that truth to mean anything, it has to be created in one's own mind out of the clues one finds, not handed to you in one piece by a faceless authority.
Ooh baby, feel the love. I think I'm better off talking to myself.
# Posted by: Just another Bill at June 21, 2005 08:18 PMFor that truth to mean anything, it has to be created in one's own mind out of the clues one finds, not handed to you in one piece by a faceless authority.
Sounds like you could have a promising career at 815.
# Posted by: Greg at June 21, 2005 08:30 PMJaB wrote: "I think I'm better off talking to myself." That's what you're doing.
# Posted by: RC at June 21, 2005 08:56 PM"Wagon circling". "Vicious attacks". "Pointless parochialism". "Hateful". "Judgementalism". "Divisiveness".
Well . . . at least he's not judgemental.
Sarah, you sound like me!
AC#3
I thought that this thread had died, but I see now that it has come back to life (if you can call it that). In answer to Bill (good to hear from you, again), I take to be the true faith that which was given to us in Holy Scripture (my favorite version is currently the ESV, btw), and is understood in the church catholic (that would especially pertain to the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox, and the Anglican Communion, notwithstanding the differences, which are minor compared to the faith liberals are trying to propogate).
I take the revelation to Peter in Acts as well as our Lord's words in Mark as sufficient to deal with the tired shellfish argument (as an Episcopal priest, I hope that you can find both without citations here).
As for fundamentalist hatred, your liberal hatred seems to trump any other hatred I've seen on SFIF.
Your labeling and caustic comments make me wonder what kind of Christian you consider yourself to be at this point in your journey. I am sorry to see that by the evidence of your recent comments you have not yet embraced the biblical,creedal, orthodox faith.
BTW, the news from Nottingham seems to be that ECUSA has been asked to withdraw from the Standing Committee and the Finance Committee of the ACC. Recent reports suggest that a majority of delegates were not pleased with the presentations by ECUSA and the Anglican Church of Canada. Abp. Akinola was particularly disturbed that ECUSA did not address the concerns expressed by the Primates when ECUSA was invited to present to the ACC.
# Posted by: Tony at June 22, 2005 01:42 PMI saw this over on StandFirmLA and thought it was interesting. It seems that Bp.Righter (remember him?)has a new name for all of us orthodox Episcopalians/Anglicans. He calls us reversionists. Hmmm......
the snarkster