Okay, folks...time for some perspective

Amongst all the goings on this the current General Convention, which has become nothing more than a bunch of West Coast theological liberals patting the backs of other East Coast theological liberals, I give you something to think about. It is just after 9AM central time, and I have already had four pastoral conversations by e-mail or phone by 4 different people I know around the country concerning the fact that they are officially leaving the Episcopal Church because of the passing of resolutions involving the blessing of same sex unions and opening the priesthood to transsexuals.
UPDATE: During the very process of writing this blog entry, I was interrupted by a phone call from a fifth person. After a conversation, I think I talked this person out of leaving, at least for now.

Thank you, General Convention, for just making my life as a priest so much more difficult.

Comments

Undergroundpewster said…
I imagine those conversations are different depending on whether or not there are children. Mine are grown, but if I were starting all over again, I probably would look elsewhere for their sakes.
7/11/2012 9:25 AM
Tregonsee said…
I would think you should be asking yourself why there is any reason to stay.
7/11/2012 10:55 AM
The Archer of the Forest said…
That is certainly a concern I am hearing, particularly if children are involved. The buzz I am hearing from General Convention is that all this is to attract young people and so the Episcopal church can be the "church of the 21st century." Every single person I have talked to is under 40. In fact, I am now up to 8 people who have called or e-mailed me to vent about their concerns.

Pastoral sensitivity is the other concern. One of the people I talked to since I wrote this post called me in tears. They had even went to their own priest first to have a pastoral conversation and direction and apparently the priest said, "If you don't like it, the big red doors also lead out..."

That story really made me angry. In fact, I was so angry, I went out and push mowed the entire parish lawn. That kind of snotty "I know so much more theology and stuff than you" attitude is the other reason people are leaving, particularly when people with said convictions can't make a good theological argument based on Scripture to save their lives.

I don't know what kind of red Koolaid they are passing out in Indy, but it must be some good stuff if people are coming home and thinking that pastoral responses like that are manifesting Christ's love.
7/11/2012 11:57 AM
Anonymous said…
That story is snotty and awful.

But since yesterday, I've had two friends (and their partners) consider coming back to the Epsicopal Church, who have left because we had made it clear their families were not welcome. There are real faces and people living with pain no matter what we do.
7/11/2012 1:13 PM
The Archer of the Forest said…
Well, we've been promised for almost 10 years now that these changes are going to open the flood gates of membership to the Episcopal church and our membership and average Sunday attendance has lost almost 25% during that time.

I know literally over 65 people who have left the Episcopal church since the whole Gene Robinson debacle. Those are just the people I know personally. This may be seen as a good thing in liberal areas like New England and California, but from those of us from places like the South and the Midwest/Upper Plains, these moves have been a complete disaster. The Episcopal Church's own internal numbers tell the story, but no one is listening.

Not to be crass, but I really feel like there is wisdom in the old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."
7/11/2012 1:32 PM
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