Priest resigns, cites gay bishop as reason

[davidinalameda]

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030909-113539-9054r.htm

A Maryland clergyman is the first Episcopal priest in the nation to resign in response to the denomination's approval last month of its first openly homosexual bishop.
The Rev. Steven R. Randall's resignation, effective Monday, came in a four-sentence letter addressed to his bishop, the Rt. Rev. Robert Ihloff. His farewell sermon at St. Timothy's Church, a historic parish in downtown Catonsville, Md., will be Sunday.


As they say--don't let the door hit ya, where the Good Lord split ya

[AWD]

1. Appoint a gay man to replace him...

....or worse....A WOMAN!!!

GASP!!!!!!!

[goobergunch]

3. LOL! (n/t)

[Democrats unite]

4. One down...

Several more to go.

[goobergunch]

2. Good riddance to the homophobic. (n/t)

[Hand]

5. Yeah, well...

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on yr. way out. Well, on second thought...
:nopity:

[gratuitous]

6. That's highly unfortunate

But not wholly unexpected. A couple of years ago, a minister whom I esteem quite highly told a gathering at our denomination's Annual Conference that if we let the issues surrounding homosexuals in the church tear us apart, we were fools. He is on the opposite side of the fence from me on this one, but here's my response, suitable for adaptation to the Episcopalians:

If the denomination splits over homosexuals, it won't be the advocates who split it but the forces of oppression. And the story here is an example. Homosexuals in the Episcopal Church advocated for recognition, rights and full participation for centuries, yet they remained in the denomination. They continued to go to worship, serve on committees, volunteer, conduct choirs, provide music, teach Sunday school for adults and children, and generally do everything they were allowed to do by the powers that be.

But now, in a time period that is the wink of an eye by comparison to those centuries, those who can't feature sharing a church pew with gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered or intersexed persons bolt the denomination at the first opportunity. Who is the true Episcopalian? Who is truly trying to follow the example of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels, and the example of the early church as recorded in Acts?

Farewell, Rev. Randall. It's too bad that you have chosen to follow Matthew 13:21 instead of 13:23.

[PartyPooper]

16. gratuitous, thanks for such a profound and truthful post!

O8)

[cherryperry]

7. Would it be appropriate to

have some sort of action during his so-called farewell sermon? Is there a way to contact gay people as well as straight supporters to do so ... if you think it's appropriate?

[maxanne]

9. I don't think it's appropriate

cherryperry. I don't think making a scene is the way to go.

If anything people should flood the guy with cards saying, we're sorry you're doing this - please reconsider. Please let us all find a way to work together - don't let this issue divide us at a time when we need to be united.

Love and open hearts will win guys like this over. Not scorn or ridicule.

[cherryperry]

11. You're kidding, right?

I beg to differ! Nothing will win this kind of guy over...however, I agree that I would like to flood him with the cards anyway.

Also, I wasn't thinking of scorn or ridicule; I was thinking of just letting him know how 'un-Christian' his decision/position is.

Oh, well...thanks for your input...I do appreciate your perspective!

[maxanne]

14. no, I'm not kidding

Change occurs a lot more slowly in religion than it does in any other area of life. This may be someone who is really fighting with his conscience - and fighting against everything he's been taught. I'm not defending his position - just trying to get you to see it from his persective.

Will bludgeoning him and calling him a bad Christian help?
I don't think so. But a message of peace and brotherhood, urging him to think it over and reconsider - would be hard for him to ignore.

And just so you know a little more about me - I recently defended Reverand Gene Robinson in an editorial in my local paper - and our local TV evangelist told his flock I was going to burn in hell.

[dArKeR]

8. Probably running from pedophile charges.

[pasadenaboy]

10. I'm ready to get flamed for this...

I'm an episcipalian, and I was opposed to the ordination. Here is why:

1) the church allows gay priests, because it figures if you don't agree with homosexuality, you can go to a neighboring parish.

2) If you disagree with homosexuality, and your bishop is an active homosexual, you don't have the option of going to another diocese, unless you want to move, or just happen to border other dioceses.

3) Church doctrine still teaches that homosexuality is wrong.



So, here is what should have happened: The church should have had the fight over changing the doctrine of homosexuality. Once that was changed, they could have installed the bishop. But they took the shortcut, which creates a lot more division and problems than are necessary, because they appointed a bishop who contradicts their teaching.

Just my opinion.

[cherryperry]

12. This is not a flame, just something I hope you'll consider...

Change will never come your way. The gay priest is, IMHO, somewhat comparable to Rosa Parks.

Think about it.

Please replace gay or homosexuality to African-American or black person and perhaps you might reconsider your view.

:shrug:

:hi:

[pasadenaboy]

15. there are already a lot of gay priests in the church

and in the catholic church too, but they're still in the closet. :)

I always tell me catholic friends they have more gay priests than we do, we just know who ours are.

I'm not opposed to the gay bishop, I'm just saying the process was wrong, and will cause a lot more division than if they would have done it properly. The goal is to bring everyone along, or at least as many as possible. The way this was done was more divisive than was necessary, and the results will be more people leaving than is necessary. That makes me sad.

[cherryperry]

13. can't delete, so I'm editing dupe - don't know what happened...

n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. Some priests and parishes left the Episcopal church

over the ordination of women. They're still around, but they seem ingrown and crabby and self-righteous.

I've just joined a church that helped host the recent General Convention. They were solidly on the side of Gene Robinson, and as far as I can see, there have been no repercussions. In fact, the priest mentioned that their phone calls were more positive than negative.

By the way, while there are some obvious gay and lesbian couples sitting in the pews, the congregation is largely your typical Middle American family.