Ugandan Anglicans in ultimatum to US church over gay marriages

[kwassa]

Source: The Guardian, UK

The Anglican church in Uganda yesterday threatened to leave the worldwide communion unless the US Episcopal church condemned homosexuality.

The ultimatum came from the Rev Aaron Mwesigye, provincial secretary and spokesman for the Ugandan church, who warned that the attitude of some American clergy could trigger the disintegration of the world's third biggest Christian denomination.

He said: "If they don't change and continue to support homosexual practices and same-sex marriage, our relationship with them will be completely broken. Anglicanism is just an identity and if they abuse it, we shall secede. Yes, we shall remain Christians, but not in the same communion."

African provinces have been at loggerheads with American Anglicans following the 2003 ordination of a gay man, Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire. The tension increased in 2006 with the appointment of Katharine Jefferts Schori, a liberal, as presiding bishop of the Episcopal church.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/19/religion.usa

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It looks like the schism is finally beginning to happen, and the homophobes are heading out the door of the Anglican Communion. This will leave the breakaway parishes in the United States who have allied themselves with African and South American bishops in a tough spot, if those groups take the same road out as Uganda.

[xchrom]

1. they can't leave fast enough. -- change is good.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. The schism had already begun. This merely continues it.

Several parishes have left the Episcopal Church in the last year, and the Diocese of the San Joaquin (in central California) formally declared themselves apostate about a month ago.

[kwassa]

10. Anyone can leave, they just can't take the property with them.

And Schofield is trying to take the Diocese of San Jaoquin with him. Big court fight looms ahead.

He is aligning with the Southern Cone (region in South America) which also is boycotting Lambeth along with Uganda, Nigeria, and a few others. If Southern Cone leaves the Communion, it makes for even shakier legal standings for those breakaway churches aligned with them.

[TrogL]

14. Some more are considering leaving

on edit, found it. Also changed the title to match reality.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g2QBxS5I3sTA9s0Oh1n64cYDunrw

We had a parish meeting and I proposed a three-way schism.

1. The Anglo-Catholics, maintaining the old Rites and liberal traditions
2. The Evangelicals, maintaining neither. They'll end up Baptists.
3. The rest of the Anglicans, muddling along as best they can.

They didn't go for it.

[pingzing58]

3. The Anglican communion should not help them with a cent. Let's see how long they last!

[JerseygirlCT]

17. The Anglican Communion should continue to support

the people in Uganda. Punishing them for being under the thumb of a bad guy as their archbishop isn't right or fair. But certainly, other ways to send support should be found!

[9119495]

4. Amin? or Amen?

good riddance.

[boilinmad]

5. Buh Bye.....

....and, by the way, dont you think there are bigger problems for you to deal with in your country, fool?

[caseycoon]

6. Bye! Don't let the door hit ya on the way out! n/t

[mattfromnossa]

8. my sentiments exactly

:applause:

[gratuitous]

7. Ball's in your court, Archbishop

Are threats and blackmail really the way to settle theological differences? And isn't it odd that for all those centuries of intolerance, the people who favored an inclusive vision of all humanity for the church stayed and advocated for their position. But for those who would slam the church door in the faces of people, just the idea that someone else stands beside an open door of welcome is sufficient for them to cut and run from a church they claim to love? Can't they make their case for exclusion any other way, except by threats and blackmail? Is the rightness of their position so precarious that it can't be trusted to survive a fair and open discussion? Do they trust God so little?

[AlbertCat]

9. Pthhhhhhhh

You guys fight among yourselves.

Those of us mature enough to reject ancient superstitions will not be effected....so try to keep it contained.

[Botany]

11. The U.S. Episcopal Church helps to fund the Anglican Church in Africa

If Rev Aaron Mwesigye wants to go .... fine go.

[closeupready]

12. Don't let the door hit your butt on the way out, bigots.

n/t

[kwassa]

13. oh, NOW Uganda changes it's mind!

http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/


A CORRECTION on the Church of Uganda position regarding the Anglican Communion and the Lambeth Conference

“The Church of Uganda is not seceding from the Anglican Communion,” said Rev. Canon Aaron Mwesigye, church spokesperson. “Some press stories have misrepresented our position.”

no, we were just quoting you

“The plain fact is that we are simply not attending the Lambeth Conference in July 2008, but we are still very much a part of the Anglican Communion.”

The Church of Uganda broke communion with the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in 2003 after they elected and consecrated as Bishop Gene Robinson, a divorced man living in a same-sex relationship. But, the Church of Uganda has remained a consistently active member of the Anglican Communion.

“It is the Americans who have seceded from the Anglican Communion because of their decisions and their teaching,” Mwesigye said. “They have departed dramatically from the historic faith, teaching, and practice of the Bible and the Anglican Church.”

[JerseygirlCT]

18. Nice try, bozo

(Not you, Kwassa!)

It is the Americans who have seceded from the Anglican Communion because of their decisions and their teaching,” Mwesigye said. “They have departed dramatically from the historic faith, teaching, and practice of the Bible and the Anglican Church.”

This has been their claim. But it just isn't happening, and all their noise won't change that.

[sarcasmo]

15. Another proud day to be an Atheist.

[JerseygirlCT]

16. Bye! Have a nice trip!

Hope you come back to your senses someday and learn not to hate.

Behind the homophobia and misogyny (and don't be fooled, if it wasn't about gay cooties, it would be about female cooties), is a raw power play. These boys want to be more important. They're out for power, pure and simple, and they'll play on any available prejudice to get it.

[Chovexani]

19. If I were the Anglican church I'd tell them

To not let the door hit them where the good Lord split them.

Dobsonite fundies who think Christians are persecuted because people tell them Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas ought to live as a GLBT person in your average African country for a day.

[OneBlueSky]

20. fuck 'em . . . n/t

.

[SoCalDem]

21. Bye.. have a nice trip..n/t

[IronLionZion]

22. Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, good bye!

assholes :hi: