Looks like another group that sees the light Jesus said that church should not look like the world.

The dioceses that have chosen to leave the Episcopal Church would be far more genuine and respected if they were to abandon the church buildings that they have been using, change the name of their denomination, and start over from scratch.____Instead, they are going to claim that ownership of all of that property in the diocese belongs to them, and that the National Episcopal Church has no rights of ownership. That will not survive litigation.____Bishop Jack Iker and his followers are, in fact, very disingenuous. Rather than to continue to work toward persuading the majority of the Episcopalians to see things their way, they, instead, are picking up their marbles and going home.____For the record, I am what’s known as a cradle Episcopalian. I have been active in the church for my 68 years. I am married, not gay or bi-sexual, and I do not support homosexuals and lesbians using the term “marriage” to define their unions.____However, I do support the ordination of women. It is absurd to believe that it is to anyone’s benefit if roughly 50% of the membership is unable to make their mental contributions to the whole.____Nevertheless, I do not believe that I should leave the church because the majority doesn’t see things my way. These people shouldn’t either.____

Are all those folks that have joined the “Southern Cone” going to learn to speak Spanish? After all it is based in Argentina. Better yet,they can all move to Argentina and be within shouting distance of their lead group. )____This will continue until the conservatives all leave and then there will be 2 churches…doubt if that will be a problem. In fact it might even make the American group stronger. They are the ones who accept all their god’s children…not just straight ones, and recognize that “women” are intelligent too and can be Priests, Bishops etc. too.____I agree with you, Bill C. I think it would save a lot of trouble if the folks leaving just leave the buildings, and not have the legal hassel over them.

Pagansister, no one has said anywhere that we who have left don’t “accept all of God’s children.” How one chooses to live their life is between that person alone and God. It clearly states in “our” God’s Bible that homosexual union is a sin. To expect a priest to stand at the altar and to bless this sin, is to also expect that he would also bless a murder, adultery, stealing, etc. ALL of God’s children are welcomed by all of us. We simply do our best to follow God’s Word and not rewrite it to fit all of our current day attitudes. God’s Word has stood for all of these hundreds of years, and I’m sure that if He has changed His mind regarding homosexual unions, or any other issues, He will certainly let us know, without expecting us to rewrite Scripture according to our own desires.

This seems like a divorce and reminds me of my exhusband telling me that I had no rights to anything since I was the one that wanted out. I hope they can work it out peaceably.

ck wrote, “Looks like another group that sees the light Jesus said that church should not look like the world.”
I believe and preach and teach ways in which the Church (local as well as denominational) can model for the world, taking the lead rather than following the accepted practices. This is why we ordain , people of color, women, homosexuals and even middle class Anglo males. The world as we know it seems to think that divisions between these groups is normal – we believe it is abnormal. The Light of Jesus shines on ALL people, all of God’s children, all who receive God’s Spirit, without regard for what other characteristics they may have (Not a good idea to believe you can limit God).
This Southern Cone is getting a frosty look. I wonder how the Cone-head (bishop) will deal with all the ornery Americans who like to do things their won way.

As anyone who knows my style (and lousy keying skills) might have guessed – the posting above from 11/18, 11:07 am was mine, jestrfyl – the-frustrated. These changes and “improvements” to B’net are making me aggravated. So much security for what? Between the goofy “secret message” to type in and the space to add a URL (why must this be separate from the text which might provide the context for the link?). I have discovered on – very annoying – trick to getting these things posted. I write what I have to say, copy it, then post it. If it is lost, then I have my message to paste in again.

jestrfyl,I too have copied and pasted at times on this the new, improved B’net.:0). Sometimes I post, it tells me I’ve goofed up the numbers (I haven’t) so I click on the “try again”, put in my name, decipher the secred code, and hit post and most of the time it takes it. Those are the posts with the lines in them to separate the paragraphs. I’ve had several of them.______No Name of Nov. 18,10:22AM:__Just because God’s word has stood for hundreds of years doesn’t make it right. Slavery had been around since JC’s time and before. Fortunately that is no longer accepted. So just because something has been around for hundreds of years doesn’t prove a thing. Me thinks god needs an update. BTW, what does murder, adultry, stealing have to do with same gender adults loving each other enough to want to commit to a life together? That would be “nothing.” “All of God’s children are welcomed by us.” No Name quote. That would be as long as they are Heterosexual. ________________

I’m assuming the anonymous entry by the teacher preacher is jest by the content of misinformation, because outside of the model reference their is nothing of biblical principals, and the tricky reference blanketing race with sexuality. The reference, “Cone-head (bishop)” certainly is neither Christian nor biblical nor in good taste. Jesus’ light is not indicated by the Bible that it falls on those who do not do His will or accept Him, that is a anything goes all inclusive tactic of deception, don’t be fooled by it.

“Cone-head (bishop)”. That would indicate the head (or person in charge)of the Southern Cone, land of the conservative Episcopalians,cknuck. Why would it be called a “cone?” Who knows?

Should I look it up pagan? Of course not it’s misinformation!

cknuck, the article calls the area in Argentina the “Anglican Province of the Southern Cone”. Thus the person in charge of that area is the Cone head, or head of the Southern Cone. ) We assume he is a big-wig…so a Bishop or Cardinal?
What’s misinformation?

Regardless to what both you and jest call them, they seem to be a lot more desirable to many than those churches that operate outside of the will and word of God.

ck wrote, “Jesus’ light is not indicated by the Bible that it falls on those who do not do His will or accept Him, that is a anything goes all inclusive tactic of deception, don’t be fooled by it.”
O ck, you recognized me behind this masque of security established by the Guradians of B’net! Did you miss me?
OK, I realize the “Light of Christ” is a metaphor. But if we use the physics of light, it washes over everything and everyone. There are no scurrying shadows when the Light of Jesus washes over someone who does not care to associate with him. And that light does wash over some who have been wandering in the dark and hoping for something. Light, like rain, falls on the just an the unjust. The question is who scurries for the shadows and who stops to see from where/who the light comes?
As I said in the post, I think it is quite dangerous to try and limit God. I am more interested in opening the door and welcoming everyone than trying to serve as some underqualified gatekeeper. Every parable and image Jesus used in the Gospels underscores, emphasizes, and proclaims this lesson. The lectionary reading for this week from Matthew 25 is a hallmark of inclusion. Jesus does not ask for id’s, suggest a faithfulness check, or expect only some people to be served. Jesus said to people who would exclude, turn away, or deny access and rights to care in his name, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do this to the least of these, you did not do it to me”. I am not about to deny anything to Jesus or anyone who comes in his name, looking for him, or simply in need. I guess you, ck, are a bolder man than I.
And I thought the Cone-head reference was kind of clever.

Did you all watch the “Jim Jones Story” that ran all last weekend?
The 900 people that followed their leader, Jim Jones, thought they were operating inside the will and word of God, also.
They believed verbatim in the words of the Bible, and Jim Jones. The moral here, don’t allow yourselves to be brain-washed. Always have your own relationship to the Holy Spirit then no one can lead you the way they want you to go, only God.

No, Henrietta, I didn’t see the Jim Jones Story. I really didn’t want to, since I remember too much about it when it happened. It is a shame that he had so much power over people, to the point they’d kill themselves for him. But unfortunately he isn’t the first nor will he be the last to “sucker” people into such situations. ______No Name of 1:30 AM Nov. 19, (or cknuck?):__Each church has it’s own characteristics and will appeal to those who agree with those characteristics. In this case, the Episcopals who feel women can’t minister to a church and feel that only heterosexuals should be allowed to marry, go south, and those that feel women can minister to a church and that everyone can marry, stay “north”. Personally (and no surprise)I’m one who would be staying “north:. Churches IMO should be inclusive…not exclusive.

quote “Every parable and image Jesus used in the Gospels underscores, emphasizes, and proclaims this lesson.” ____Jesus indicated that the road to Him is narrow and few find it and the inclusive philosophy you sell is the board road of course I am assuming you know about that, and no I did not find the cone head reference clever at all nor a indicator of a disciplined spirit, more vindictive if anything. ____I also found the suggestion that the Jones family followed the bible verbatim one of the most misinformed statements I’ve ever read and its intent to mislead dishonest. ____The north and south reference concerning churches reminded me of a thought stuck in the Civil War mindset, and it has nothing to do with what is actually going on.__

No Name at 21 Nov.1:39 AM:
Hello? The North-South reference you question had nothing to do with the Civil War. Argentina is “South” of the USA thus those who are going to follow the Southern Cone beliefs will be going “south” mentally. Those who are in the USA, following their beliefs, are North (of Argentina) thus in the “north” mentally. ) Simple really.