The Ordinations in Uganda
A couple things: in the article below, the author comments that this is much like "offshoring." I want to point out that generally offshoring is a bad idea. For lots of reasons. I'll explore this at another time. It is a very useful metaphor for what is happening.
Second, I continue to wonder about the usefulness of bishops. In this day and age, a good bishop is essentially a good webmaster. They control the boards, moderate comments, make sure the platform is working so that those who go to the website won't be confused and get a little help when they need it.
Third, Bishop Duncan comments on what he sees as the real issue: "What is our ultimate authority -- scripture or the individual?" This isn't correct. Scripture is only relevant if someone is reading it. Scripture is as correct about homosexuality as it is about cosmology. The conservative position merely indicates to many people that the entire book is worthless.
The WSJ reports: "My position was simple: I'm out of here," says Alton Tucker, an African-American physician who joined the loyalists. He says he doesn't think gay bishops are a good idea but opposes any alliance with African churches that "have a lot of prejudices and practices that we as Americans, not just Episcopalians, don't share."
This is the conservative risk. Beware ye Anglicans who think the African Church will save you! In this country you'll just be known as gay hating Christians, no matter how sweet and generous your sentiments seem to you. And watch out! The Africans may, someday, tell you what they think about our rapacious economic system.
And that is something our scripture has much more to say about.