The New Year 2006

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Schedule for week of January 1st

Dear Friends in Christ,

I know that some of you are troubled by the recent consecration of two American priests by the Archbishop of Singapore to serve as "missionary bishops" to the Episcopal Church in the United States.

Chuck Murphy, the rector of an Episcopal parish in South Carolina, and John Rogers, retired Dean of Trinity School for Ministry, Pittsburgh, have returned to the United States and claim they are ready to serve congregations that find themselves at odds with their diocesan bishop. Those congregations, and there aren't many of them, are refusing the ministry of their own bishop because they disagree with their bishop's stand on the place of gay and lesbian persons in the church. To be more precise, they object to their bishop giving license to the blessing of same sex relationships and ordaining persons living in same sex relationships.

The sad irony of the Singapore consecrations is that the so-called conservatives have now embraced the same tactics they rightly condemn. They have appropriated the sacraments of the church as a weapon to advance their cause. If we weren't all in the same house I'd say "a pox on both their houses."

Rather than dwell on this ecclesiastical naughtiness, I want to speak to the underlying controversy - the importance of maintaining communion with those who we consider heterodox and/or morally corrupt.

The notion that a Bishop's ministry (or that of a priest or deacon) is valid only if that person is morally spotless and completely orthodox is a very old heresy. It seems that each generation has to re-discover this tired old heresy, called Donatism, and dress it up in the battle colors of the controversy de jour.

In the Fourth Century the church repudiated the notion that the efficacy of sacramental ministry depends on the purity and orthodoxy of the minister. So it is that the Church teaches that the validity of a Baptism, the Holy Eucharist, a Wedding is in no way compromised if the celebrant is a complete scalawag and a dunce. The grace of God is ministered to us through the sacraments of the church because God is good and loving and completely faithful. We need that grace because we are not good and loving and completely faithful.

Our Anglican forbears knew how attractive the Donatist heresy is to our sinful, self-righteous nature, so they included in the 39 Articles this reassurance: "... Neither is the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such as by faith, and rightly, do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them- which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil men." (BCP, Page 873)

The fact is that there are no pure and orthodox people with whom we may be in communion. There are only sinners. To declare oneself out of communion with another is, eventually, to declare oneself out of communion with all, including God. The great mystery of Christ's love is that in sharing communion with those with whom we disagree we move together toward purity and orthodoxy.

Schism is a greater sin than heresy. If we remain in communion with those with whom we disagree the Holy Spirit can work in and through our community to correct and purify us. If we break community in the belief that we can form a community comprised only of right thinking and righteous folks, we thwart the acting of the Holy Spirit.

There are times when I am profoundly weary of our struggle with the issues of the day. There are times when I wish those who don't think as I do would simply go away. And yet I know that I don't know the mind of God on every issue.

So I will try to keep faith with the community of the faithful even and, perhaps especially, when I disagree. I will speak the truth as God gives me to see it and I will try to maintain an attitude of humility that will leave my heart open to God's instruction.

I will try my best never to use the sacraments of the church as a weapon to advance my own opinion and I pray that all the clergy and people of this diocesan community will do the same. Let us keep faith with one another and so with our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us continue in communion with one another, especially when we disagree. Let us keep in mind as we receive the body of Christ into our own soiled hands that it is God's love, not our righteousness, which reconciles and saves us.

Yours in Hope,

Right Reverend Sir:

I would thank you for your commentary on the recent ordinations in Singapore published in the latest "Nebraska Episcopalian." I agree heartily with several of your comments, especially, if I read it correctly, the one about being tired of the arguing of both sides.

I think that there is a widespread misunderstanding that the anger and upset expressed by orthodox members of the American Church is all based on the issue of sexuality. This is but the tip of the iceberg. At the heart of the matter is the issue of authority. When a bishop of the Church can publicly announce that those who believe in the authority of the Scriptures are but "superstitious" and can denounce nearly every article of the Creeds which, we quote from the 39 Articles, "ought thoroughly to be received and believed," then there is a problem with authority that is the very basis for the struggles within the American Church today. When individual dioceses can vote to ignore the mind of the Church, not only on issues of sexuality but on Holy Orders as well, there is a problem with authority. When yet another Cathedral Church, in direct opposition to Lambeth resolutions, can call an "openly gay dean," as was so proudly announced in the official organ of ECUSA, there is a problem with authority in the Church.

I would disagree with the currently fashionable statement, postulated I believe by Cantuar himself or perhaps the Presiding Bishop, that "schism is worse than heresy." I think that statement mocks the blood of the martyrs that was shed in support of the Catholic Faith. It is true that schism may feel worse, because it is an on-going process; heresies come and go. The greatest hurt to the Body of Christ is caused by those who twist the faith to their own design rather than by those who separate from them.

To refer to the orthodox members of the Communion as "Donatists" is a bit unfair. The Donatists denied the validity of the orders of those who had at one time denounced their faith. As far as I know, no one has ever denounced the validity of the orders or the efficacy of the ministrations of even such a reprobate as Dr. Spong. It is the preaching and witness of those who "having itching ears... turn away from the truth and wander away to myths" that is decried by those faithful members of the Communion who love Her and the Faith which she has upheld since the beginning.

I pray that you will not close your eyes to reality, as has the Presiding Bishop, nor close your ears to the cries of those who struggle to maintain Gospel Faith against overwhelming odds, not only in the World but in the Kingdom now as well.

Faithfully in Christ Jesus,

The Rev. Robert Scheiblhofer

Rector

Catholic Practices

From time to time people have mentioned that they would like a refresher course on why we do some of the things we do and proper ways to do them. Here are a few random observations on some of the practices one might see at Mass.

First is the custom of bowing one’s head at the Sacred Name of our Lord and Savior. This is a custom clearly indicated in Holy Scripture and one which I am continually surprised is so rigorously observed by Anglo-Catholics and ignored by Evangelicals of any stripe. St. Paul, in love and adoration of the great gift of Salvation, clearly tells us "that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:10) St. Paul tells us that giving honor to the Son, by acknowledging the power of His Sacred Name, gives glory to the Father.

We too, in love and adoration, bow our heads at the mention of that Name "for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) Everyone who loves the Lord will want to honor Him by bowing their head whenever hearing His sacred Name.

I take it as a personal rule of life to especially bow my head in reverence to the Sacred Name whenever I hear it taken in vain. It is very common to hear the Sacred Name of Jesus used as a form of expletive or curse. The believer’s bow of the head is one way of making reparation for the abuse and dishonor given to that Holy Name.

Also related is the custom of bowing at the "Gloria Patri" or "Glory Be." In this case the Name of the Sacred Trinity is being reverenced by bowing of the head. Can we not do at least this simple act of thanksgiving to honor the living God "in whom we live and move and have our being."

One ritual note: the head is not bowed at the mention of either of these holy Names when one is kneeling. The rationale being that the knee is already bent in worship and adoration.

Then adoring, bend the knee

Another Reminder -Quiet Day

Fr. Jack Kilby, retired associate of St. Andrew’s parish, will offer mediations on "The Mighty Acts of God" at a Lenten Quiet Day sponsored by the Daughters of the King. A simple, soup lunch will be provided as part of the day.

If you are unable to stay for the entire day, come for as much as you are able. You will benefit from it.