davidould.net

non angelus, sed anglus!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Just a thought

It’s interesting, isn’t it, that in the Anglican arena disingenuity has been defeated by narcissism. Let me explain. Or, rather, allow Gene Robinson (duly elected and consecrated practising homosexual bishop of New Hampshire, no less) to explain. This is from Robinson’s recent speech to the House of Bishops concerning his non-invitation to Lambeth:

I want to tell you why I declined the invitation as it was proposed. I really had high hopes that something might work out. I have been talking with the Anglican Communion Office for almost a year now. I got my first phone call four days before the invitations to Lambeth went out. I thought something would work out.

The offer to be hosted at the Marketplace is a non-offer. That is already available to me. One workshop on one afternoon and being interviewed by the secular press was not anything I was seeking. I wasn’t going to Lambeth to have another interview with the secular press. If interviewed at all, I want to talk with a theologian. I want to talk about the love of Christ. I want to talk about the God who saved me and redeemed me and continues to live in my life. I want to talk about the Jesus I know in my life.

So let’s be clear about this. Lambeth Palace offered Robinson a position in the “Marketplace” - basically he could be part of the fringe events, typical of any large conference. Now we should be outraged by that far more than we are - this was an attempt to have Robinson there without really being there. More than that, it affirms him and his role - perhaps not fully but nevertheless it is an implicit endorsement of sorts. It is, ultimately, Lambeth reneging.

But this disingenuous move by Lambeth was defeated by the very one they were trying to rehabilitate. It wasn’t good enough for Robinson. He needed more. He needed to talk to theologians. Basically, he wanted to get a full invitation so he declined their partial invitation. Which is quite impressive, because now Lambeth has snubbed Robinson, insulted the Communion and Robinson has snubbed Canterbury. Magnificent.

Except of course, that Robinson has a noble cause to fight…

Now, my focus has to change. Maybe this is what God has in mind. I had hoped to focus on the community of bishops at Lambeth, making my own contribution to its deliberations. But now, I think I will go to Lambeth thinking about gay and lesbian people around the world who will be watching what happens there.

Should be entertaining. Kind of makes me think of the teenagers who jump around behind live TV reports because they can’t bear the attention being somewhere else.

click here to leave a comment

Posted by David Ould on 03/13 at 09:49 AM
Current affairs | Anglican | (1) Comments | (2) Trackbacks | Permalink

Page 1 of 1 pages

Statistics

This page has been viewed 209558 times
Page rendered in 5.6403 seconds
Total Entries: 834
Total Comments: 3506
Total Trackbacks: 2387
Most Recent Entry: 09/05/2008 03:15 pm
Most Recent Comment on: 09/05/2008 07:43 pm
Total Members: 4
Total Logged in members: 0
Total guests: 10
Total anonymous users: 0
Most Recent Visitor on: 09/08/2008 07:50 pm
The most visitors ever was 96 on 07/01/2007 09:30 am