tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post7063190319834206792..comments2023-06-07T09:13:41.693-05:00Comments on Episcopal Chaplain On the High Ground: Brainstorming for Everybody: Responding to the Draft Anglican CovenantMarshall Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02807749717320495495noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-46161473794671993112007-04-20T14:25:00.000-05:002007-04-20T14:25:00.000-05:00I agree with Patrick about Spong - but I think TEC...I agree with Patrick about Spong - but I think TEC missed a huge opportunity for theological education there. Why didn't it engage him in debate, which would at the same time have been a teaching moment? <BR/><BR/>And maybe even a "learning moment" - a chance to get below the surface, and for new theological ideas to be born. Now that he's retired, the moment has passed - but we could still have churchwide theological debates, couldn't we? That's what the web is for!<BR/><BR/>This is happening in a de facto way on the blogs, where real theological debate IS happening daily. So TEC is missing an opportunity here, again, IMO.blshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627725321531151309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-36047570779968799572007-04-19T13:28:00.000-05:002007-04-19T13:28:00.000-05:00patrick:Thanks for your comment. I think your que...patrick:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comment. I think your question about "the distinctive function of bishops to be the guardians of apostolicity" is apt. Certainly, I think this affects polity. There is, I think, an inherent and integral link between ecclesiology, theology of ministry, and polity - or, at least, there should be.<BR/><BR/>I have my own question about where Bishop Spong has gone - although I think he's become significantly more (outragious? heretical? progressive? Choose your word) since he retired from his diocese. Leaving a position can give one a measure of, or at least of strong sense of, freedom. Unfortunately, some of us (and this is perhaps all too American a trait) have difficulty balancing freedom with self-restraint. I used to call Bishop Spong "the liberal lightening rod of the Episcopal Church;" and lightening rod he continues to be. It's a question we wrestle with just how helpful it's been to schismatics, and harmful to us seeking both justice and reconciliation, that he provides such a wonderful straw man to whack at. Sadly, his words are out there. I don't know just how, much less how far, the Executive Council or the Theology Committee of the Bishops, might confront the public statements of this retired colleague.Marshall Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807749717320495495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-89257000978167753822007-04-19T13:19:00.000-05:002007-04-19T13:19:00.000-05:00bls:Thanks for responding. I think this should be...bls:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for responding. I think this should be on blogs, and that could make for some interesting conversation. I just hope that Episcopalians will not just post here, but also share this with the Executive Council.Marshall Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807749717320495495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-3211418318151773132007-04-18T23:31:00.000-05:002007-04-18T23:31:00.000-05:00I probably won't have time, nor do I really have t...I probably won't have time, nor do I really have the competence, to contribute a serious theological response, but one question I have is how do we (TEC) deal with the traditional notion that it is a distinctive function of bishops to be the guardians of apostolicity? Is this a separate question from "polity" or not?<BR/><BR/>In relation to this it seems to me that the writings of a bishop like John Spong (which to my mind stray beyond the bounds of creedal orthodoxy) have done our church a lot of harm, such that when our advocacy of full inclusion of gay people (which I fully support) is seen as part of a dubious overall theological package. My hope is that those involved is preparing our response to the primates will rectify this impression.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20406961.post-42530906785110090872007-04-18T11:50:00.000-05:002007-04-18T11:50:00.000-05:00Thanks for pointing this out, Fr. Marshall. Maybe...Thanks for pointing this out, Fr. Marshall. Maybe we can talk this over in the blogs at the same time as we work independently, too, so questions can be asked and answered (or researched).<BR/><BR/>Thanks again.blshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627725321531151309noreply@blogger.com