laughing pastor

Bishop Iker leads Diocese to secede.

"We're not leaving the Episcopal Church," he said, echoing Ronald Reagan's quip about the Democratic Party. "The Episcopal Church has left us."

Here are some of Ikers arguments:

The Episcopal Church officially permitted female priests in 1976, and the Diocese of Dallas had its first in 1985. But the Fort Worth Diocese still hasn't had one. "It's a departure from the biblical witness," Bishop Iker said, noting that Jesus chose 12 male apostles, "and from the historical practice of the church."

Women played an intrigal part of Jesus' ministry. Without women it is not clear that the 12 male disciples would have discovered the empty tomb. Without a woman Jesus would not have been born. Without a woman from Samaria the people in the village would not have heard the good news of the "living water". The historical practice of the early church as revealed in scripture included the participation and leadership of women. Lydia's leadership meant that early Christians had a home to meet in. Phebe a deaconess of the chruch was described by Paul as "our sister, servant of the church" and "a succoureer of many, and of myself also. " Eunice and Lois emphasized the importance of training children in the way of faith.

As more evidence of a church galloping down a liberal, nonbiblical path, Bishop Iker points to the 2003 decision by top church leaders to allow an openly gay bishop (the Rev. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire) and the 2006 election of a woman as presiding bishop (the Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori).

Is liberal nonbiblical? It seems the Apostle Paul had liberal agenda when he preached for the inclusion of gentiles into the community of faith. It seems Jesus himself offered a liberal approach to ministry when he healed on a Sunday and ate with sinners and harlots. It seems that our calling to love our enemies can be seen as a liberal approach to faith. If these liberal expressions of faith are in the Bible then they are biblical and it would seem that the continuation of acceptance and inclusion would be a biblical way to be church, and to live faith.

Is it biblical to tear apart the community of faith?