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October 05, 2008

Gates of Hell, Personal Salvation, & Anglicanism

The crisis in the Episcopalian church continues, with yet another diocese splitting from the Church and aligning itself more firmly with the Anglican Communion.

The Pittsburgh diocese has voted to split because of differences about

salvation and... wait for it... homosexuality. Surprised? Not. Funny how

dogma prevents folks from realizing lovingkindness, and facilitates

their arguing against allowing others to continue loving and caring each

other into well-being. Still, both sides are wound up pretty tightly,

read this troublesome quote from a priest on the side opposing the

split:The Rev. Philip Wainwright, an Episcopal priest

who opposed the split, said the personal salvation of those who remain

in the national church is not compromised by its more liberal teachings,

which can be changed only by remaining in the church.

"If the gates of hell cannot prevail against this church, then a gay

bishop and those who consecrated him cannot, either," Wainwright said.Hmmmm...

I understand the point he makes, but goodness, "gates of hell?" Sounds a

bit over the top. I must admit that language regarding the compromising

of "personal salvation" makes me cringe. Of course, the Episcopal

Church is not the only church that asserts such things, declaring that

salvation rests within its walls, beliefs, etc.

I would have expected both sides to deploy a far more conciliatory

language, one that relied perhaps on the importance of freedom of

conscience, on the notion that if the Church is the body of Christ these

splits cannot separate us from his/her love because we are all one. And

since we are one, and all children of God, we cannot be split from that

love, from being welcome with open arms regardless of what we call

ourselves. That requires a theology of love, and not a theology of who's

right dogmatically. It also requires that we drop blind allegiance to

scriptural writings (and interpretations) based on fear and choose a

love that knows no such filters.

I, of course, don't belong to such traditions, and do not believe in

gods of any kind, but it seems to me that the split is quite an

opportunity lost.