The 2018 General Convention (GC) of Episcopalians saw something of a shift in the trajectory of the progressive march to the promised land, a promised land whose landscape has always been subject to change. The current goals that drew the most attention at GC 2018 were gender neutral liturgies and Prayer Book revision, both of which are necessary to get to the nirvana of having a same-sex marriage rite enshrined in the Prayer Book.
As some had predicted, full Prayer Book revision was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Deputies, and rejected by the House of Bishops, It appears that it would cost 8 million dollars and take 10- 20 years to complete such a revision and that there is insufficient theological brain power left in the Episcopal sect to even attempt such a project.
Over the past two decades, the House of Bishops has caved to most innovations, but this time they went against the will of the House of Deputies. Some might think that this represents a turning of the tide as though the progressive wave hit a sea wall, but I don't think the House of Bishops wall is built of stone. Instead, the House of Bishops wall is bound to crumble as it gets pounded every three years at GC and as its members age out and are replaced by, you guessed it, veterans of the House of Deputies.
You see, Episcopal bishops are elected by the clergy and pewsitters of their dioceses. And who is most politically active in the majority of Episcopal dioceses? Revisionists and progressives of course. So, while it may take 10 years for enough turn over to take place to shift the vote in the House of Bishops, it will happen eventually.
In the meantime, the denomination has authorized the continued trial use of same sex marriage liturgies and gender neutral liturgies, and Episcopalians have given its progressive priests the right to use these liturgies without their bishop's permission.
So there is a disconnect between those old fashioned knuckle dragging bishops and the politically active junior clergy and pewsitters in the House of Deputies, but the progressives will eventually pull things back together and see their desires fulfilled. Just give them some more time because heresies never die, they just get reincarnated every three years.
As some had predicted, full Prayer Book revision was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Deputies, and rejected by the House of Bishops, It appears that it would cost 8 million dollars and take 10- 20 years to complete such a revision and that there is insufficient theological brain power left in the Episcopal sect to even attempt such a project.
Over the past two decades, the House of Bishops has caved to most innovations, but this time they went against the will of the House of Deputies. Some might think that this represents a turning of the tide as though the progressive wave hit a sea wall, but I don't think the House of Bishops wall is built of stone. Instead, the House of Bishops wall is bound to crumble as it gets pounded every three years at GC and as its members age out and are replaced by, you guessed it, veterans of the House of Deputies.
You see, Episcopal bishops are elected by the clergy and pewsitters of their dioceses. And who is most politically active in the majority of Episcopal dioceses? Revisionists and progressives of course. So, while it may take 10 years for enough turn over to take place to shift the vote in the House of Bishops, it will happen eventually.
In the meantime, the denomination has authorized the continued trial use of same sex marriage liturgies and gender neutral liturgies, and Episcopalians have given its progressive priests the right to use these liturgies without their bishop's permission.
So there is a disconnect between those old fashioned knuckle dragging bishops and the politically active junior clergy and pewsitters in the House of Deputies, but the progressives will eventually pull things back together and see their desires fulfilled. Just give them some more time because heresies never die, they just get reincarnated every three years.
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