Yesterday, the Diocese of San Joaquin voted to leave the Episcopal Church and become a member another Anglican body in the South Cone of South America. San Joaquin is one of the 3 diocese in the Episcopal Church that still refuse to accept the ordination of women. They are adamantly homophobic. And they are now the first diocese to leave the Episcopal Church raising the legal and organizational conflicts to a horrible new level. I have read the blogs and reports with an extraordinarily heavy heart.
The controversies and conflicts that are tearing my denomination apart are both an echo of the culture wars of our country, and the deep fear and estrangement that still drive so much of humankind's actions and decisions. Today's readings for Advent 2 are particularly painful in light of the events unfolding in the Episcopal Church. The image of reconciliation and unity that is painted in Isaiah seems more out of reach than they have ever seemed in my time of active faith and participation in the Church. The insistence that the wheat and the chaff must be sorted out and one burned feels ominous and necessary.
O God, our help in ages past
Our hope for years to come
Our shelter from the stormy blast
And our eternal home
O God our help in ages past
Our hope for years to come
Be thou our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home.
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