Is it Well...Is it well with my Soul?

The Modern Version of Idols?

To All My Christian Friends, especially Clergy: A recent post on ‘Face book’ intrigued me because I am very proud of the Episcopal Church, in which I was brought up, on some points, and extremely disappointed with other pervasive, systemic problems. So I offered a thought, and, as is often the case, learned something about myself in the process: This is rather long so be prepared.

The Original Post:
David Whitlock (not related) shared some of the struggles of his denomination: “Borrowed,” he wrote, “ . . . a former United Methodist preacher has a strong opinion . . ‘We (in the UMC) are Sadly, Embarrassingly, Shamefully, Reprehensibly, Disturbingly, Distastefully, and Disgustingly in the WRONG Column.... Lord, have mercy....’”

I commented: “David...if the Anglican Church was good enough for the Wesleys, perhaps it might be a healthy alternative for those not affirmed by their historic denomination? Would clergy find this difficult?”

His response: “We may hear from clergy friends. It is early. I went to bed early, woke early, found this early. This pastor switched over to the counseling field (person making above statement). As pew sitter who has not studied deeply church history, I find your question interesting. Stay tuned.”

Doug Albury, another voice responded to my question: “Robin Whitlock, I'm not sure the Anglican Church WAS ‘good enough for the Wesley.’  After all, when John began preaching against the drunkenness and laziness of the clergy and criticized the Anglican hierarchy for presenting a dead form of religion that he wanted the Methodists to overcome through being held accountable for the practice of the faith and taking advantage of the means of grace that moved them toward perfection in love, the bishop took away his pulpit, and he had to begin the field preaching that expanded Methodism across England and into the American colonies. The modern representation of the Anglican Church in the United States - the Episcopal Church USA - though it has affirmed same-sex marriage and ordination of partnered gay clergy, is in the latter stages of the fracturing of which the UMC is in the early/middle stages. (There is also a stronger movement against ordination of women in the Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion than there is in the UMC.) We'd be better off with UM members making choices based on their individual needs and, in the meantime, as a denomination, working out our issues in the best way we can. Who knows? We might be able to do it better than the Episcopalians!”

David Whitlock added an observation: “University of Facebook I often say. Thanks, Doug.”

Robin Whitlock then responded to Doug: “You make several very valid points and while I’m certainly not the ideal student of history, I was under the impression that the Wesley did not leave their Anglican roots but tried to reform the errors of the Church. While I may have the details wrong, I believe that is what many in the Episcopal Church are doing today. (I take exception to your statement about the ‘movement against the ordination of women’ since this has not been my experience in every quarter of this country). While there are many denying or distorting the clear message of embracing diversity in the scriptures, the mission of the faithful is to keep others from writing the script. Whether or not LGBT members of our houses of worship should be able to participate fully is moot as far as I am concerned, Jesus spoke to that issue to the outcasts of his day.”

“It seems there is far greater evil in the tradition of the church embracing the tacit materialism and paradigm of ‘winners and losers’ in western culture than which tradition has the ‘truth’. When I attended seminary starting in 1968 in Berkeley, California in one of the members of the Graduate Theological Union, I was hoping to find kinship in the search for a better way for people raised in the Christian tradition to improve our treatment of one another - spiritually, internationally, and universally. While all denominations, including mine, has failed myself and others over and over again with its’ own misguided love of keeping everyone in the pews happy and the need to finance the next more impressive diocesan symbol of our own love of status with yet another ‘golden calf’, I have found the faithful still gather in spite of the failings of the institution and search for and demand reform, as the Wesley did. That is my experience in the church I serve today. E.g. they are working to demand a ‘moral Monday’ protest against the excesses of our expansion of business and financial interference in the Democratic process through the misguided judiciary which is charged with representing the Constitutional rights of the people.”

“All clergy and members of our houses of worship need to come to terms with the false idols we have been forced to accept. My favorite example is to point out if a true Disciple were made a Bishop in today’s church, all church income would go into a common pot and all clergy would be compensated the same regardless of the contributions of their parish. In fact, giving more to the poorer churches might not only be faithful to our commission, but might also reverse the current trend of churches disappearing.”

“So, how about a radically new paradigm based on a truly scriptural precedent? I believe I would have support from many of the reformers, and not just the famous ones. What would be best for our historical traditions in this day and age? I look forward to your thoughts. What do you believe?”

I would like there to be an open and honest discussion of some of the overlooked failings of the Episcopal Church and her ways of conducting ‘business as usual’ which, in my experience, often ends up being deeply in denial (about the unfairness of our appeal process within our polity)or ignoring the (major) issue (illegal behavior on the part of bishops) and hoping it will go away, sometimes forcing untenable injustice (broken contracts and broken promises) from those in positions of authority. What say ye?