African Bishops Respond to ECUSA's 2006 General Election

The impending split within the Anglican Communion looms larger than ever. It seems to me that the Episcopal Church USA is determined to go its own way despite the concerns of the larger communion. Homosexual priests and bishops are unscriptural since homosexual behavior is condemned by Holy Scripture and by church tradition. The consistent position of the church universal has been to uphold the Scriptures and to forbid sexual immorality.

Just as disturbing is the insistence of the 2006 general convention of ECUSA to elect a woman as the presiding bishop. Again, the traditional position of most churches has been to ordain men only to the priesthood or ministry. Only with the Methodists in the nineteenth century and the pentecostals in the 20th century do we begin to see this tradition changed. With the advent of liberal theology, modernism, and postmodernism we begin to see a compromise of biblical teaching.

While women may indeed have careers in other fields, it by no means follows that they should be teachers in authority in the church. In this we must follow the Scriptures and tradition. Nowhere in Holy Scripture do we see women ordained as priests, bishops, deacons, apostles, pastors, teachers, or evangelists.

The African bishops are right to call ECUSA to repent over these matters. However, I don't see that happening. I'm afraid that what will happen is the conservative side of the communion will break fellowship with the more liberal provinces of the USA, Canada, and perhaps Great Britain. Even the Archbishop seems to be a progressive liberal with little concern for what God says in Holy Scripture against sodomites and homosexuals.

Perhaps a split would be in the best interest of all involved? Let the wicked have their own church and let the righteous stay faithful to God. Perhaps this is blunt but we should stop compromising the faith just to make the politically correct happy in their sins.

May God grant us the grace to remain faithful.

(Click on the title link above to see the remarks of Bishop Peter Akinola).