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Former Secretary of State James Baker Weighs in on Episcopal Conundrum
Virginia Theological Seminary Press Release
www.vts.edu
March 24, 2010
Alexandria, VA - "The conflict within [the Episcopal] church over issues of sexuality has threatened to irreparably divide us," said the Honorable James A. Baker III in his article, Finding Our Way Forward, written for Virginia Theological Seminary's March 2010 newsletter, News from the Hill.
Referring to the 2003 election of the Episcopal Church's first openly gay Bishop, the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, and more recently to the December 2009 election of the Rev. Mary Glasspool as Suffragan Bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles, Baker wrote, "Calls for forbearance from church leaders who hope to prevent a permanent break in the fellowship have not been heeded."
In his article, Baker, an Episcopalian seeks a practical solution to the seemingly insoluble divide between church conservatives and liberals regarding issues of sexuality. Weighing in with an "agree to disagree" approach, Baker offers a "local option" solution whereby individual parishes would vote on the position that their church would take on matters of sexual issues. Baker writes, "In my experience, some issues can be so vigorously contested that resolution of them is unreachable... the most practical approach usually is to address those matters where progress is possible, postpone decisions on irresolvable issues, and mutually respect the differing opinions of each side."
Concludes Baker,
"With credence, fortitude, and especially leadership, we can maintain our church as it has historically been-a people united in 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.'"
The Very Rev. Ian Markham, Dean of Virginia Theological Seminary adds:
"We are committed to living in the space that honors conversation. But there are ground rules: conservatives must honor the Imago Dei in all people and be willing to hear the stories that shape the experience of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters; and liberals must honor the Imago Dei in conservatives and concede that advocating 'traditional marriage' should not be interpreted as homophobia. Both sides must share a commitment to a creedal faith and a recognition that all need to make a case why their position is both biblical and Anglican."
For the full text of Finding our Way Forward click here: http://tinyurl.com/yeyplzn
