The Episcopal Church Honors Your Spiritual Journey

[faithandproof]

JESUS NOT MORE THAN A MESENGER.

[1macboo]

I have great love and respect for the Episcopal Chursh, I am Quaker so my worship pratice is far removed from that of the EC but I do love the traditon and the beauty of the service you hold...and the fact that you are open and loving.

[MaryWaterton]

When the Episcopal Church began ordaining homosexuals and marrying homosexuals, they gave themselves over to Satan without pretense. If you are a christian, flee from this evil organization. You are disgracing Jesus Christ by sanctioning this abomination with your presence.

[1macboo]

@MaryWaterton

what do you base such opinions on? The Bible never once condems a commited loving relationship between gays.....And you know Jesus never is recorded as ever saying anything on this issue, wonder why??

[MaryWaterton]

@1macboo - Jesus also never said anything about incest and beastiality. Do you think He legalized those also through His silence? Not a chance.

Jesus was speaking to Jews who understood the Law and understood God's views on homosexuality. It was a sin so EVIL as to be rare in Jewish society of that day. They didn't believe the lie that homosexuals are "born that way".

Understand this: Jesus didn't die on the cross so you can wallow in your favorite sin.

[1macboo]

@MaryWaterton Well, fact is that you are mistaken. Did Jesus only speak about things that were NOT understood? I ask you to answer me this, when did you decide to be straight? Was there a time when you could go in either direction and after some thought you decided to be straight? Because you believe that gays have a choice,correct? And they choose being gay because of all the great advantages,correct? I don't expect an answer. peace bro.

[TheArsenalfc101]

And yet another New Agey priest who seems to think that the Bible and 2000 years of Christian Orthodoxy is not as important as the Kantian subjective feelings of individuals. Instead of looking towards your feelings, look towards truth and reason and you'll see how very void the Episcopal church is of it.

[differnet]

The Episcopal Church is an active force for good in the world. It's a church where you do not have to leave reason and science at the door. It's a church where an inquiring mind and spirit is a true benefit. I was raised Episcopal and then went on a journey that had me investigating many other faiths and denominations. But it was reason and not habit that brought me back to Episcopalianism. Faith is a rational decision as well as a spiritual one to an Epicopal. Come visit.

[bongdrop]

I still believe the Episcopal Church is my place in Christ!!

[MaryWaterton]

When the Episcopal Church began ordaining homoseuxals and marrying homosexuals, they gave themselves over to Satan without pretense. If you are a christian, flee from this evil organization. You are disgracing Jesus Christ by sanctioning this abomination with your presence.

[michigan83guerrilla]

Evil organization? Helping the poor, homeless, and hungry is now evil?

Jesus is proud of the Episcopal Church. They are interested in spreading the gospel of Jesus' love, not the hate that some judgmental Christians waste most of their time with. God bless.

[sweetgothicrevenge]

abomination? why dont you look at your sins before others sin. (matthew 7:1-2) judge not, that ye not be judged. For with what judgment ye judge yee shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you againe. KJV 1611 edition

[MaryWaterton]

@ Sweet ...

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is ABOMINATION." (Leviticus 18:22)

Do you even know how to read? Matthew 7:1-6 is not a prohibition against judging ... it is a prohibition against judging hypocritically. Since I am not engaged in homosexuality, nor even condoning it, your point is null & void. The Episcopal Church shows no intention of repenting, so I stand behind what I previously said.

[1macboo]

@MaryWaterton

Do you hiold to ALL of Leviticus?....Or are you a Christian?

[MaryWaterton]

@1macboo

Don't like Leviticus? Well there are plenty of condemnations of homosexuality in the New Testament ... Romans 1:24-27; 1-Timothy 1:10, Jude 7, 1-Corinthians 6:9-10, etc.

God didn't abrogate the entire moral code in the Old Testament ... only the dietary and ceremonial laws, considering them fulfilled through Christ. That's why it's okay to eat lobster, but still wrong to murder, commit adultery, wallow in homosexuality, etc.

[MaryWaterton]

@1macboo

Don't like Leviticus? Well there are plenty of condemnations of homosexuality in the New Testament ... Romans 1:24-27; 1-Timothy 1:10, Jude 7, 1-Corinthians 6:9-10, etc.

God didn't abrogate the entire moral code in the Old Testament ... only the dietary and ceremonial laws, considering them fulfilled through Christ. That's why it's okay to eat lobster, but still wrong to murder, commit adultery, wallow in homosexuality, etc.

[1macboo]

@MaryWaterton The Bible never once condems a commited loving relationship between gays. It condemns many sexual sins,however,both hetro and homosexual, you say it's wrong to commit adultery, you sound like a pharasee to me, Jesus would say that you (yes,YOU) commit aduletry every time you lust ,you (Yes,YOU)commit murder every time you speak with anger in your heart....find me anyplace where Jesus or the Bible condems "LOVE"... Peace my Friend.

[MaryWaterton]

@1macboo

Using YOUR logic, the Bible likewise never condemns inter-family sex as long as it's a "committed loving relationship". Well we know that's a lie because God condemns INCEST ... without exception. The same applies to homosexuality. The "committed loving relationship" part of homosexuality is irrelevant.

Failure to repent will earn you a trip to Hell. You have been warned and that is all that God demands of me.

[1macboo]

@MaryWaterton lol, thats the best you can do?  sigh..OK, ...seems like Abraham,Noah and a few others here and there commited incest and I believe Gods GRACE covers them (and yes, incest in a sin...being gay is not)...lol....Anyhow Grace is too much for most people to handle or accept, you believe in a conditional grace, which is,of course, no grace at all , you beiieve you must add something to Gods Grace(thus there is no true grace in your theology)....I understand your thinking. It is wrong.

[WayOfTheMaster454]

@1macboo -- Truth, being gay is no sin, but acting on that condition IS a sin. Morals matter.

[1macboo]

@WayOfTheMaster454 Well, I am glad to hear that you understand being gay as a orientation and NOT a sin.Sadly many Christians disagree with you and consider homosexuality to be sin. If you or me even have a lustful thought (steaight or gay)...just a thought! then we are guilty of sexual sin according to Jesus but have we acted on it? Hmmm..and yet Jesus still says it is sin. So are you saying Jesus was mistaken and only actions count...NOT our thoughts? Or does His grace cover us all???

[WayOfTheMaster454]

@1macboo--from what I understand, to even contemplate carrying out sexual sin is a no-no.

[1macboo]

@WayOfTheMaster454 "“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Mat 5:27,28

Now to be honest we have all done this so we have all, according to Jesus, "already committed adultery", but the really good news is that all is forgiven through Grace. So we are no longer guilty as charged.

[ScottMacFie]

@1macboo: Acting upon it, as with fornication is a sin...but we have all sinned. However, as many Christian gay advocates seem to forget, how is being gay and NOT fornicating, the same as being 'married' to someone of the same gender in an Anglican church? Unfortunately, we cannot even have the discussion without being called "homophobes" etc. It's like the race charge now. I love and care for gays...but I don't expect them, any more than myself (divorced) to lead the Lord's ministry !

[supernatural2029]

I am not english speaker but I would like to know what he is saying?

[HypnoticEye454]

Impressive book collection; what are some titles on the more advanced theology that you have?

[arcticfurs]

Mat 7:13 !!!

[murse23]

sorry to see such homphobia!!it has nothing to do with faith !!the" theology"of love is what Jesus tought and prayed for!!I highly recomand you the book written by Tolstoy "The Kingdom of Heaven is Within You"

[ddelray]

God Bless Tom Shaw!

[Bigtombowski]

the dripping noise in the background is annoying, but this bishop guy is very nice :)

[sojoyful]

So what if you feel called?

[zaynzaynzayn]

i love the episcopal/anglican church. bishop shaw makes a good point about how the episcopal church honors the individual's spiritual growth and theological journey in christ. peace of the lord!

[James1261]

I am very happy that God sent tolerant people in the world to counter the biggoted, "christian" preachers.

[jacero10]

This man would not know spirituality if it came up and smacked him in the face. One loses the right to wax spiritual as a Christian when you abandon Christian moral teaching. When one calls grave immorality good and blesses it, you are working for the Evil One. This is not spirituality but anti-spirituality. Might as well be Hindu.

[jcfbell3001]

At least the episcopals generally try to keep their

priests off the alter boys, unlike the catholic church. They also generally don't screw their secretary and

pretend nothing happened like EVERY protestant minister has or wants to...they're have a remarkably good track record, relatively speaking...

[James1261]

Wow...your yet another "christian" fundementalist.

[James1261]

The Episcopal Church is great. So are all the other inclusive, mainline churches. God bless them all.

[boomac62]

Don't forget the Quakers. Not mainline but inclusive.

[trinitychiq]

Quakers are awesome.

[SpiritJourneyYouth]

Thank you--the spiritual journey is key to our youth

[ddelray]

Amen.

[walsinghamf]

Dear Bishop, may God bless your wonderful ministry! And may He assist you in your spiritual work in your Diocese!