tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post6548177249118419689..comments2024-03-29T06:58:28.383+13:00Comments on Anglican Down Under: Do critics of the Covenant wish to be part of a united Communion or not?Peter Carrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-20985611492173374762010-01-07T11:29:53.778+13:002010-01-07T11:29:53.778+13:00Thanks Suem.
It is certainly not at all clear whet...Thanks Suem.<br />It is certainly not at all clear whether the Anglican Communion in the end will demonstrate the ability to agree to disagree, so the future may be fragmented.Peter Carrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-67428516529865303452010-01-07T11:04:31.097+13:002010-01-07T11:04:31.097+13:00Let me explain to you about bisexual people as the...Let me explain to you about bisexual people as there are many misunderstandings about this orientation. Like "homosexuality", the term "bisexuality" simply refers to sexual orientation, not sexual practice. Moreover, someone who is bisexual may have a sexual preference for one gender but will or can meet people from the other gender who they have a chemistry with or are attracted to.<br /><br />It is possible to be bisexual and celibate, it is possible to be bisexual and monogamous. Most of the bisexual people I know are committed to a monogamous relationship, just as most, if not all, of the gay or straight people I know are committed to monogamous relationships. <br /><br />If you are bisexual, you cannot "choose" whether you will be gay or straight ( and if you do try to do this,it will cost you psychologically!)You may of course choose to settle with someone of your own gender or the opposite one.<br /><br />I know a few transgendered people ( I am not transgendered myself) and what they have described to me - being trapped in the wrong body - sounds like torture. It is not something I understand but I feel called to walk with transgendered people, listen to them and support them.<br /><br />Are "all these identities on the same level" - well, I know all these people, as human beings, are on the same level.<br /><br />As for "refusing to live graciously" with the death penalty for homosexual acts in Uganda, I do think it is right and Christian to speak up against atrocity and cruelty. I don't see people's private lives as ranking on the same scale with atrocity or genocide. We should speak up against wrong but effectively we do "have to live with" the homophobia in Uganda. It might actually be helpful if some of us did reach out graciously to such Church leaders and politicians. In very homophobic societies, people often think they know no gay people! They see gay as "other" and if they saw a human face to LGBT people, perhaps they would rethink their views.<br /><br />If "mainstream" Anglicanism cannot live with a difference of opinion over this, perhaps it is better to be honest about that and for the different factions to separate. That is not what I personally want, but it where I do fear we are heading.Suemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128736092253293640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-30422608027092885902010-01-06T09:24:49.801+13:002010-01-06T09:24:49.801+13:00Hi Suem,
OK, with you now on what you seek!
We do...Hi Suem,<br />OK, with you now on what you seek!<br /><br />We do indeed need as Christians to live graciously with difference (as, in fact, the whole world needs to do), but some differences are so great they cannot be tolerated. Thus many voices at this time are refusing to live graciously with the (shall we say) "different" way in which some Ugandan politicians would wish to treat Ugandan homosexuals.<br /><br />Back to the Canadian Anglican church: already one criticism I see emerging about Hiltz' remarks are the fact that various bishops/dioceses do not seem to be able to live graciously with parishes who are different to the point of distancing themselves from the official Canadian Anglican church. Thus litigation re property is proceeding in the courts!<br /><br />So, from a distance, it is a little difficult for me to understand clearly what "difference" for Archbishop Hiltz means with respect to his Anglican context in which he seeks to live graciously.<br /><br />A final point (in an all too brief, not comprehensive response) could be this: what is the "difference" we are being called to live with in respect of homosexuality? For instance I see a distinction between living with people as fellow parishioners who are different to me in respect of sexual identity and working out what standard or standards of relationships apply to those set apart through ordination for ministry in the church. Others press for no such distinction ("all the sacraments for all the baptized" I believe is one relevant epigram).<br /><br />Or, take this issue: what some call 'the gay issue', others term "GLBT", seeking to broaden the inclusiveness of the church to incorporate those who identify as bisexual and transgendered. Are all these identities on the same level? Perhaps they are (and I am a slow learner) but I do wonder about 'bisexual': would not a monogamous person be making a choice for one sexuality rather than two ... or is embracing 'GLBT' about being much less ethically conservative than that?<br /><br />So, there are "differences within difference" with which we engage as we seek to be gracious.Peter Carrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-59796141322414016912010-01-06T09:04:10.602+13:002010-01-06T09:04:10.602+13:00What did you think of what Hiltz had to say? I am ...What did you think of what Hiltz had to say? I am thinking especially of his comments that we are called to "live graciously with difference." <br /><br />Should we live with difference, or are some differences so great that they cannot be tolerated?<br /><br />That seems to me the question that this covenant may find out and the nub of what this is all about.Suemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128736092253293640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-75048322085292979192010-01-05T11:01:03.123+13:002010-01-05T11:01:03.123+13:00Hi Suem
Hiltz is open to the Covenant. The crunch ...Hi Suem<br />Hiltz is open to the Covenant. The crunch will be the Canadian General Synod ...Peter Carrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535218286799156659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915617830446943975.post-900599147523933062010-01-05T10:43:30.238+13:002010-01-05T10:43:30.238+13:00It seemed to me that Fred Hiltz, in his New Year&#...It seemed to me that Fred Hiltz, in his New Year's address seemed to be open to the possibility that the Anglican Church of Canada would sign the Covenant.<br /><br />I don't know if I'm off mark here or if that was the impression others had?<br /><br />What did you think of what Hiltz had to say?Suemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128736092253293640noreply@blogger.com