Wednesday, March 07, 2007

"I Can Deal With An Imperfect Church"


The Rev Barbara Cawthorne Crafton has reflected on the meetings in Tanzania in her own very special and gentle way. But, it's firm and enlightened gentleness I wish you to partake of.


"I CAN DEAL WITH AN IMPERFECT CHURCH"


How often have I desired to gather your children together

as a hen gathers her brood under her wings

and you were not willing! Luke 13:34


"I haven't written my pithy, quotable essay on the Anglican Primates meeting in Tanzania yet.

I want to write it, but I keep thinking of things that slow me down. Not indecision about the disagreement at hand -- I'm not in doubt about the rightness of everyone being fully the person God intends, whether in marriage or ministry. My own life has been too rich with the blessings of friendship with far too many gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered people to turn my back on them now..." You can read the rest of her Daily eMo for 03/02/2007 here .

3 comments:

Dennis said...

can an imperfect church deal with an imperfect me?

Dennis said...

perhaps I asked that wrong - I meant it not as "am I personally welcome" because I believe that I am,

but in a larger way - can the hierarchy and authorities in our church deal with a people who won't follow their plans, rules and directions?

Because we aren't going to do that. But if we are going to say that we can accept an imperfect church, then the "church" needs to accept an imperfect people.

Catherine said...

I understand you, Dennis, truly I do, but I wanted you to know you would be welcome way down here anyway :-) ! This Church will not succeed if it cannot admit it's own shortcomings and failures. I think TEC can but the WWAC can't.