As many as eight conservative Episcopal churches in Virginia are expected to announce today that their parishioners have voted to cut their ties with the Episcopal Church. Two are large, historic congregations that minister to the Washington elite and occupy real estate worth a combined $27 million, which could result in a legal battle over who keeps the property.
In a twist, these wealthy American congregations are essentially putting themselves up for adoption by Anglican archbishops in poorer dioceses in Africa, Asia and Latin America who share conservative theological views about homosexuality and the interpretation of Scripture with the breakaway Americans.
“The Episcopalian ship is in trouble,” said the Rev. John Yates, rector of The Falls Church, one of the two large Virginia congregations, where George Washington served on the vestry. “So we’re climbing over the rails down to various little lifeboats. There’s a lifeboat from Bolivia, one from Rwanda, another from Nigeria. Their desire is to help us build a new ship in North America, and design it and get it sailing.”
Yes, Nigeria -- bastion of tolerance and freedom. Some "lifeboat."
In Virginia, the two large churches are voting on whether they want to report to the powerful archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, an outspoken opponent of homosexuality who supports legislation in his country that would make it illegal for gay men and lesbians to form organizations, read gay literature or eat together in a restaurant.
Go ahead, cozy up with another like-minded group so your brains can continue to be eaten away by the poisons of fear, prejudice, and bigotry. This gives a new meaning to the phrase "hell on earth."
SUNDAY EVENING UPDATE: Yep, they've gone and done it.
Truro Church in Fairfax and The Falls Church in Falls Church plan to place themselves under the leadership of Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, who has called the growing acceptance of gay relationships a "satanic attack" on the church.
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In other news, Ft. Collins, Colorado is in another battle of Christians vs. Jews.
The controversy, similar to recent wrangling over Christmas trees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, centers on the refusal by Fort Collins to allow a menorah to be displayed downtown during Hanukkah, near a Christmas tree and other Christmas displays.
All six city countil members voted against allowing the menorah on city property while allowing Christmas trees and other Christmas-related accoutrements such as a Santa's workshop display.
Several Council members said they were concerned that allowing a menorah display would open the door for other religious groups and organizations to request that their displays also be included.
“Someone said there are 79 recognized religions in the world,” said one member, Karen Weitkunat. “Where do you draw the line?” Another member, Diggs Brown, said: “If we were to open it up to a menorah, then everyone wants to get involved. You’re going to get sued if you allow religious displays, and you’re going to be sued if you don’t have them.”
Let me help you out here. Where you draw the line is having the city council involved in making decisions favoring one religion over another, or over the other 78.
The Ft. Collins city attorney was quoted as saying "a Christmas tree is a secular symbol, while a menorah has both secular and religious significance.” He got that partly right. The "Christmas" tree was a pagan symbol which has been hijacked by Christians (and in turn, hijacked by corporations for marketing purposes, along with most other holidays) to celebrate the birth of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Where do they think the word "Christmas" is derived from? And what would Jesus think of all this crass marketing and consumerism is his name?
Here's a holiday message to all the homeless people. We have 7 shopping days left. Could you please get off the street? It's hard enough trying to find a place to park the Suburban this time of year. And we have lots of stuff to buy for other people so they'll know how much we care about them -- even if they really don't need any of it. The last thing we want to see is someone wanting a handout, or trying to find a place to stay warm and dry, cluttering up the sidewalks and making it just that much harder for the rest of us to get our feet in the door at Macys.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Toys in ev'ry store,
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.
A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben;
Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen;
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.
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