Who made this swaggering boast? - (A) Janet Murguic, President of La Raza, (B) Barack Obama, U.S. President or (C) Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
Many of you already know that Bishop Schori made this haughty claim at the close of the Episcopal Church’s recent General Convention. If you guessed Barack Obama, it is understandable. It’s the kind of statement that we associate with Mr. Obama, overblown and arrogant. And this statement is not the only similarity between Bishop Schori and President Obama. In fact, what is happening in the Episcopal Church is a microcosm of what is happening in America.
Both Schori and Obama were elected to their positions primarily as a result of “feel good” symbolism: the first female Presiding Bishop and the first black President. But both seem to have read something inflated and lofty into their elections; thinking they are fulfilling a role that was destined for them, that the Church and the United States cry out for their leadership. Their exaggerated sense of self-importance leads them to think; “There’s no stopping us”.
The veneration these two receive from a sycophantic media can easily encourage pretentious behavior. Not only does the media fawn over Schori and Obama, it exempts them from criticism. What is important to the media is their symbolic status, not their grasp of issues or their abilities. They excite the media because of their attempts to replace time-tested traditions with fashionable theories. But the public does not always share the media’s ardor. And Bishop Schori’s interpretation of Christianity is as untenable as Mr. Obama’s understanding of democracy.
When speaking of her stewardship of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Schori stated: “ We are beginning to discover a way forward into a new chapter in the church’s history. If we are to save the life of the church, we are going to have to lose it.” Obama has essentially advocated this same philosophy. His plan for saving America involves losing America: scrapping the Constitution and creating a new one, altering the Founders’ concept of government, and replacing individual freedom with collectivism.
President Obama and Bishop Schori also agree on the issue of same-sex marriage. In May, Mr. Obama publicly expressed his support for same-sex marriage and, incredibly, this plank will be included in the platform of the upcoming Democratic National Convention. If Obama is reelected, we can be sure he will use the power of his office to legalize such unions over the next four years. In July, Ms. Schori’s submissive convention attendees authorized liturgies for a holy blessing of same-sex relationships. This is a first step toward an official church requirement for clergy to perform marriages for same-sex couples.
And there is a definite parallel with the Obama administration’s broadening of gender quotas in higher education, and the Episcopal Church’s decision to track the ratio of women and other minority bishops to the number of male bishops. Will the Church just encourage more female bishops or will quotas be imposed? Based on recent trends by the Church hierarchy, we shouldn’t rule out the imposition of quotas.
In view of all its radical changes it was inevitable that the Episcopal General Convention would create a Standing Commission to research the current authorized translations of Holy Scripture and to consider revisions to the Book of Common Prayer. Allowing Gays and Lesbians to marry their same-sex partners will require altering the Book of Common Prayer. And the Prayer Book would also have to be revised as a result of the Convention’s shocking vote to authorize liturgical funerals for pets. So while Episcopal elites are revising their Prayer Book, the Obama administration is involved in a campaign to denigrate our Constitution and convince the public that it must be rewritten to accommodate their “progressive” liberal agenda.
Bishop Schori is as grossly out of touch with orthodox Christians as President Obama is with mainstream Americans. But both seem to think that their unpopular agendas can be made acceptable by framing them with politically correct terms like “social justice”, “cultural diversity” and “inclusiveness”. Well, they might be able to convince their elitist yes-men but the rank and file of Americans with traditional values are not buying it.
Returning from the General Convention, the Bishop of the South Carolina Diocese informed his parishioners that the Episcopal Church has crossed a line that he cannot personally cross. But before making any decisions about his future, the Bishop plans to spend a few reclusive weeks reflecting on the spiritual path he must follow. I suspect that many other Episcopalians are going through a similar self-analysis.
There’s no question that the decisions made at the General Convention will exacerbate the drastic and ongoing decline in Episcopal Church membership. And, although Bishop Schori’s tenure ends in three years, the pernicious philosophy promoted by the Church’s hierarchy will most likely continue. Likewise, we can safely predict what kind of radical agenda Barack Obama will pursue if he is given four more years. He will no longer feel constrained to moderate his views to placate voters because he cannot be elected again. So, he will go all out to radically change America because it will be his last chance to do so. The coup de grace.
A wait-and-see attitude is no longer an option for faithful Episcopal Church members and conscientious American voters. The day of reckoning has arrived, and members of both bodies know what they must do.
Gail Jarvis is a Coastal Georgia based freelance writer. Following a career as a CPA/business consultant, Mr. Jarvis now critiques the establishment’s selective and misleading reporting of current events and history. Gail can be reached at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
