When people leave...

I would respectfully disagree with the claim that many are making that we are all diminished when someone makes the choice to depart. Who was diminished when the English Church decided to depart Rome? Who was strengthened and liberated? Who was diminished when those departed who could not or would not abide clergy who are women? And which fellowship was strengthened, broadened, and liberated?

I am quite weary of people telling the Church that it should accommodate the prejudices of the day. To those who say the Church should make room for those who disagree with the inclusion of LGBT persons who refuse to apologize for being LGBT, I ask this question: should we not, then also accommodate racial prejudices that still linger? Should we not also accommodate sexism? Should we not also accommodate bias and prejudice toward persons with disabilities, persons who at 'too old' or who are 'too young'? Why should the Church refuse to accommodate bigotry when bigotry is wrapped up in race or gender, but behave toward bigotry bound to hatred of LGBT people?


If people choose to leave, the key word is 'choose.' They choose. If they cannot or will not abide a Church that says that we will not, as a denomination, countenance discrimination, prejudice, and bigotry to LGBT persons, then so be it. Would it be better for them to be taken prisoner? Isn't the moral equivalent of hostage-taking more akin to the ecclesiology and practice of Rome? But we are a Protestant denomination, which means that we suffer no illusion that the Episcopal Church is the only expression of Christian faithfulness to God.

If people's opinions, including their prejudices, take them elsewhere, then may they continue searching until there remain no more Christian denominations that will accept and support their bigotry. Then may they find a home again, perhaps in the Episcopal Church.

In the meantime, the rest of us need to move forward and refuse to have our attention to wider world around us distracted by those who prejudice continues demanding that we deal with them instead, as though their point of view is one that the Church should regard as a legitimate one. It is not. Let's be done.

Jim +