America's most influential church on the brink of collapse

[pennyw]

It was the church of George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt, George Bush Sr and seven other United States presidents. The Episcopal Church is the US branch of the Anglican Church and it was once very influential. More than a third of Supreme Court justices have been Episcopalians. It was one of the first mainstream churches to ordain women; the first to consecrate an openly gay bishop. But over the past 20 years, the church has lost more than a third of its members, falling from 3.4 million in 1992 to 2.3 million in 2012. Now, following its convention in Indianapolis, the Episcopal Church appears on the brink of collapse. Beliefnet.com reports 46 members of the synod have spoken out in support of seceding from the Episcopal Church; six bishops have petitioned the Archbishop of Canterbury for permission to leave the Church but remain part of the worldwide Anglican communion. Not all the tension is over liberal policies on sexuality. There's also deep disagreement on fundamental matters of Christian doctrine. Author, journalist, and Episcopal minister from Florida, George Conger, explains the developments at the convention that sparked the latest crisis.

AUDIO
America's most influential church on the brink of collapse - Religion and Ethics Report - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[Avatar4321]

The Episcapalian Church hasnt been influencial since the days of George Washington.

Not surprising. The Church of England wouldnt be very popular after we seceeded from Great Britain.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Imagine how The Worship Industry would be doing if it had to pay taxes like the rest of the entertainment world.

 

[amrchaos]

It was the church of George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt, George Bush Sr and seven other United States presidents. The Episcopal Church is the US branch of the Anglican Church and it was once very influential. More than a third of Supreme Court justices have been Episcopalians. It was one of the first mainstream churches to ordain women; the first to consecrate an openly gay bishop. But over the past 20 years, the church has lost more than a third of its members, falling from 3.4 million in 1992 to 2.3 million in 2012. Now, following its convention in Indianapolis, the Episcopal Church appears on the brink of collapse. Beliefnet.com reports 46 members of the synod have spoken out in support of seceding from the Episcopal Church; six bishops have petitioned the Archbishop of Canterbury for permission to leave the Church but remain part of the worldwide Anglican communion. Not all the tension is over liberal policies on sexuality. There's also deep disagreement on fundamental matters of Christian doctrine. Author, journalist, and Episcopal minister from Florida, George Conger, explains the developments at the convention that sparked the latest crisis.

AUDIO
America's most influential church on the brink of collapse - Religion and Ethics Report - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

What you just outlined is not the signs of collapse

It is a sign of a split--the creation of a new denomination from the older sect.

What does this mean? It means more interpretations of the bible. Also mean more headaches on my part in trying to keep up with who believes what!

P.S.
A religion falls when there are no followers and no one agrees with the religion.
A religion splits when the followers begin to disagree along religious matters.

 

[Avatar4321]

Imagine how The Worship Industry would be doing if it had to pay taxes like the rest of the entertainment world.

Religious persecution tends not to turn out well.

 

[amrchaos]

Imagine how The Worship Industry would be doing if it had to pay taxes like the rest of the entertainment world.

Religious persecution tends not to turn out well.

How is a religion that collects fees(tithes or donations or whatever) a form of religious persecution?

 

[Gadawg73]

The Episcapalian Church hasnt been influencial since the days of George Washington.

Not surprising. The Church of England wouldnt be very popular after we seceeded from Great Britain.

That is what I have been saying for decades. At the time of the revolution the majority of the Colonies were dominated by the Episcopal Church and their influence with the monarchy. During the war the religous people that supported the monarchy and their divine inspiration by God supported the Torries. The Founders ran from that and wanted no religous influences in the new government. Accordingly, over 100,000 ultra religous people left the country when we kicked the Torries and English's ass.
The Church of England had a firm grip on the colonies and the Christian religion had a firm grip on all of the European countries of that day. The Founders wanted no part of that and The Constitution clearly reflects that. The great myth is that this nation was founded on Christianity. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Founders clearly were the main reason why the Church of England, the most popular church of that time, lost almost of it's influence here after we defeated the British.

 

[AVG-JOE]

Imagine how The Worship Industry would be doing if it had to pay taxes like the rest of the entertainment world.

Religious persecution tends not to turn out well.

Don't be so melodramatic. Nobody said ANYTHING about persecution.

Fair and simple taxes means all industrious activity that involves separating folks from a buck or two should get taxed at the same rates.

No special treatment. No special interests. No favoritism.

The only two industries not paying taxes right now are the worship industry and the marijuana trade, albeit for very different reasons - bottom line is that it's not fair for the rest of us to give preachers and dealers free use of the infrastructure paid for by 'We, The People'.

 

[Avatar4321]

Imagine how The Worship Industry would be doing if it had to pay taxes like the rest of the entertainment world.

Religious persecution tends not to turn out well.

How is a religion that collects fees(tithes or donations or whatever) a form of religious persecution?

What on earth makes you think it would be? Government interfering in the free exercise of religion is.

 

[Moonglow]

poor poor so called church and christian persecutions, now say something nice for all the people the church's and the christians have done something bad to and persecuted them when they were in power.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

It was the church of George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt, George Bush Sr and seven other United States presidents. The Episcopal Church is the US branch of the Anglican Church and it was once very influential. More than a third of Supreme Court justices have been Episcopalians. It was one of the first mainstream churches to ordain women; the first to consecrate an openly gay bishop. But over the past 20 years, the church has lost more than a third of its members, falling from 3.4 million in 1992 to 2.3 million in 2012. Now, following its convention in Indianapolis, the Episcopal Church appears on the brink of collapse. Beliefnet.com reports 46 members of the synod have spoken out in support of seceding from the Episcopal Church; six bishops have petitioned the Archbishop of Canterbury for permission to leave the Church but remain part of the worldwide Anglican communion. Not all the tension is over liberal policies on sexuality. There's also deep disagreement on fundamental matters of Christian doctrine. Author, journalist, and Episcopal minister from Florida, George Conger, explains the developments at the convention that sparked the latest crisis.

AUDIO
America's most influential church on the brink of collapse - Religion and Ethics Report - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

What makes you think the Episcopal church is the most influential church in America?

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Imagine how The Worship Industry would be doing if it had to pay taxes like the rest of the entertainment world.

There are actual reasons the Episcopal church is falling apart. They are related to things that will drive your blood pressure up if I listed them so I will just point out that you would actually love them if you checked them out.

 

[Ariux]

Imagine how The Worship Industry would be doing if it had to pay taxes like the rest of the entertainment world.

AJ, you're just another shithead with no understanding how the world works. The worship industry does pay taxes just like the rest of the entertainment world, when they're functioning in the same way.

 

[AVG-JOE]

If I were truly a 'shithead' as you say, you wouldn't have bothered to respond to my post. Something in what I said has stirred a truth within you.

In my experience, the guy who pulls the 'shithead' (or asswipe, douch-bag or poopy-pants) card is the the one who has nothing to offer. Good luck with that schtick, Brother.

 

[Ariux]

If I were truly a 'shithead' as you say, you wouldn't have bothered to respond to my post. Something in what I said has stirred a truth within you.

When you go to a circus, it's to see clowns. Capisce, Bozo?

 

[AVG-JOE]

I give that one a 1.2 out of 10. Keep trying, Bud!

 

[Gadawg73]

Many Southern Baptist churches in the 60s lost members when they wanted to include blacks at their services. Before that blacks were banned from their churches.
This is nothing new. Local autonomy always works better. The Baptists have that now and this is exactly what the Episcopalians are going through.
The gay boogeyman phobia just has to run the course. I have no problem with any church that wants to ban gays from whatever and any church that wants to allow gays to do whatever.
But to deny someone their religous beliefs by not granting them a marriage license is discrimination no matter how you cut it.

 

[Ariux]

Many Southern Baptist churches in the 60s lost members when they wanted to include blacks at their services. Before that blacks were banned from their churches.
This is nothing new. Local autonomy always works better. The Baptists have that now and this is exactly what the Episcopalians are going through.
The gay boogeyman phobia just has to run the course.

Stupid shithead, this "gay boogeyman phobia" will never "run the course." Afros are still f-ing apes, even after decades of special treatment and protections. Fags will always be mentally-diseased perverts... and the general public will always know it.

No one has religious or philosophical objections to Afros. Being an Afro is not "unnatural". So, how much less are fags ever going to be accepted as anything but perverts?

Fags are fucked up, that's just what being a fag is. And, your shithead accusations of phobia changes nothing.

Also, faggot, the Southern Baptist Church has never banned Afros from their church. But, faggots can suck on a tailpipe.

 

[alan1]

Many Southern Baptist churches in the 60s lost members when they wanted to include blacks at their services. Before that blacks were banned from their churches.
This is nothing new. Local autonomy always works better. The Baptists have that now and this is exactly what the Episcopalians are going through.
The gay boogeyman phobia just has to run the course.

Stupid shithead, this "gay boogeyman phobia" will never "run the course." Afros are still f-ing apes, even after decades of special treatment and protections. Fags will always be mentally-diseased perverts... and the general public will always know it.

No one has religious or philosophical objections to Afros. Being an Afro is not "unnatural". So, how much less are fags ever going to be accepted as anything but perverts?

Fags are fucked up, that's just what being a fag is. And, your shithead accusations of phobia changes nothing.

Also, faggot, the Southern Baptist Church has never banned Afros from their church. But, faggots can suck on a tailpipe.

I thought this was a religious discussion in the religion forum.
Not a discussion about food in the recipe portion of the General Forum.

 

[alan1]

Imagine how The Worship Industry would be doing if it had to pay taxes like the rest of the entertainment world.

Damn, Joe.
I'm an atheist and I still recognize that religion is a belief, not an entertainment.