The Burr in the Burgh

I am a pastor with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. That is the particular denomination of American Lutheranism I belong to. Our church body holds to a classic traditional view of the authority of Scripture. When I post things (like below) about other churches, it is not my way of gloating or trying to look superior. We have our troubles as well. But these are significant events in the life of the Church-at-large and I believe we need to be aware of them.

Six priests in the Episcopal Church-USA, of the Diocese of Connecticut, are being threatened by their bishop with suspension. For what heresy or which manifest immoral failing are their ministries in jeopardy? They are redirecting their financial giving away from the diocese to protest the recent consecration of Gene Robinson, an openly homosexual man, as bishop of New Hampshire. The six priests in Connecticut are also seeking to come under different ecclesiastical supervision since their bishop was one who voted in favor of Robinson's promotion. The controversial new openly gay bishop has severely strained the unity of the worldwide Anglican communion as African and other third-world bishops, typically more biblically conservative, objected to his consecration. My observation (correct me if I'm wrong) is that within Western Anglicanism, everything is tolerated except disobeying your ecclesiastical supervisor. There is already widespread doctrinal chaos in the EC-USA and seldom is a whimper heard about that. But once a few priests reject the authority of their bishop, then look out. The post-modern church doesn't bother itself much with doctrine, only authority and power.

World magazine, a publication you should all subscribe to, covers this story.