Conservative Episcopalians deem church split likely

Yesterday, Focus on the Family’s Citizenlink published an interview with Rev. Todd Wetzel, leader of the conservative Anglican group Anglicans United.

Wetzel said that the problems at this week’s Anglican convention went even deeper than an attack on marriage. He said that “a resolution saying Jesus Christ was the ‘only name by which any person may be saved’” was ruled “out of order” and “unnecessary”:

“The resolution about Jesus was ruled ‘out of order’ and ‘unnecessary,’ ” Wetzel said. “Basically, it was the feeling of the leadership in the church that because we say the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed regularly on Sunday mornings that there should be little doubt about the commitment of the church, at least in terms of its documents, to Jesus Christ as its Lord and Savior.”

But Wetzel said the leaders of the church were way too quick to dismiss the resolution.

“In fact, the commitment of the Episcopal Church to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is seriously in question,” he said, “and the resolution should have come to the floor for consideration.”

Even sadder, Wetzel added: “I think, if we are really honest, it might well have been voted down.”

Wetzel also said that Katharine Schori preached a sermon referring to “Mother Jesus”:

But in what could be the most shocking event of the last week, the newly elected presiding bishop of the church, The Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, preached a sermon at the convention which referred to “Mother Jesus.”

“Actually, she said, ‘Our mother Jesus gives new birth to a new creation and we are his children,’ ” Wetzel noted.

Wetzel agreed with Rev. Dr. Ephraim Radner, a conservative Episcopal theologian, that a church split is now inevitable:

A church split is all that’s left, according to both Radner and Wetzel. The fact is, many people who faithfully cling to orthodox Christian teachings are still in the pews.

What form the split will take is, as yet, unclear.

“I think it’s clear, though, that this isn’t just a question of people sitting around a table and coming to understand each other better,” he said. “We’re beyond that now.”

A church split unfortunately appears to be inevitable. But it could have the positive result of bringing a wing of the Episcopal church back into the ranks of orthodox Christian churches that declare the Gospel of Christ.

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