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July 23, 2008
Sudanese Anglicans reject homosexual practice
At Lambeth, new archbishop calls for end to ordination of any homosexuals as priests or bishops.
The careful choregraphy of Lambeth, set out for the Anglican Communion's 600 plus bishops in attendance, is not going according to the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' original plan. One of the first to step out of line and off script is Daniel Deng Bul, the newly elected archbishop of Sudan.
Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul
The growth and spread of the Episcopal Church of Sudan is miracle to behold in light of the national bloody conflict. Sudan's bishops decided to attend Lambeth, unlike their conservative colleagues in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, among others.
Yesterday, the Sudanese bishops issued the following joint statement:
In view of the present tensions and divisions within the Anglican Communion, and out of deep concern for the unity of the Church, we consider it important to express clearly the position of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS) concerning human sexuality.
We believe that God created humankind in his own image; male and female he created them for the continuation of humankind on earth. Women and men were created as God??Ts agents and stewards on earth. We believe that human sexuality is God??Ts gift to human beings which is rightly ordered only when expressed within the life-long commitment of marriage between one man and one woman. We require all those in the ministry of the Church to live according to this standard and cannot accept church leaders whose practice is contrary to this.
We reject homosexual practice as contrary to biblical teaching and can accept no place for it within ECS. We strongly oppose developments within the Anglican Church in the USA and Canada in consecrating a practicing homosexual as bishop and in approving a rite for the blessing of same-sex relationships. This has not only caused deep divisions within the Anglican Communion but it has seriously harmed the Church??Ts witness in Africa and elsewhere, opening the church to ridicule and damaging its credibility in a multi-religious environment.
The unity of the Anglican Communion is of profound significance to us as an expression of our unity within the Body of Christ. It is not something we can treat lightly or allow to be fractured easily. Our unity expresses the essential truth of the Gospel that in Christ we are united across different tribes, cultures and nationalities. We have come to attend the Lambeth Conference, despite the decision of others to stay away, to appeal to the whole Anglican Communion to uphold our unity and to take the necessary steps to safeguard the precious unity of the Church.
Out of love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we appeal to the Anglican Church in the USA and Canada, to demonstrate real commitment to the requests arising from the Windsor process. In particular:
* To refrain from ordaining practicing homosexuals as bishops or priests
* To refrain from approving rites of blessing for same-sex relationships
* To cease court actions with immediate effect;
* To comply with Resolution 1:10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference
* To respect the authority of the Bible.We believe that such steps are essential for bridging the divisions which have opened up within the Communion.
We affirm our commitment to uphold the four instruments of communion of the Anglican Communion: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Primates??T Meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council; and call upon all Provinces of the Communion to respect these for the sake of the unity and well-being of the Church.
We appeal to this Lambeth Conference to rescue the Anglican Communion from being divided. We pray that God will heal us from the spirit of division. We pray for God??Ts strength and wisdom so that we might be built up in unity as the Body of Christ.
The Most Revd Dr Daniel Deng Bul
Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan and Bishop of Juba
Later on, the archbishop showed up in the press room to answer questions. But it was unscheduled and unofficial. Here's one report that gives one conservative's take on his time with the news media:
We have just had a briefing with the Archbishop of the Sudan, the Most Reverend Dr. Daniel Deng Bul. He informed the press room this morning that he would come and speak with us, since the Anglican Communion News Bureau running this conference, would not schedule a time for him to address the press. The archbishop is young ? I would guess that he is in his 40's. He is very articulate and has an earned Ph.D.
"Let the Anglican world be united and be a normal, respected Christian body. We have not punished the American church yet. We are asking them to repent. I am talking about the institutional church in America, no specific bishops. I am here to speak within the House of Bishops. I cannot be silent on this issue; I must speak to the House for the reality I know with my people. I should not hesitate to be here since I have been an Anglican since I was a child.
When asked what would happen to the Communion if Robinson did not resign, the archbishop continued, "I cannot predict what will happen if he will not resign."
Ruth Gledhill of the Times of London asked the archbishop who would pay for this conference, reportedly 2.6 million pounds in debt at this minute, and not able to pay for this by the parishes in the Church of England, if the American church was not invited. He replied very gently, "Issues of faith cannot be mixed with materialism."
The archbishop, known as an expert in the field of reconciliation said, "I am here talking to my brothers and sisters in America. We have experienced offense by their actions. I am not trying to offend them in return but tell them that I love them. We have had a painful experience and they must ask for forgiveness so we can go on together.
"If there is a cultural problem in America, it should be kept in America and not allowed to come into the Anglican world. I am not saying the Americans should all be excluded, but keep Gene Robinson away and we will find a way to help them. (Imagine the American Episcopal Church actually acknowledging that they need the help of the Sudan!)
"This issue of homosexuality in the Anglican Communion has a very serious effect in my country. We are called ?infidels' by the Moslems. That means that they will do whatever they can against us to keep us from damaging the people of our country. They challenge our people to convert to Islam and leave the infidel Anglican Church. When our people refuse, sometimes they are killed. These people are very evil and mutilate and harm our people. I am begging the Communion on this issue so no more of my people will be killed.
"My people have been suffering for 21 years of war. Their only hope is in the Church. It is the center of life of my people. No matter what problem we have, no material goods, no health supplies or medicine; no jobs or income; no availability of food. The inflation rate makes our money almost worthless and we have done this for 21 years. The Church is the center of our life together.
"The culture does not change the Bible; the Bible changes the culture. Cultures that do not approve of the Bible are left out of the Church's life; people who do not believe in the Bible are left out of our churches. The American church is saying that God made a mistake. He made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Adam.
"We will not talk to Gene Robinson or listen to him or his testimony. He has to confess, receive forgiveness and leave. Then we will talk. You cannot bring the listening to gay people to our Communion. People who do not believe in the Bible are left out of our churches, not invited in to tell us why they don't believe.... The Authority of the Bible is always the same. You cannot pull a line out or add a line to it. That brings you a curse. We are saying no. You are wrong.
"I have just come from a meeting of the African and Global South bishops who are here. There were almost 200 bishops there. They support the statement my Church made yesterday. That's 17 provinces."
Comments
Bishop Daniel Bul provides a very solemn instruction, while America and England is busy partying desperate Christians are martyred.
We have become a weak, feckless culture. While the Church here shrinking the Church in Sudan is growing. We need the Sudanese Christians more than they need us; we need their faith, their courage, and we need to return to our first love, Jesus Christ.
Posted By: Caritas | July 23, 2008 12:46 PM
First of all, if the GAFCON/FOCA types believe their vision will become the vision of TEC, they are sorely mistaken.
First, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul has a serious lack of understanding of TEC and its polity. For example, his (likely Martyn Minn authored) request that TEC cease court actions with immediate effect is not something doable under TEC's cannons. One does not walk away with TEC property and assets given they are in "holding" for future generations.
Second, there are serious differences between his understanding of Biblical word and mine, for instance. I am not a literalist, he appears to be. This is not a "new" thing, it is something that has been parsed for decades and beyond. We've always lived in that tension, but now, we are being called upon to all "think" alike. If I wanted that kind of leadership, I would be a Roman Catholic, not an Anglican/Episcopalian.
Finally, there is no way that +Gene Robinson will resign, nor should he. He was elected properly under GREAT scrutiny. He may not be the right person for Bul's Diocese, but he sure is for New Hampshire.
If we want to point to generous tolerance, one could point to the U.S. which does not make a big, loud demand of the various African churches where Anglican families may include more than one wife. Our cultures are different, and I must trust that the various African Bishops are leading in ways that make sense to their culuture. Personally, I suggest they give equal respect.
Posted By: cany | July 23, 2008 4:37 PM
Hallelujah, Praise the Lord for Brother Daniel.
Posted By: Larry Nolff | July 24, 2008 1:54 PM
Out of all love, perhaps it is just time to separate. As a cradle Episcopalian I have come to realize that the church I grew up w/ is no more. I prefer to keep the orginsal doctrime I was raised w/ and frankly the people on the other side of the fence can keep their doctrine but I just don't see us ever being able to agree. ECUSA should return the property to their parishes. Whatever legal excuses they may have, those are the people that worked to get the money together and paid the bills and worried over the mortgages, it is theirs, set them free.
Posted By: Chris Bailey | July 24, 2008 2:53 PM
There are numerous issues that the Bible is not clear about. Homosexuality is NOT one of them, and you don't have to be a "literalist" to see that. I'm sick to death of people comparing this issue to slavery. One could argue that the entire book of Philemon is a refutation of slavery. NO WHERE in the Bible is homosexual behavior cast in a positive light. It is condemned in both the Old and New Testaments. That surely does NOT give us a right to persecute homosexuals, but let's stop using clever mental gymnastics to reinterpret what the Bible says about this subject. If you simply disagree with Scripture then have to courage to say so.
Posted By: Mark | July 24, 2008 4:25 PM
Mr. Bul should pack up his bull and return to his country that is ripped with war, poverty, starvation etc.
Let him work on his own house before he attacks another.
Something like check out the beam in your own eye etc.
We hope Mr. Bul is rewarded with his great desire to be with the Lord...very soon.
He is truly a dinosaur and not a person for this time.
Kilty
Posted By: kilty | July 24, 2008 4:26 PM
Praise the Lord for Bishop Bul and his stand for the Authority of the Holy Inspired Scriptures. Many of us who are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America pray daily and work assertively for renewal and reform and recommitment to the historic foundations of the Lutheran church on the basis of our Confessions, the Book of Concord, and the Catechisms of Martin Luther. Thanks for the leadership in faith and belief of the Anglican Bishops from Africa who are speaking out for all Christian Believers who hold to the Truths of the Holy Bible.
Posted By: Carl T. Fynboe | July 24, 2008 6:49 PM
We are grateful to "the courageous 300" which proves that at least one third of Anglicana does not suffer from "spiritual alzheimer's".
Posted By: Fr Neville E. B. O'Brien | July 24, 2008 7:16 PM
Boy, I wouldn't have thought that folks like "cany" and Gregory would even read Christianity Today.
To Archbishop Bul I say:Keep preaching it brother and God bless you.
Posted By: Dwayne Borgstrand | July 24, 2008 11:01 PM
Ahh, Mr. Peterson, the name calling and bitterness in your comments tell me you are not a Christian. A Christian abstains from man's desires and follows Jesus. A Christian does not walk into any house of Jesus and demand that all the beliefs since the time of Jesus be changed just so he can do what he wants and still be admired in what used to be a respected organization for "believers of Jesus" not for admirers and followers of man's desires. A Christian does not split the Church of Jesus wide open for his own needs and concerns. When a person knows he's wrong like you are, he starts up with the name calling and ridiculing those who disagree with him. Why is that Mr. Peterson. You know, you're free to start your own "church" for those following only man's desires and that would solve everybody's problem. Oh, wait, that's called paganism.
Posted By: Anna | July 24, 2008 11:26 PM
The anglican Church is in self-destruct mode! Why? Because it seeks to have what the almighty holy God calls "abominable" called honourable! Why does God utterly refute homosexuality? Because homosexuality is totally and utterly contrary to the nature and the character of GOd!It is the antithesis of all that the perfect God is! God is Holy! Homosexuality is unnatural, unhealthy and ugly! God is a creatorand the giver of life! Homosexuality leads to death! God is love! Practicing homosexuality is about lust not love! God is a servant! Homosexuality is self-serving!Small wonder that God condemns this abominable, unnatural practice in both testaments! Those pushing for its acceptance are not interested intthe welfare of the people trapped by their bad choices but only in theor own self-gratification and self-indulgence. Bishop Daniel has all the right-thinking, God-honouring Anglicans on his side.
Posted By: John Burgess | July 25, 2008 1:46 AM
As evidenced by the erroneous comments posted above by Peterson and Cany, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4: 1-5
In this case, Bishop Daniel is the only one sober-minded and not drunk from the immoral passions of his flesh like Gene Robinson and his supporters. Homosexuals don't exist. However, men and women who choose to satisfy their sinful nature by giving into the temptations of homosexual desires do exist. (In the same way that adultery or sexual permiscuity happens)
Disguising their plead in the name of "tolerance" or "the golden rule" is their easy-way-out of any challenge. When will we learn...WE ARE TO TOLERATE PEOPLE, AND NOT THEIR IDEAS. Christians apply the golden rule to you by loving you as a human being and loving you enough to tell you that you are being led astray by the enemy. Loving you enough to tell you that you are playing with fire. If we didn't then we would curse you and kill you like the Muslims are doing all over Sudan and to those who practice homosexual behavior. You will always have the opportunity to repent and save yourself from your error. The choice is yours and the time is short.
Posted By: it doesn't matter | July 25, 2008 3:05 AM
If Jesus had said "On this rock I will write my book," there might be more justification for perceiving the Bible, not the Church, as the basis of Christianity.
The foundation of Christianity is not the Bible but Jesus Christ the Ascended Head and the Church which is his body. The Anglican Communion, true to itself and its apostolic heritage, maintains this vision, and does not lapse into the mistakes of Luther's *sola scriptura*, his notorious hostility to reason and his cruel oppressive attitudes to sexuality and gender.
The authentic custodian of the doctrines of the Christian faith is not a book, but the Church, not an organization but an organism. It takes its place as the veritable Body of Christ.
Living organisms evolve, in continuous interaction with the environment within which they live. The Church, so long as it is alive, will change and grow. To cling to allegedly unchanging morality, to place words ahead of the Body, is bibliolatry.
Posted By: Francis | July 25, 2008 10:57 AM
The bitterness and ignorance present in some of these comments illustrate the ever-increasing power of the internet to encourage those who have nothing useful or constructive to say to go ahead and say it.
The Episcopal Church of Sudan has not broken relationship with the Episcopal Church and her Bishops gathered with ours prior to the Lambeth Conference. The negative reactions to Archbishop Bul's statement (drafted by the Sudanese House of Bishops prior to Lambeth) betray more than a little western arrogance. Why not just tell the African to sit down and be quiet? I am thankful for the wisdom and restraint shown by the Church of Sudan in our current conflicts, I am grateful for their charitable spirit to the Episcopal Church in the USA which frankly, hasn't been deserving of it in many cases. and most of all, I am thankful that they have let their mind be known on this matter despite possible negative ramifications. What they have done--to maintain relationships and not deny the Christianity of the other party--but to call for repentance and change *because* we claim to be Christian, is admirable. It is scandalous to accuse any African Bishop of having someone else write their words for them (especially considering that there are more earned doctorates--usually from Oxford and Cambridge--among, say, the Nigerian House of Bishops than that of TEC), but this is especially insulting to Archbishop Bul who has had no connection to CANA (Martyn Minns) etc...
The next thing you know someone will be channeling John Spong and talk about chicken dinners. It's disgraceful; I pray those who spew such ignorance will come to repentance.
Posted By: Jody+ | July 26, 2008 5:15 PM
Love your neighbor as yourself as Jesus knew it was Jewish law being followed. It is the Ten Commandments which is also Jesus' law.
So,as long as you don't steal or damage your neighbor's property in any way (meaning his wife also) you "love" your neighbor as yourself. It doesn't mean you need to "love" your neighbor as you love your wife, your children, your parents, your friends. It just means you don't want your neighbor doing to you the bad stuff, so don't do the bad stuff to your neighbor. Actually when you study the 10 Commandments it's the way to live in a community. How perceptive these oldters were back than with no psychiatrists to lead them. It doesn't mean special privileges like additional years added to the crime of killing a homosexual as apposed to someone killing me. Murder is murder no matter to whom it's done to and for whatever the reason murder is done. Sin is sin whether me or them doing the sin. God demands you abstain from it. If I can abstain from the sin I crave, so can others. Keep your eyes on Jesus. It's very hard but others have given up sin for centuries and so can you.
Posted By: Anna | July 28, 2008 5:03 PM
THANK GOD!!!
PRAISE THE NAME OF GOD!!!
Bishop Bul and those who stood with him on this issue are totally correct!!! GOD'S WORD is clear on homosexuality. No cap, gown or degree required.Those wanting to pervert His unyielding warnings on this practice love their sin more than GOD, AND instead of professing The Word as Truth, they choose rebellion (idolatry), declaring their sin - ABOMINATION - as no sin, thereby choosing another god - flesh.!
Posted By: Paige | July 28, 2008 11:06 PM
Iam not a member of the Aglican Church but a Christian. Iam rather disturbed with what is going in the Church of GOD. How and Why should we allow HOMOSEXUALITY in the church.
Those openly gay Bishops need help so that they can repent and turn away from these abominable things that they are doing before the eyes of all the world the ALMIGHTY GOD. Why do we want to bring a curse on the church when we can prevent it.
The Bishop from Sudan has already said that christianity is a way of life. It's not something to be taken lightly. A sin is a sin it can not be sustituted with interpretations to suit ourselves. GOD HELP OUR BROTHERS IN AMERICA AND CANADA TO SEE YOUR GRACE.
Posted By: Michael | August 5, 2008 10:57 AM