Bishops were right to delay decision on oversight.Dear editor, The bishops' disagreement about alternative episcopal oversight (Bishops delay oversight decision, May) is essentially a question of donatism. The donatist heresy claimed that sacraments were impaired if the person performing them was heretical he·ret·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to heresy or heretics. 2. Characterized by, revealing, or approaching departure from established beliefs or standards. or unorthodox. The church roundly round·ly adv. 1. In the form of a circle or sphere. 2. With full force or vigor; thoroughly: applauded roundly; was roundly criticized. denounced this heresy as early as the fourth century, affirming that a sacrament does not depend on the worthiness of the person performing it. Parishes in New Westminster New Westminster, city (1991 pop. 43,585), SW British Columbia, Canada, on the Fraser River, part of metropolitan Vancouver. Founded in 1859 as Queensborough, it was the capital of British Columbia until Victoria was made capital after the union of British Columbia are requesting alternative episcopal oversight because they feel their bishop is not orthodox. A bishop's ministry does not depend on his or her believing or doing the same thing as the members of a particular parish. The bishop is bishop by virtue of his or her election and consecration, and, unless the bishop actually renounces faith in Christ, he or she remains bishop. Believing that the church can bless gays does not constitute a renunciation The Abandonment of a right; repudiation; rejection. The renunciation of a right, power, or privilege involves a total divestment thereof; the right, power, or privilege cannot be transferred to anyone else. of faith in Christ. To grant alternative episcopal oversight to a parish which does not agree with its bishop on this issue would change the whole structure of the church to a congregationalist con·gre·ga·tion·al·ism n. 1. A type of church government in which each local congregation is self-governing. 2. Congregationalism model. This should not be decided as a side issue to blessing gay relationships. It needs to be discussed directly by the whole church. The bishops were right to delay a decision. Michelle Bull Berwick, NS. |
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