Apparently-To: catholic@american.edu
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.catholic
Date:         Mon, 28 Sep 1992 20:46:09 PDT
From:         "John R. Covert 28-Sep-1992 2342" <covert@COVERT.ENET.DEC.COM>
Subject:      31 Resolutions for Mass. Episcopal Diocesan Convention (1 of 4)

The following resolutions are being presented to the convention of the
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, meeting in November.  They are an
attempt by three groups of conservative Anglicans to restore Catholic
Faith and Order to a Church which many believe to have become Isaiah's
wild vineyard.

Most of the resolutions are sponsored by the Massachusetts Convocation
of the Episcopal Synod of America, which also supports the resolutions
indicated as sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National
Organization of Episcopalians for Life [NOEL] and by the Massachusetts
Chapter of Episcopalians United [EU].

Part 1 of 4 contains the titles and text of each resolution.  Parts 2
through 4 contain explanations for each resolution.

We support these resolutions for the Diocesan Convention...
   ...We urge Episcopalians to discuss them with their clergy and with
	 their convention delegates.

1. RESOLUTION ON THE TRINITY

Resolved, that there is only one God who is revealed as the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit according to the baptismal command of
our risen Lord in Matthew 28:19.

2. RESOLUTION DISTINGUISHING GOD FROM CREATION

Resolved, that the uncreated God is the creator who has brought all
things into existence out of nothing.

3. RESOLUTION ON THE DIVINITY AND HUMANITY OF JESUS

Resolved, that Jesus is God in the flesh; fully God and fully man.

4. RESOLUTION ON SALVATION ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST   [EU]

Resolved, that there is no other name under heaven by which we are
saved than the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

5. RESOLUTION ON EVANGELISM   [EU]

Resolved, the Church must proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to
all people.

6. RESOLUTION ON THE AUTHORSHIP AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY
   SCRIPTURE

Resolved, that God the Holy Spirit is the ultimate author of Holy
Scripture, and Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to
salvation; so that whatsoever is not contained in or provable by
Holy Scripture is not to be required of any person to be believed
as an article of faith, or to be thought requisite or necessary to
salvation.

7. RESOLUTION ON THE VIRGIN BIRTH

Resolved, that Jesus Christ, the only son of God the Father, was
made man of the substance of the Virgin Mary by the power of the
Holy Spirit.

8. RESOLUTION ON THE SUPREMACY OF GOD OVER IDEOLOGY

Resolved, that the triune Lord God's rule of the universe is not
subject to any humanly created ideology nor may any such humanly
created ideology be imposed on the interpretation of Holy
Scripture.

9. RESOLUTION ON PARTICIPATING IN FALSE WORSHIP

Resolved, that the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Massachusetts
must not participate in forms of worship which are pagan or
contrary to Christianity.

10. RESOLUTION ON THE RESURRECTION

Resolved, that the Lord Jesus Christ was physically raised from the
dead.

11. RESOLUTION ON REFERENCES TO THE DIVINE PERSONS   [EU]

Resolved, that calling any of the three divine persons of the Holy
Trinity "Mother," "She" or otherwise referring to the divine
persons of the Holy Trinity as being of the feminine gender is
contrary to the revelation of Holy Scripture and the traditions,
doctrine and practice of the Episcopal Church and must be avoided
by both clergy and laity.

12. RESOLUTION ON REINCARNATION

Resolved, that belief in reincarnation (that is, that the soul may
be reborn in successive, multiple existences, which may be human,
animal or vegetable, in a cycle of births and deaths determined by
the deeds which a soul does in previous physical existences) is
contrary to Holy Scripture, and the traditions and teachings of the
Episcopal Church.

13. RESOLUTION ON OCCULTIC PRACTICES

Resolved, that so-called "new age" occultic practices such as
divination through palm reading, tarot card reading, reading auras,
reading crystals; seances and attempted consultation with spirits,
familiar spirits or demons through mediums, psychics or otherwise;
astrology, psychic channeling, witchcraft, wicca, and satan
worship are contrary to Holy Scripture, and contrary to the
tradition and teachings of the Episcopal Church, and must be
avoided by the clergy and laity.

14. RESOLUTION ON THE CHURCH'S MISSION   [EU]

Resolved, that the Church's principal mission is the salvation of
souls through the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ and
witness to the truth of the kingdom of God.

15. RESOLUTION ON THE ORDINATION OF PEDOPHILES

Resolved, that the ordination of practicing pedophiles to the
episcopate, priesthood or diaconate is contrary to Holy Scripture
and the tradition of the Episcopal Church.

16. RESOLUTION ON THE ORDINATION OF TRANSVESTITES

Resolved, that the ordination of practicing transvestites to the
episcopate, priesthood or diaconate is contrary to Holy Scripture
and the tradition of the Episcopal Church.

17. RESOLUTION ON THE ORDINATION OF HOMOSEXUALS   [EU]

Resolved, that the ordination of practicing homosexuals, bisexuals,
or lesbians to the episcopate, priesthood or diaconate is contrary
to Holy Scripture and the tradition of the Episcopal Church.

18. RESOLUTION ON THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN

Resolved, that the ordination of women to the episcopate or
priesthood and their purported exercise of the sacramental
functions of a bishop or priest is contrary to Holy Scripture,
tradition and the constitution of the Episcopal Church.

19. RESOLUTION ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF HETERODOXY

Resolved, that a faithful diocese, parish or mission is not, by any
correct standard of Christian stewardship, morally required to give
its financial support to activities or positions manifestly
contrary to the Christian faith, even if the entity demanding that
support is the hierarchy of the Church itself.

20. RESOLUTION ON UNBORN CHILDREN   [NOEL]

Resolved, that an unborn child has a God-given life which it is
sin to take away intentionally.

21. RESOLUTION ON ABORTION AS CHILD ABUSE   [NOEL]

Resolved, that an intentional abortion of an unborn human being
is a form of child abuse.

22. RESOLUTION ON EXPERIMENTATION WITH THE BODIES OF UNBORN
    CHILDREN   [NOEL]

Resolved, that scientific experimentation using the tissue, organs
or body parts of a voluntarily aborted child, human fetus or human
embryo is sin.

23. RESOLUTION ON EUTHANASIA   [NOEL]

Resolved, that intentional euthanasia of a human being is sin.

24. RESOLUTION ON ADULTERY

Resolved, that adultery is sin.

25. RESOLUTION ON FORNICATION

Resolved, that fornication is sin.

26. RESOLUTION ON FAITHFULNESS IN MARRIAGE AND CHASTITY

Resolved, that faithfulness in marriage and sexual abstinence
apart from marriage are essential moral standards for all Christian
people, clergy and laity alike.

27. RESOLUTION ON PORNOGRAPHY

Resolved, that creating, publishing or viewing pornography is
sinful, exploitative and degrading to children, women and men.

28. RESOLUTION ON SEXUAL INTERCOURSE BETWEEN ADULTS AND CHILDREN

Resolved, that pedophilia is sin.

29. RESOLUTION ON SODOMY   [EU]

Resolved, that sexual intercourse between or among persons of the
same gender is sin.

30. RESOLUTION ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE   [EU]

Resolved, that the blessing of sexual relationships or marriage
between or among persons of the same gender is contrary to Holy
Scripture and the tradition of the Episcopal Church.

31. RESOLUTION ON PERMISSIVENESS TOWARD SIN

Resolved, that it is not an act of love to encourage those who
commit sin to believe that their behavior is sanctioned by God or
the Church.  When we deny sin to be sin, we also deny the
possibility of repentance and reconciliation with God the Father.
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