From: nlt@gboro.glassboro.edu (N. L. Tinkham)
Subject: Re: Spong
Organization: Computer Science Department, Rowan College of New Jersey
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1992 00:28:03 GMT

"Leo W" writes, of Bishop Spong:

> If the Bishop is on the Episcopal
> payroll, and if local affiliates are sending in their payments and in effect
> sponsoring his activites, then the Episcopal church is demonstrating its
> oneness with the Bishop.
> 
> Does anyone know if he is still an Episcopal employee?

     Yes, Bishop Spong is still the bishop of a diocese in northern New
Jersey, but the matter of payroll seems beside the point to me.  The
Episcopal Church has oneness with its bishops almost by definition,
as the succession of bishops is part of how the Anglican Communion defines
itself; this is independent of clergy positions being salaried.

     I think I look at the role of bishops (and laity) in the church
quite differently from the way Leo does, as his question is odd to me --
the question doesn't fit the categories of thought I bring to church
organization and government.

     The Episcopal church is a community of clergy and lay people who
practice Christianity within the context of the Anglican tradition of
faith and worship.  The "glue" that holds the denomination together is
the succession of bishops and the use of the Book of Common Prayer in
worship.  While there are also doctrines that most Anglicans share,
conformity to an official statement of faith isn't really part of how
Anglicans define themselves.  There is no attempt to achieve unanimity
of belief; to the contrary, we try to embrace a diversity of beliefs.
(I think of Reformed and Charismatic and Anglo-Catholic and Liberal
Episcopalians as elbows and knees and fingers and toes of the body of
Christ; I look to those who disagree with me to remind me of truths I
may have overlooked.)

     So the notion of breaking fellowship with a bishop because he is
liberal is strange to me.  He is properly ordained; he worships from the
same Prayer Book I do; so why should I not be in the same community of
Christians as he is?  Yes, there are probably statements in his books
that I disagree with, but so what?  He and I are free to disagree as
Christians.  And perhaps he has thought of something that I have not,
and that I should listen to.


     Tradition is important to Anglicans, but tradition isn't only the
creeds; it is also the ongoing reflections and experiences of the Christian
community.  As Anglicans develop theological and moral statements, we draw
from the past, for stability, but we also draw from the present collective
insights of the community; we ourselves are contributing to Christian
and Anglican tradition.  I see Bishop Spong's work in this context.  He
has been listening to the lay people in his care -- most notably, to the
gay and lesbian people who have voiced their concerns and their understanding
of sexuality and relationships -- and he has been trying to apply the
Gospel to their situation.  He may be wrong in his conclusions.  I think
we will not know whether he was right for another century or two, when
the Christian community will have had more time for reflection.  But he
is part of the process of forming sound doctrine -- as are conservative
theologians, and as are all of us who seek to follow Christ in our own
lives.  I have no wish to exclude from this dialogue either conservatives
or liberals who disagree with me.  I think doctrine is more likely to be
sound when its development includes as many Christian voices as possible.

_____________________________________________________________________________

                                              Nancy Tinkham
                                              nlt@gboro.glassboro.edu
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU