Episcopal 'Repent' Call Fear Tactic?

Episcopal ‘Repent’ Call Fear Tactic? Purple Pew

It reminds me of the cases you hear about where the man sentenced to prison for a crime he didn’t commit is expected to “repent” if he is to have any chance for parole.

“To end a conflict in the Anglican Communion, US Episcopal bishops may “repent” for consecrating an openly gay bishop by abandoning their support of LGBT issues, according to leaks published in the Daily Telegraph.” (Gay.com UK)

The Episcopal Diocese of California is expected to elect its new bishop next month from seven candidates, of which three are gay and have partners.

But a special commission of the Episcopal Church is calling for its church members to repent for electing Reverend V Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, a gay man, as bishop three years ago.

What does the US Episcopal Church need to repent for? Because they’ve stepped forward from the archaic Anglican church and have decided they no longer want to sin against God and continue having respect of persons?

Further, it’s presumed that this call for repentance is just a tactic to make church members feel guilty and to put pressure on the Diocese of California to go along with the status quo and elect a straight bishop.

“…[T]he leak was meant to “put fear and trembling in the California diocese as they consider a new bishop,” said Reverend Susan Russell, president of the LGBT Episcopal group Integrity.

“What we’re seeing right now is the desperate efforts of the radical right once again to exploit the sort of musings of some bishop as authoritative for the rest of us.” (Gay.com UK)

Let’s just hope that church politics can stay out of this election, and the right person for the position is elected, whether they are gay, straight, female or male.

Or is it too late for that?