Thursday, June 15

Live from the Morning Press Briefing

One of the things I'm finding here is that there appears to be (at least) two view points regarding social action. There are those who want General Convention to focus inward on the rights of those inside the Episcopal Church, and there are those who want General Convention to focus outward on the global poor. They do not seem to be the same groups - in fact, they seem to be very different groups. For those of us who are evangelicals, we can find much to commend those who are raising concern for the global poor (i.e., the "One Campaign"), but we also wonder how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is central in these efforts. Is this Gospel central to this compassion for the poor? Otherwise it appears that that ECUSA/TEC is not only turning itself into a "Mini Me" Anglican Communion, but also a "Mini UN." Is it real - or is it memorex?

What this ends up doing is distracting the church away from its primary issues, deflecting criticism by lauding it's public acts to the world. We want a church that is loving and compassionate - not only within our own borders but abroad. But if at the heart of our church we are distracted away from the transformation power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will continue to wither. We may be filled with good intentions, but roads that lead no where are filled with good intentions.

Where will this road lead?

bb