February 2005
This issue of Abundant Life is also available in Adobe's PDF format.Let us Reason Together
by Mark Roberts
In The Dallas Morning News two Episcopalians were debating “Was it Wrong to Elect a Gay Bishop?” in light of the Episcopal Church’s decision to ordain an openly homosexual man. IN her part of the debate Katie Sherrod said in defense of this action “We demonstrated to a broken, hurting world that the Episcopal Church is not only including more of the baptized in the full life of the church but also valuing and nourishing their gifts and ministries... isn’t this what Christians are supposed to do?” Read those sentences carefully. Do you see the argument that Sherrod is making here?
Back to Basics - Autonomy
by Pat Farish
Churches of human devising – denominations — have myriad structural arrangements, various intermediate diocesan levels, and in some instances a sitting president or supreme ruler. These do not come from the New Testament.