www.american-anglican.fsnet.co.uk
If pressed to say what is the most precious and non-negotiable part of the 1979 Prayer Book, the liberals, including the former and the present Presiding Bishop, would say “the Baptismal Covenant.” (see 1979 Book pages 304ff.) Themes from it have dominated the General Conventions since the 1980s and when Frank Griswold inducted himself into the office of the Presiding Bishop in the National Cathedral, he said that taking this office was the outcome and unfolding of his baptism.
So not only has this Covenant justified the political and social activism with the reduction of the kingdom of God to an earthly paradise (see its commitment to peace and justice) by many in the ECUSA, it has also justified the opening of the ordained ministry of deacon, priest and bishop, to all comers. How has it done the latter? By the doctrine enunciated by Griswold at the National Cathedral. This is that there is given at baptism in embryo or in principle the wholeness and the totality of all the gifts of ministry. They are given to all whatever their sex or their orientation or their race or the color of their eyes and skin and they are there to be called into activity as occasion demands and as the church asks.
On the basis of this doctrine the ordained Ministry is open to male and female and to people of differing sexual orientations – lesbian, bi-sexual and gay. To deny anyone entrance because of “gender and orientation” (all other things being equal) is to deny the meaning of the fundamental sacrament of the Christian religion.
How could Gene Robinson – and many others – be refused in the light of this doctrine? But how can those who claim to be orthodox continue to use this Baptismal Service which was designed to introduce innovation and which has misled so many?
The Rev’d Dr. Peter Toon November 3 2003
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