Conscience, God, ECUSA, stay or leave?

A discussion and Prayer starter…

Here is a question that we cannot avoid asking:

How is it that faced with the same REALITY (ECUSA in 2005) clergy & laity, claiming guidance by two UNIQUE REALITIES (God & Conscience), do not all go in the same direction (to stay within or to leave ECUSA, and if the latter, do not choose the same option)?

To help to answer it, here are some considerations:

While the progressivism and revisionism are very strong at the center of ECUSA, they are weak in some dioceses and strong in others. The experience of the new agenda, doctrines and commitments of the new religion of the ECUSA is not uniform, for it differs widely across the country. Therefore, practically speaking, people are facing different but related phenomena in various places, and so they have to respond to and make judgments about different pressures and circumstances. After all Fort Worth and New Jersey dioceses are different in terms of experiencing the new religion.

Individual conscience is unique for no two persons have identical consciences. Each conscience is informed by the mind and is really the mind making moral judgments, and saying strongly, “you ought to do this” or “you ought not to do that.” The moral imperative of conscience is not to be equated with having a person opinion about this or that. Conscience does not process opinions but moral judgments. For a variety of reasons, Christian people do not always obey their conscience, or they obey in part. Further, what their conscience proclaims on a given question may change as they grow in maturity in faith, hope and love.

While all Christians have the same relation by grace to God through Christ and by the Holy Ghost, the strength and maturity of this relation differs from baptized believer to baptized believer. Seeking guidance from God in a complex issue, such as deciding to leave one church and join another, is not a straightforward matter. Maturity in the walk with God will play a part in how the question is asked, how an answer is processed, and how it is acted upon.

Many people are influenced by others, especially those whom they look up to and respect. So we should expect most members of a congregation to follow the example and advice of respected pastors and leaders. At the same time we would expect the independent-minded not to follow easily or quickly.

The departing from ECUSA by a priest whose stipend, medical cover and pension are all tied up with this Church, and who has no independent means, is a more difficult and complex decision than that of a layperson who will experience no financial loss.

The departing from ECUSA of a family with special ties to the building and with family memorials therein is a more difficult decision than the departing of a family with no special ties to a sacred place and temple.

One could continue with other considerations. However, it is reasonably clear, I think, that each of us is an unique person with an unique conscience. When faced with a major decision, it is not surprising that each of us, as an imperfect, forgiven sinner weighs the matter similarly but differently to the next person, and that the difference in judgment may be small but can be, and is often, great. Thus some choose to depart and some to remain, and those who depart go in different directions.

As Anglicans we are to pray one for another and love one another. To criticize a person for making a different decision than our own is not wise! In the complexity of North American Anglicanism, we need to be charitable, very charitable and find ways to work together to revive the Anglican Way of Christianity.

The Revd Dr Peter Toon. May 31, 2005 petertoon@msn.com