From the Herald today.
“Rev Holdsworth said: “The congregation is delighted to be able to welcome him. It is an uncontroversial invitation from the congregation. Bishop Gene Robinson is one of the best preachers in the world and we are looking forward to hearing him.
“The good news of the gospel is that everyone is welcome at Jesus’s table and that is something we live out at St Mary’s.”
Although refused permission to celebrate communion at every Anglican altar in England, the Rt Rev Gene Robinson will preach the Gospel and celebrate the Eucharist here in St Mary’s on 3 August 2008 at 1030.
See +Gene’s own blog for details of what was happening to him over the weekend in Putney.
There is a facebook event page set up for facebookites which can be used to indicate who is coming on 3 August and specifically to invite other people.
Thank you so much, Kelvin, for sharing the link to +Gene’s blog, and for following your intuition to invite him to S Mary’s.
Along with others here I am increasingly looking forward to his visit and hearing him preach. Regardless of opposers, God spoke to the early church through Paul (also considered a most unlikely messenger). God will not be silenced. Love Transcends All Else.
All love and prayers to +Gene.
Will you be doing any tabloid press? That might be fun.
I’m really sorry that we will be away on holiday for +Gene. Will we have a chance to catch up on his sermon via your blog, Kelvin?
Hi Margaret
I hope that we will be able to put +Gene’s sermon online. Probably on the Cathedral’s new website.
Thanks, Kelvin, that would be really good – it worked very well for Archbishop Hiltz. I almost felt that I was there (instead of tramping round Loch an Eilean being eaten alive by midges).
This is abominable, having this sodomite “Archbishop” ,who left his wife, preaching in your “church”. I suppose you think you are SO charitable. As for “gail” comparing this vile man to Paul; well, here are the words of Paul:
“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet”.
Note this also: God is not mocked.
Thanks for sharing the info Kelvin.
Blessings
Alistair – I’m sorry that you are so troubled.
Know this only, that you are loved by God.
I am in full agreement with Alistair. It is a shame and disgrace that such a person should be invited and indeed welcomed into the Scottish Episcopal Church ! The apostle Paul gave clear instruction concerning the office of a Bishop in Titus ch 1
He spoke of ‘acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness’ going on to say in verse 7 that ‘a bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife as the steward of God: not self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre’ In verse 9 he is to be ‘Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught,that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers’ For those in the church who have apostasized he warns in verse 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate’ Such is good commentary on this supposed Bishop.
We need those such as Bishop JC Ryle of Liverpool who will unashamedly Preach the Word and ‘Contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints’ Jude v 3
Bless you Raymond.
I write this blog in the hope that it will be read by those whose views differ from mine. Thank you for giving me the assurance that this is not done in vain.
Incidently, my tabloid comment wasn’t in jest. I think it would be a victory of sorts if the formely deeply homophobic Scottish tabloid press acknowledged +Gene’s visit, and an interview with your good self in, say, The Evening Times would reach far more people (in a good way) than the Herald, and I think it’s of enough interest to warrant inclusion (weren’t you and Gadgetvicar on telly in scotland a few years ago? ).
Fr Gadgetvicar was indeed on the telly in Scotland a few years ago. I declined the offer, not least as it was Holy Week and I thought there were other more pressing matters. We had an impending crucifixion on our hands at the time.
An interesting snippet which is probably not widely known, is that Fr Gadgetvicar received the call inviting him to go on Newsnight Scotland whilst supping tea in my [then] dining room.
Am impressed with the number of stereotypes shattered by that post :-).
@ Raymond – Since by your standard we are taking Paul as our advisor, then have you told any women in church to shut up?
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 (KJV)
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Just thought I’d throw that in there.
@ Alistair Mackenzie
“….sodomite “Archbishop” ,who left his wife, preaching in your “church”…”
+Gene is a Bishop, ++Rowan is an Archbishop, glad to see you actual read the article and know who we’re talking about….
Interesting comment Doug but i do believe that the headship principle is throughout Scripture and not just from Paul, the apostle. ‘All scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in Righteousness’ 2 Timothy ch 3 v 16
The challenge must be where is the scriptural authority for Women bishops or Elders in Presbyterianism. There clearly is none and there it stands. Biblically correct or Politically correct – which do we go for ?
The real question is: ‘Fundamental understanding, or response to a moment of culture?’ For it was St Paul who also told us that there is neither Jew or Greek, free or slave, male or female in Christ.
Why are we all quoting form the AV??
I was very interested to read Raymond’s comments on Bishops. I was reading recently 1 Timothy 3:2 which reads, ‘A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,…’
It seems that Bishop Gene Robinson has got this wrong as he has for the last twenty years been
the husband of one husband!
Why was he not disciplined and ejected by the US Episcopal Church twenty years ago?
It is little wonder that the cause of Christ is at such a low ebb in our nation.
Sodomy is a sin that is clearly abominable in the sight of God, as declared in Romans 1. and other portions of God’s Holy Word. – Some sections of the church seem to completely ignore both the authority and supremacy of Holy Scripture. Let God’s Word be right and every contradicting thought of man be clearly seen to be lies and error. The love of God indeed covers a multitude of sins, when forgiveness of that sin is sought through genuine biblical evangelical repentance in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and is covered by His shed blood. “Without the sheding of blood there is no remission of sins” Hebrews 9v22.
On the contrary the “love of man” that is contrary to scripture, (eg) the acceptance of the “sodomy” under that false blanket of love, will not find favour in the sight of God and our nation will reap the clear retribution and judgement of God, that befell Sodom in the past.
One can be assured that the ordinary man and woman in the streets of Glasgow will be absolutely aghast at this news, and will certainly not be an encouragement for them to flock back to the empty pews of our churches.
Don and John – bless you in your anger and puzzlement at all this.
May your passion for the Scriptures be a blessing to both of you.
As to whether or not people will be flocking back to the empty pews of our churches, you’ll be interested to hear that the attendance at St Mary’s is currently up, year on year, by 14%. However, we all know, this is about passionate truth telling, not about numbers at all.
Why does the congregation of St.Mary’s not hold an open discussion evening on this subject; we could then have a real time debate on the subject ?
Well, St Mary’s has had a number of discussion events about various sexuality issues. Indeed, I remember coming and contributing to just such a day before I was appointed.
There are several issues here anyway, not least, how we read the bible. In St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow, we talk of little else.
I’ve no doubt that there will be more opportunities for discussion in addition to that afforded by the ongoing and interesting discussions which take place on this blog.
Kelvin, it’s great to see that your readership is increasing, but I hope that some of the new commentors will take time to read back through other conversations on the blog to learn how we can speak of disagreement without quite so much aggression.
Sorry too to see scripture being used as a weapon instead of a place where we can listen together for the Word of God.
The sermons of July 6 and June 22 both helped me to put words and images around how I can read and view the bible with integrity. While I wouldn’t expect these commentors to be convinced, at least it might be a step for them to understand how others of faith come to their honestly held position.
I also appreciate your kind, generous responses and am glad that you emphasize the phrase ‘opportunities for discussion’ over the word ‘debate’, Kelvin. For me, St. Mary’s is a sacred place, as well as a safe place, with meaning and ministry far beyond these sexuality issues. Casting it as a venue for debate and the backdrop of the tone of some of these posts was making me a wee bit nervous.
Reading some of the comments here from the likes of Raymond, Alistair, Don and John I begin to wonder – with great sadness – if as a loyal church member I haven’t been on the wrong side for half a century. Perhaps the values of the secular world really are better and more merciful.