Karen Winter wrote:

> chico chupacabra
>
> What denomination do you belong to?

I don't exactly care to make a public issue of my religious views. If
you go back and read through my old posts, you'll see that the only time
I discuss religion at all is when you bring it up.

> If you are
> Episcopalian, then you know there are people of
> good will and learning on both sides of the
> issues.

I know that you're not one of them. I've read your posts and observed
your contentious spirit regarding the division in your church. You've
admitted to being part of it for a long time. You've disrespectfully
likened your depraved cause to other more noble causes. You've been very
"in-your-face" about it in our discussions. You're not a person of good
will, Karen.

> If you are not, why should those issues
> concern you?

Because the issues transcend all of Christianity. Episcopal Christians
shouldn't fear the onslaught of radical change you schismatics have been
pushing. But it's not enough for you to screw up your own denomination
-- the radicals want to hijack other ones, too. You see it in PCUSA and
UMC. Those church bodies are almost as divided as yours is now, and I
hope they can deal with it more peaceably than people like you have in
yours.

> Yes, I have strong opinions on some
> of the issues,

Strong enough to cause all this division in the first place.

> but I am tired of the fighting,

Hint: the traditionalists didn't go looking for one. YOU did.

> and I don't want to be involved in it any more

Then why did you start it? Why did you get involved? Why are you on
written record with various groups on the side of radical change? You
made yourself part of the division. You've done nothing to heal it, only
to exacerbate it.

> until the whole thing is settled one way or the
> other. I want to focus on God.

IOW, you're too weary to start what you finished. Maybe you need to take
another look at yourself, your church, and the whole nature of the
controversy. I admit I'm on the outside of it. I can see from where I am
that it's not doing anyone any good, not even the radicals when they
"win," because it divides your church even further -- past the point of
no return.

You've been a very willing party to the alienation of simple Christians,
Karen -- people with a simple faith who only want to go to church to
worship their God. You say that's what you want, but you wouldn't allow
them the same comfort in their pews that you seek for yourself. They
weren't asking YOU to change. You were demanding THEY change. They
didn't go looking for fights. You brought it to them. When you brought
it to them, you brought it to the global fellowship of Anglicans. And
when you did that, you brought it to the wider body of believers.

Is it worth it, Karen? Is it worth telling people just a couple months
ago "don't let the door hit you on the way out" when traditionalists
said they couldn't support this travesty? Is it worth being chastised by
the African bishops yours have repeatedly alienated? Is it worth
watching congregations leave your fold? Is it worth the grief and
confusion you've caused little old ladies who wonder just what their
church really stands for anymore?

You got what you wanted. Go ahead and enjoy it. Nobody else is.