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Dear Friends,

I just came accross an article in USA Today about a new outrage within the Episcopalian/Anglican communion concerning the ordination of openenly gay Bishops and the blessing of same-sex marriages
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/religion/post/2009/07/68494513/1

We all know about this shift towards this new morality, but I wonder what the effects of all this would have on dialogs between eastern and western Christianity. I have my own thoughts from an Evengelical point of view, but I would like to hear from my Orthodox friends on this topic.

God's Blessings!

The EC/USA's recent actions will not be received well by Byzantine Catholics or Orthodox. However, they should have little or no effect on dialogue between the Holy See and the Orthodox churches. The mainline protestant churches, including the EC/USA in the vanguard, continue to depart from biblical and apostolic teachings.

The Orthodox will not compromise apostolic tradition. If "dialogue" implies a willingness to compromise with heresy, then dialogue between the Eastern Churches and Western protestantism is dead.

The Orthodox will not compromise apostolic tradition. If "dialogue" implies a willingness to compromise with heresy, then dialogue between the Eastern Churches and Western protestantism is dead. [/quote]


The Orthodox do not expect the other Christians to be converted to Orthodoxy in its historic and cultural reality of the past and the present and to become members of the Orthodox Church—Statement of the Orthodox delegates at the WCC General Assembly in Nairobi in 1975

We order any Bishop, or Presbyter, that has accepted any heretics’ Baptism, or sacrifice, to be deposed; for “what consonance hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath the believer with an infidel?” (Canon 56 of the Apostles)


Chad

Since cross posting is frowned upon please read my reply in the Town Hall section.

I am in mourning for an ecclesial body which played a major role in my formation.

For up-to-date news on the Anglican Church of North America/The Episcopal Church (TEC) problems see this site: http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/index.php?

Good point. Given the fractious nature of western Protestantism it would be difficult if not impossible to have a global agreement much less a communion between east and west.