During the consecration of Anglican-nouveau lesbian bishop, Mary Glasspool there came a point where those attending could object:
There was a moment on Saturday when even the usually unflappable J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, held his breath.
It was the point when the 3,000 people at the Long Beach Arena were asked if anyone had any objections to the ordination of the region’s first two female bishops, one of whom is the first lesbian bishop ordained by the Episcopal Church.
There were 3000 people present – many of whom were clergy – but when the moment of truth came, no-one objected. Why? After all, orthodox Christians who remain in TEC and the ACoC are supposedly working for reform from within by holding steadfastly to the faith once delivered; surely there would have been at least one person prepared to politely object to the consecration? Apparently not. And therein lies the flaw of trying to reform Anglicanism from within an apostate province: in practice, it isn’t happening, a stand is not being taken and the heterodox juggernaut blunders on unhindered.
Those who made it conspicuously apparent that they would object were expelled from the assembly – presumably in the name of inclusion – before reaching the point of potential embarrassment. The ejected placard wielders might have made a more strategically effective statement by waiting for the appointed moment for objections – although I can sympathise with their impatience and applaud their enthusiasm.
And early in the service, shortly after Bruce and Jardine had taken the stage, a man seated near the front of the arena stood, waved a placard and begin shouting: “Repent of the sins of the homosexual! Repent of the sin of abortion!”
As the audience stirred, a woman yelled sharply: “Sit down!”
As security guards led him off, the man continued yelling. “It’s an abomination! Repent! The Bible says homosexuals will not enter …” and his voice trailed off.
As the ceremony resumed, a young boy in a white shirt stood up, holding aloft what appeared to be a Bible. “Repent!” he began yelling to the startled arena. “Repent!” As he was led out, a voice called out, “We’re praying for you!” The audience applauded.
Praying what for you, one wonders, and to whom?
There may be some serious legal consequences for someone if the “oject” to the “consecration” of a person to the Episcopate. It is one thing to stand up and say “sinner repent”. It is entirely another thing to stand up and say, “this person should not be a Bishop because…”. Depending on exactly how the objection is worded it could all too easily border on slander and liable, leaving the person doing the objecting open to personal lawsuits.
Besides, for some reason I feel that this whole “event” was staged and controlled.