ok to be a conservative Episcopalian?

[Anonymous]

So basically, it's not like the Catholic church where you're actually expected to agree with everything? Yes, I know most people don't. I love our parish and the liturgy, but I'm kind of a rule follower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So basically, it's not like the Catholic church where you're actually expected to agree with everything? Yes, I know most people don't. I love our parish and the liturgy, but I'm kind of a rule follower.

Yeah ok now I'm calling troll on you. You're just here to throw shade on Episcopalians/non-Catholics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't live in DC anymore, and an Anglican church isn't an option where we live.

As long as I am not shunned - and it's not like I'm vocal about my views anyway - I am ok. Our priest doesn't even touch on political-type topics, but still sometimes I wonder. Our parish definitely focuses more on poverty and homelessness though.

Have you thoroughly checked? The Anglican Church is growing by leaps and bounds in the USA. Also, you might want to try Anglo-Catholic churches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't live in DC anymore, and an Anglican church isn't an option where we live.

As long as I am not shunned - and it's not like I'm vocal about my views anyway - I am ok. Our priest doesn't even touch on political-type topics, but still sometimes I wonder. Our parish definitely focuses more on poverty and homelessness though.

Have you thoroughly checked? The Anglican Church is growing by leaps and bounds in the USA. Also, you might want to try Anglo-Catholic churches.

Yes, we're in a small town and the nearest one is an hour away. So I guess it's an option, but not a reasonable one. I didn't realize it's growing though, so I'll keep it in the back of my mind and check every so often.

[Anonymous]

I am a senior warden at the DC area Episcopal Church and agree that conservatives would be welcome at most Episcopal Churches. It obviously might vary from parish to parish, but at our church we have active, longtime members across the political spectrum. The junior warden at my church, for example, is a strong Republican, as are many others at our church as well. I suggest you give your local parish a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So basically, it's not like the Catholic church where you're actually expected to agree with everything? Yes, I know most people don't. I love our parish and the liturgy, but I'm kind of a rule follower.

Can you follow this rule: love thy neighbor as thyself? Then you can be an Episcopalian. But keep in mind that we believe that loving our neighbors means including them in the sacrament of marriage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a senior warden at the DC area Episcopal Church and agree that conservatives would be welcome at most Episcopal Churches. It obviously might vary from parish to parish, but at our church we have active, longtime members across the political spectrum. The junior warden at my church, for example, is a strong Republican, as are many others at our church as well. I suggest you give your local parish a chance.

Thank you, this is very helpful!

[Anonymous]

OP, I spent years in TEC here in DC, but I feel that conservative viewpoints are increasingly unwelcome and not tolerated. Yes, there are plenty of conservatives still around, but they generally keep a very low profile, whereas the liberal points of view get the megaphone and focus.

Take gay marriage for example. Officially, the church allows each individual church/priest to make their own decision on whether or not to officiate a same-sex marriage, but my experience is that not being onboard with gay marriage would be seriously frowned upon at the DC churches. If I had told people at my church that I didn't agree with gay marriage, I feel like many people would have viewed as an intolerant bigot. But, as you surely know, this has caused half of the US Episcopal churches to break off from TEC.

[Anonymous]

Forgot to finish. Yes, it's perfectly fine to be a conservative Episcopalian, but you're liable to not make many friends in TEC.

Have you thought about going to some of the Anglican churches that split off from TEC? Truro Church in Fairfax split off from TEC and is now aligned with the African Anglican churches. Haven't been there for a while but liked it the few times I went.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I spent years in TEC here in DC, but I feel that conservative viewpoints are increasingly unwelcome and not tolerated. Yes, there are plenty of conservatives still around, but they generally keep a very low profile, whereas the liberal points of view get the megaphone and focus.

Take gay marriage for example. Officially, the church allows each individual church/priest to make their own decision on whether or not to officiate a same-sex marriage, but my experience is that not being onboard with gay marriage would be seriously frowned upon at the DC churches. If I had told people at my church that I didn't agree with gay marriage, I feel like many people would have viewed as an intolerant bigot. But, as you surely know, this has caused half of the US Episcopal churches to break off from TEC.

Perhaps it's the bigots who broke away and the TEC, though smaller, is better for getting rid of the bigots. Unless size is more important than being accepting of other humans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I spent years in TEC here in DC, but I feel that conservative viewpoints are increasingly unwelcome and not tolerated. Yes, there are plenty of conservatives still around, but they generally keep a very low profile, whereas the liberal points of view get the megaphone and focus.

Take gay marriage for example. Officially, the church allows each individual church/priest to make their own decision on whether or not to officiate a same-sex marriage, but my experience is that not being onboard with gay marriage would be seriously frowned upon at the DC churches. If I had told people at my church that I didn't agree with gay marriage, I feel like many people would have viewed as an intolerant bigot. But, as you surely know, this has caused half of the US Episcopal churches to break off from TEC.

Perhaps it's the bigots who broke away and the TEC, though smaller, is better for getting rid of the bigots. Unless size is more important than being accepting of other humans.

And this is exactly the problem I'm talking about. Welcome to TEC.

You do realize that there are TEC priests who have chosen not to officiate same sex marriages, and that position is sanctioned by TEC. Are they bigots too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I spent years in TEC here in DC, but I feel that conservative viewpoints are increasingly unwelcome and not tolerated. Yes, there are plenty of conservatives still around, but they generally keep a very low profile, whereas the liberal points of view get the megaphone and focus.

Take gay marriage for example. Officially, the church allows each individual church/priest to make their own decision on whether or not to officiate a same-sex marriage, but my experience is that not being onboard with gay marriage would be seriously frowned upon at the DC churches. If I had told people at my church that I didn't agree with gay marriage, I feel like many people would have viewed as an intolerant bigot. But, as you surely know, this has caused half of the US Episcopal churches to break off from TEC.

Perhaps it's the bigots who broke away and the TEC, though smaller, is better for getting rid of the bigots. Unless size is more important than being accepting of other humans.

And this is exactly the problem I'm talking about. Welcome to TEC.

You do realize that there are TEC priests who have chosen not to officiate same sex marriages, and that position is sanctioned by TEC. Are they bigots too?

Only if they try to prevent the marriage and do not welcome the gay couple into the congregation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I spent years in TEC here in DC, but I feel that conservative viewpoints are increasingly unwelcome and not tolerated. Yes, there are plenty of conservatives still around, but they generally keep a very low profile, whereas the liberal points of view get the megaphone and focus.

Take gay marriage for example. Officially, the church allows each individual church/priest to make their own decision on whether or not to officiate a same-sex marriage, but my experience is that not being onboard with gay marriage would be seriously frowned upon at the DC churches. If I had told people at my church that I didn't agree with gay marriage, I feel like many people would have viewed as an intolerant bigot. But, as you surely know, this has caused half of the US Episcopal churches to break off from TEC.

Perhaps it's the bigots who broke away and the TEC, though smaller, is better for getting rid of the bigots. Unless size is more important than being accepting of other humans.

And this is exactly the problem I'm talking about. Welcome to TEC.

You do realize that there are TEC priests who have chosen not to officiate same sex marriages, and that position is sanctioned by TEC. Are they bigots too?

Only if they try to prevent the marriage and do not welcome the gay couple into the congregation.

Assuming you are/were TEC, why were you okay being part of a church that did not sanction gay marriages until just last year?

[Anonymous]

You might trt All Saints Episcopal Church on Chevy Chase Circle.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/218849.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I spent years in TEC here in DC, but I feel that conservative viewpoints are increasingly unwelcome and not tolerated. Yes, there are plenty of conservatives still around, but they generally keep a very low profile, whereas the liberal points of view get the megaphone and focus.

Take gay marriage for example. Officially, the church allows each individual church/priest to make their own decision on whether or not to officiate a same-sex marriage, but my experience is that not being onboard with gay marriage would be seriously frowned upon at the DC churches. If I had told people at my church that I didn't agree with gay marriage, I feel like many people would have viewed as an intolerant bigot. But, as you surely know, this has caused half of the US Episcopal churches to break off from TEC.

Perhaps it's the bigots who broke away and the TEC, though smaller, is better for getting rid of the bigots. Unless size is more important than being accepting of other humans.

Well those "bigots" won big because TEC/ ECUSA has been officially suspended and disciplined by the worldwide Anglican community (85 million strong) vs. only 1.5 million Episcopalians left in the USA. Decisions do have consequences and not everyone thinks those that left TEC are "bigots". https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/01/14/anglican-communion-suspends-the-episcopal-church-for-3-years-from-committees/. 85 million people just might have something to say about the matter.