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5B RELIGIONArte Ciiatlstte $a«t Thursday, December 4, 2003 i Many of today’s beloved Christmas I folkways have pre-Christian origins Continued from page 8B Nicholas, the fourth-centmy bishop of Myra (in present- day Turkey), who was known for bestowing gifts upon poor children and became the model for the modem Santa Claus. About those stockings. St. Nick supposedly put his gifts in socks that urchins hung out to diy because they had only one pair, needing night ly washing. “The Nutcracker.” Nuts were an ancient win tertime treat but this mod em ballet by Tchaikovsky became a holiday classic only with George Balanchine’s briUiant 1954 choreography. The holiday tale of the magic gift nutcracker is totally secular. But CoUins says it “brings family and friends together to share in the wonder, joy and magic of the season.” And children are central to the drama, just as one holy child was 2,000 years ago. Episcopal Church faces change and potential chaos over the gay bishop Memorial Presbyterian Church Christmas Eve Worship 7:00pm Celebrate The Birth Of Christ Holy Scripture And Music of the Season Mrs. Jocelyn P. Thompson, Director of Music Ms. Francis L. Harris, Asst. Dir. of Music ^ Rev. Edward B. Newberry, Pastor 2600 Beatties Ford Rd. • 704- 392-4752 By Richard N. Ostling THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK - In the month since becoming the first Christian denomination to consecrate an openly gay bishop, the Episcopal Church has been gripped by unprecedented tumult. Episcopal parishioners are pitted against each other. Conservative parishes and priests are at odds with their Hberal bishops - and vice versa. And, at the national level, conservative bishops are arguing with fellow prelates in the liberal major ity. Internationally, church leaders who represent tens of millions of Anglicans have announced they are pre pared to cut ties with the Episcopal Church, which is the U.S. branch of the Angli-, can Communion. Anglican relations with Eastern Orthodoxy are severely strained. And the Vatican announced Thesday that ongoing talks with the Anglicans are on hold, even though the head of the Epis copal Church, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, resigned as Anglican co- chairman to placate Roman Cathohc officialdom. David Kalvelage of The Living Church, an indepen dent weekly that opposed V. Gene Robinson’s consecra tion as New Hampshire bishop, says the aftermath of that Nov. 2 ceremony is “probably the largest and most far-reaching” crisis since the denomination formed in 1789. In one signal of a seeming ly irreparable split within the hierarchy. Bishop John Howe of Orlando, Florida, called on Griswold to resign because he “betrayed” a sacred trast by leading Robinson’s consecration ser vice. Further, Howe quit all offices in the national House of Bishops, charging that the majority of his colleagues “abandoned any recogniz able commitment” to the Bible’s authority. As denunciations fly, the Washington-based American Anghcan Council is organiz ing a conservative “net work” to perpetuate tradi tional Episcopalianism with backing from overseas. The emerging entity could be a messy “church within a church” rather than a for mally separated denomina tion. The core of the budding network will presumably come from 16 dioceses whose bishops issued a formal protest at Robinson’s conse cration. But individuals and conservative congregations in liberal dioceses are also part of the movement. And it isn’t aU about who leaves the church and who stays. If troubled parish ioners stick with the Episco pal Church but stop making financial contributions, that could also be devastating. If anything, the interna tional situation is even worse, with the global Angli can Communion and its 77 million faithfid in danger of sphtting in two over the U.S. controversy and a fight over same-sex blessings in the Anglican Church of Canada. While 59 percent of U.S. bishops confirmed Robin son’s election, they are in the minority by a wide margin in world Anglicanism. A 1998 meeting of all Anglican bish ops cited biblical teaching against homosexual acts as 82 percent of the leaders voted against gay clergy and chmch approval of same-sex couples. The heads (called pri mates) of many world Angli can branches have jointly declared “impaired commu nion” with the official Episco pal Chmch and solidarity with American conserva tives. The churches of Nige ria and Uganda - represent ing 26 million Anglicans alone — went further, sever ing Episcopal ties. So did the Russian Orthodox Church. The Anglican split will worsen next year if the Epis copal Church doesn’t repent, under an accord reached at a caucus of primates who lead nearly half the world’s Angli cans. But there’s virtually no chance liberals will seek for giveness. The caucus agreed that lib eral U.S. bishops should be reduced to observer status at Anglican meetings, minus “voice and vote.” More radi cally, U.S. bishops and dioce ses that uphold Anglican tra dition would gain new recog nition as the “reorganized” Episcopal Church that con tinues in “full communion” with world Anglicanism. It’s unclear whether Angli can rejection would have any effect on the standing of Griswold’s denomination under secular U.S. law — and on potential court battles over the billions of dollars in Episcopal assets. Traditionally, recognition isn’t the job of primates but Anglicanism’s leader. Arch bishop of Canterbiuy Rowan Williams, who named a com mission to sort out solutions to the U.S. and Canadian tangles by next Sept. 30. The Rev. Kendall Harmon, theologian for the conserva tive South Carolina Diocese, says “there’s no question (Williams) has to choose” eventually between the two U.S. sides. If Williams allies with Griswold’s forces, Harmon contends, “he is in serious danger of losing the commu nion” and “he’s increasingly aware of that.” The threat: A large chunk of the world flock could switch from Williams’ leadership to someone like Nigeria’s Arch bishop Peter Akinola. Griswold’s allies are confi dent the Episcopal Church will ride out the storm. The Rev. Susan Russell, presi dent of the denomination’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender caucus, notes there was ample shouting but few dropouts over the 1976 decision to allow women priests. Whatever happens, Harmon sees sweeping implications for U.S. rehgion. If other Protestant denom inations adopt the Episco palians’ “new sexual theolo gy,” he says, the result would be “a dramatic bifurcation in American Christianity.” If so, “people wUl look back and say this was the pivot point.” On the Net: Episcopal headquarters: www.episcopalchurch.org Conservatives’ "network”: www.americananglican.org MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH watch Ntaht Service , Weihesiky Niaht Dumber 31, 2003, lOpm ,v' 1600 Norris Avenue Charlotte, NC 28206 For Information Call, 704-375-9650 Website: stlukembc.org Pastor, Rev. Clifford Matthews,Jr. N.C. 1 of 3 states subsidizing religious education THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW ORLEANS, La. - Louisiana, North Carolina and Maine are apparently the only three states in the country that allow spending public money on private reli gious education. The issue of taxpayers’ sub sidy of college training for religious work is the subject of a potentially influential church-state case now at the U.S. Supreme Court. The three states have laws and constitutions that allow students to use Tuition Opportunity Program for Students money to prepare for careers in the ministry, according to the Institute for Justice, a libertarian advoca cy center in Washington D.C. Students are fi-ee to use TOPS to pay for religious education in a way that most other states deny, according to the Institute for Justice. The U.S. Supreme Court case involves the question of whether states can withhold public money from college students who want to pursue religious careers. Lawyers told the court that Joshua Davey qualified for aid under Washington state’s Promise Scholarship Pro gram, but the state with drew its tuition aid when it learned he wanted to pursue a major in pastoral min istries at Northwest College, which is affiliated with the Assemblies of God. Washington is one of 47 states with constitutions or legislation saying taxpayers cannot be compelled to sup port a church or religious ministry. Davey argued that because he otherwise qualified for the grant, he was being dis criminated against solely on the basis of his religiously oriented course of study. The question before the Supreme Court was whether, in some instances, taxpayers must finance religious education. Supporters see it as a mat ter of evenhandedness; oppo nents regard it as a forbid den promotion of religion. Louisiana taxpayers already subsidize religious higher education, including career training in the min- istiy, said George Eldredge, general counsel for the Office of Student Financial Assis tance. The TOPS program, which pays qualifying stu dents’ tuition at Louisiana public universities, as well as a share of tuition at Louisiana private colleges, makes no distinctions on the basis of course of study, Eldredge said. yi/uiA.^[MA-e€~ lives in her own place with her own stuff. C^taccee- helps to make it possible. “Margaret is 85 and sharp as a tack. But her health makes it tough to get around. Tracie wants to help out in her community, but she has a busy job. Faith in Action brought them together. It’s people of different faiths who volunteer to shop, cook, drive, or just check in on some of the millions of Americans with long-term health needs. If you’re like me and have wondered how you can make a difference, volunteer with Faith in Action. Find out more at (877) 324-841 I or www.faithinactlon.org. A neighbor’s independence depends on you and me.’’ / TH IN ACTION — Delia Reese. Entertainment Legend. Faith in Action Believer. Be in the know ! keep ' your system in www.thecharlottepost.com ADVERTISEMENT THE PROPHET’S COLUMN INC. 9626 FELDBANK DRIVE CHARLOTTE, NC, 28216-2131 “DECEMBER NEWSLETTER” - FIRST PART J. M. LITTLE - TEACHER We are glad to greet you again in the Name of our crucified, buried, and risen Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ is my only Hope in a world of violence and blood shed, worldwide. This is the last month of the year, and the multitudes of you are not in Christ. You do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and your Saviour. Well, if you know Him, why can’t I find fellowship in Christ with you? If you know Him, why are you backward in talking about Him? Will you face reality squarely and fairly? I ask you the eternal question; “Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and your Saviour?” Not that you joined the church, but do you know Christ? There is no such thing as knowing Christ and rejecting His Word. “HEAR ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel; Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not; they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. (Jeremiah 10:1-5) The Lord spoke these Words to His people when they were in Babylonian Captivity through His prophet, Jeremiah. What is our Lord telling His people here? He is telling them to not have anything to do with the heathen customs! The Xmas tree! Isn't that very clear to you, my friends? What could be any clearer?
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 11, 2003, edition 1
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