Seven Mission Goals for 2007

1. An active youth ministry in place by the end of the year

2. Hosting a quarterly Friends and Family Sunday (where we invite non-believing family and friends to church)

3. 100% parish participation in the Franklin Graham festival (i.e. everyone gets trained and brings a non-believing friend to the festival itself)

4. The vestry is seeking100% participation in Bible Study.

5 At least 30 new believers by this time next year.

6. An active discipling program by the end of the year with at least 4 leaders in discipling relationships.

7. gathering at least 100 people for worship every Sunday.

Dear Good Shepherd,

 

Good Morning. The following is the first installment of an online debate or exchange in which I have been engaged for the last few weeks with an Episcopalian minister, the Rev. Tobias Haller. Fr. Haller supports the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of clergy living in non-celibate homosexual relationships. I have begun responding to his 7 part series and I am, now, on the third installment of my response. I will be reprinting all of the exchanges here because I think they might be helpful in understanding the issues involved and why the Episcopal Church tragically chose to act against the revealed Word of God and lead so many people away from the truth of the gospel. I will pick up my series on the 39 articles after my exhange with Fr. Haller is complete.

Fr. Haller's words are italicized.

The Scriptures and the Created Order part 1: A Response to Fr. Tobias Haller's, “True Union”

by the Rev. Matt Kennedy

Recently Fr. Tobias Haller completed a series of articles titled “True Union” in which he challenges the traditional arguments both against homosexual behavior and for exclusively heterosexual marriage.

At least in part, Fr. Haller was responding to a very brief article I wrote that sought to correct some revisionist distortions of the orthodox position. In particular, I suggested that the divinely ordained purposes of marriage as revealed in the scriptures cannot be satisfied or fulfilled within homosexual relationships. It is at least partially in response to that suggestion that Fr. Haller took up his pen.

In the interest of clarity with regard to his arguments and fairness, I will respond to each of his articles section by section.

His first piece, entitled “Where the Division Lies” is largely introductory.

In the first sentence of his second paragraph, he writes:

“In these reflections I want to deal with all of the apparatus of Scripture, reason and tradition.”

Fr. Haller, consciously or unconsciously, raises one of the primary difficulties in this discussion. His understanding of the “apparatus of Scripture, reason and tradition” and the roles and relative authority assigned within the “apparatus” to each of the three sources is no doubt quite different than the classical understanding of the same.

Whereas most revisionists appeal to the infamous and contrived “three legged stool” model that they mistakenly attribute to Richard Hooker, most traditionalists would envision something more like a tricycle; Scripture being the large front wheel that determines the direction and velocity of the whole.

Our differences regarding the “apparatus” necessarily play themselves out in any discussion of morality, even within the context of secular morality and law to which Fr. Haller subsequently turns.

“I will in part be challenging the rational basis of a negative view of same-sex relationships because the traditionalist assertion often goes beyond a merely religious disapprobation — that is, many if not most of those who think homosexuality is wrong do not see it as wrong merely in a religious sense — the way, for example an Orthodox Jew might say that it is wrong to eat pork, but not hold a Gentile to that standard — but wrong in a moral or ethical or even legal sense, rightly subject not only to sectarian reproof, but secular regulation; in short, not only immoral but illegal.”

It seems that Fr. Haller has somewhat confused his categories. He seems to apply the distinction between religious infractions and moral infractions somewhat arbitrarily. The key to his oversight appears to be an insufficient attention to the concept of revelation. An orthodox Jew does not think that pork is unclean only for orthodox Jews. Pork is unclean in a general and objective sense on the basis of divine revelation. Pork is just as unclean for a gentile as for a Jew. Indeed, the fact that gentiles eat pork and other unclean foods so readily is one reason gentiles in general are themselves considered unclean. The orthodox Jew may not wish to outlaw pork as a matter of practical living in a pluralistic society, but I do not think that he believes it is good for anyone to eat anything God has revealed to be unclean.

In the same way, while there are certainly strong arguments to be made against homosexual unions on the basis of natural law, the primary arguments arise from the text of scripture itself, from revelation. God has revealed 1. that homosexual sex is sinful and 2. that heterosexual marriage is part and parcel of the created order.

Homosexual behavior then is objectively immoral, primarily, on the basis of divine revelation.

These two points of special revelation (God's revelation through scripture) are readily supported by reasonable observations of the natural order but natural revelation is not the sole or the primary basis for the argument against homosexual unions.

Even if there were no natural evidence supporting special revelation, it would still be necessary for Christians to do all in their power to oppose the legal and ecclesial sanction of homosexual unions on the sole basis of biblical revelation. God has revealed these acts to be objectively immoral and sinful, not just for Christians, but for all humanity.

There is a difference between a proposed law to proscribe pork and a law forbidding homosexual unions. There is a moral quality to sexual sin that does not necessarily apply to ceremonial infractions. While pork would be, in a world without the New Covenant, considered unclean in an objective sense, eating it is not properly classified as a violation of God's moral law, but of his ceremonial provision. A pork diet would keep Jew or Gentile alike from fellowship with God in his Temple (if it stood) but Pork, in and of itself, is not a product of the fallen order. It is not intrinsically or essentially sinful.

Homosexual sex, by contrast, is revealed to be intrinsically sinful. Paul describes homosexual behavior and desire as a ramification of the fall.

Fr. Haller goes on to write:

“This is not to say that all who hold any number of things to be immoral wish them to be illegal: in a pluralistic society we recognize that morality is not always subject to legislation.”

This is a very good point and I am glad that Fr. Haller has made it. Going back, for a moment, to the imaginary world without a New Covenant, there is a sense in which, within that world, the eating of pork would be classified as a moral sin. The thing itself, pork, is not morally or intrinsically disordered. But acting contrary to a specially revealed divine law (moral, civil, or ceremonial) is indeed an immoral act in that such an act would constitute rebellious disobedience.

“However, in the present case, there are more than a few religious conservatives who are also willing to see (at the extreme) state sanctions against same-sex relationships, or (at a minimum) a denial of state approval in recognition of such relationships.”

I would suppose, further, that because God has revealed homosexual behavior to be intrinsically sinful, not only would a majority hope to see same sex unions forbidden in secular law, but “more than a few” would like to see laws against homosexual behavior reinstated without the accompanying punitive incarceration. This is because homosexual sexual behavior is understood to be intrinsically evil.

Many on the left, likewise, support laws like those in the Netherlands that limit even religious speech critical of homosexual behavior precisely because they have come to the conclusion that the “homosexual” person belongs to an oppressed “class” or “group” and that homosexual behavior is intrinsically good.

“In order to make this case, it is clear that the voices of the tradition have gone beyond a simple religious basis for their opinion.”

The case, as I noted above, for the intrinsic sinfulness of homosexual behavior is “made” in and from scripture. Natural law is employed as well because it readily supports and affirms what has been revealed in the bible.

“The primary evidence for this lies in the arguments often advanced in light of an apparent awareness that a scriptural case alone does not bear sufficient weight to “settle” the matter — for if it did, no appeals to natural law or assertion of the complementarity of the anatomy of the sexes (to cite two common examples) would be necessary. “

This is simply untrue. There is no shadow hint or shade of approval of homosexual behavior in the bible. Everywhere homosexual sex is mentioned explicitly or implicitly in the New Testament and Old Testament, it is unconditionally condemned. The case from scripture is plain, clear, and evident to even those like Luke Timothy Johnson and Walter Wink who oppose the classic orthodox position on the matter.

But when debating those for whom scripture is but one equal or less than equal source within the “apparatus” of scripture, reason, and tradition it is necessary to appeal to other lines of argument as has been done in the Church from the very earliest days of engagement with both heretics and the secular world.

The appeal to the “complimentarity” of the sexes, moreover, is not properly classified as a non-scriptural argument. Complimentarity is grounded in the scriptural texts of both Testaments; from the creation of male and female as recorded in Genesis 2 , to the sexual laws revealed in Leviticus 18 which forbid sexual encounters between two “like” pairs; from the bride-groom/people-God analogy of Hosea to the Christ-Church/husband-wife analogy found in Ephesians 5 and Revelation 21 , the bible is shot through with Complimentarity—as is the created order.

“I would like then, to turn to the various arguments advanced, and examine the premises upon which the traditional case is most often made. It is important first of all to tease apart the general from the specific by asking what, specifically, is held to be “wrong” about same-sex relationships, and “right” about mixed-sex relationships.”

This is, I agree, a good place to start.

“As a starting point, most of those who oppose same-sex relationships oppose all such relationships, regardless of aspects of fidelity, mutuality, and so on — thus issues rightly and widely recognized as “moral” are held to be irrelevant.”

Correct. The relationship itself is intrinsically disordered. It is also true, however, that faithfulness and mutuality and other “goods” are still “good” even when exercised within sinful relationships. If you make a vow not to be promiscuous it is good both to keep your vow and not to act promiscuously even when the context of the relationship itself is sinful.

A bad analogy, but I am pressed to think of another, might be that of the “honorable” mafioso who fairly distributes stolen money to his fellow thieves. It is not good that they have stolen the money, but it would compound the sin if the mafioso were to cheat his friends as well.

“At the same time, the conservative view recognizes that these values do exist, and are necessary in a mixed-sex relationship; that is, as commonly put, sexual relationships are appropriate only within the context of a faithful, life-long, loving, mixed-sex marriage.”

Yes, fidelity and mutuality are intrinsic goods and they remain “good” even within homosexual relationships that are intrinsically disordered. However, even a good like “fidelity” can be turned to evil. If, for example, our mafioso above, having taken an oath of obedience to his don, were to “whack” another mafioso on orders from his boss, his good “fidelity” will have been applied in a sinful and evil way.

Sex, likewise, is intrinsically good but like any other good, if it is turned to or applied wrongly, then its use can be evil.

“So it appears that the argument from the conservative position is reducible to the irreducible fact of the sex of the couple — the sex difference must be present for a sexual relationship to be capable of being moral, so that even if a same-sex couple possesses all of the other moral values, the lack of sex-difference still renders the relationship immoral.”

Yes. And in the same way fidelity and mutuality, while intrinsically good, must be applied correctly. Otherwise, evil can come from the misapplication of the good.

“What this must mean, logically, is that there is some character or quality inherent in the sex-difference that is morally determinative in and of itself, viewed apart from any other aspect.”

Yes, but this is not the whole of it.

“There are two such qualities often advanced as premises:
• that the purpose of sexuality is procreation, and only heterosexual sex is capable of it;
• that heterosexual sex represents a joining of two distinct complementaries
In a subsequent post I will address the first assertion.”

And I will, subsequently, respond to his arguments in future feature articles.

end

 

UPDATE CONTENTS
ENCOURAGING
FR. NIGEL MUMFORD

CHRISTMAS FLEA MARKET AND BAKE SALE

ELEMENTARY
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT UPDATE
NEW SERMON SERIES AND PODCASTING INFORMATION
ADVENT

A NEW BABY
ANNE'S JOB

OFFICE HELP
GRATITUDE
WALKABOUT EVANGELISM
BIBLE STUDY
YOUTH INFORMATION FROM MICAH
HOMEBOUND MINISTRY
HERESIES AND CULTS (ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL SERIES)


NEWS :

 

ENCOURAGING: Anne and I arrived at church last Sunday discouraged, thinking that the place would be empty due to the snow storm. We were happily surprised by the number of you who braved the roads and the snow to make it for both Sunday school and worship. What a great testimony to your love for Christ and for each other.

 

There are several news items repeated here this morning for the sake of those who did not make it here last Sunday due to the weather.

FR. NIGEL MUMFORD: Thank you to Dolly Shaller for inviting and sponsoring Fr. Nigel Mumford's visit with us last Thursday. Fr. Nigel is a leading figure nationwide in the ministry of healing and has been equipped by God with great gifts for healing and teaching. He will be back in April to lead a workshop on healing prayer, so be sure to look for information.

CHRISTMAS FLEA MARKET AND BAKE SALE THIS SATURDAY:    We need all you wonderful bakers to help make the Bake Sale a success.  We need cakes, cookies, breads, muffins, or anything you can think to bake.  We have some great bakers in our Church and we all love to eat good food so jump right in and lend a helping hand to a very good cause (general fund).  There will be a sign up sheet for your donations or contact Mary Lindsey or Pat Chaney.  All items are greatly appreciated.

ELEMENTARY: Be sure not to miss Micah's update below. He is starting a new ministry with our elementary age kids this weekend, taking them bowling and getting to know them. If you have elementary age children, please be sure to check the youth schedule.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT UPDATE : This Sunday's practice will be for  Principles/music practice in the library for Sheep, Shepherds and Angles

Here is the remaining practice schedule. There are only two more Sunday's left for practice but there is still time to be involved if you would like to be. Just let Anne know.
12/16 Whole Cast, walk through with lines AND music
12/23 Dress Rehearsal


SERMON SERIES & PODCASTING INFORMATION: We're in the middle of a new sermon series based on Colossians 1:9-20 that will last through Advent. The first chapter of Colossians includes, in verses 15-20, one of the most profound Christological (having to do with Christ) declarations in the entire New Testament. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, reveals the divine majesty and cosmic preeminence of Christ.

In last week's sermon I explained the necessity of being spiritually fed through God's Word, prayer, the sacraments, and the fellowship and worship of the church. Missing these habitually will mean that you do not have the strength to “bear fruit in every good work” (Colossians 1:10 ) because you have not allowed yourself to be strengthened by God's established means of grace. If you missed it or want to hear it again, you can listen to that sermon at the new podcast site . We've already had a very good number of hits and downloads.

ADVENT: For those of you new to the Anglican tradition, you'll notice some changes this coming Sunday. 1. I'll be wearing blue instead of green. 2. The altar will have been moved back to face the wall. Both of these changes are related to Advent.

The blue reminds us of the dawn. Jesus' birth marked a new day in the history of God's creation. God was acting to save a fallen world and his fallen people. As believers prepare themselves to celebrate the birth of Christ we do so in the blue light of the coming dawn.

But Advent is not only a time of anticipatory joy, it is also a time for self examination, repentance, and humility.

The altar is moved back to the wall so that the entire church; pastors, leaders, and people, might humble ourselves before God and recognize that the Lord alone is God and we all bow before him. When the altar is out from the wall, sometimes the pastor, standing behind it, can become the center of attention and focus. That should not be. Moving the altar back for a season, gives us the opportunity to refocus our hearts on the Lord.

Since Advent is the church season set aside to prepare and anticipate the coming of the Lord, many of the readings will take us back to the time before Jesus' birth when the prophets, the last being John the Baptist, predicted the coming of the Messiah to rescue and redeem God's people. Others will remind us that we, here and now, should be living lives of preparation because Jesus is coming again to establish his Kingdom over all the earth. We should be ready to meet him at any time.

How do we get ready?

If you look back at the ministry of John the Baptist you will see that his message was pretty simple. The Lord is coming so the people of God must… “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!” That, in short, is a great summary of the purpose of Advent. “Repent and prepare“.

If you were to meet Jesus today, would you be ready? Would your life please him? Would he look at you and say, “Well done good and faithful servant”?

The best way to be ready, the only way in fact, is to invite Jesus into your heart. If you have not done that, do it now, today, so that you can begin living a new life with Jesus today and when he returns you will continue living with him forever.

If you have already invited Jesus into your life, this is a great time to examine yourself and see if you have been living faithfully as his disciple. Perhaps there are some things God is calling you to let go of? Perhaps there is something God is calling you to do? Spend some time in your daily prayers asking God to show you what you can do to prepare for his coming.

A NEW BABY: A very healthy Sophia Corinna Lane was born Tuesday at 8:46am , to Bill and Camille Lane . She is 9 pounds and 9 ounces and 20 inches. Thanks be to God and congratulations to Bill and Camille!

ANNE'S JOB : In case you have not yet heard, Anne has taken a part time job at the Christmas Tree Shop. There are several reasons for this, but mainly we need the extra income to pay back student loans and some travel expenses I racked up last year. Her job should be temporary in nature , hopefully less than a year, just until we pay back what we owe. In any case, this means that during her work hours, I will be working from home to keep an eye on the kids. This means that from 9:00am to 5:00pm on most days, if you cannot reach me at church you may feel free to call the rectory. It is for now, essentially, my second office.

Here is the number: 607-773-4810

OFFICE HELP : This will also mean that I am looking for volunteers to help out in the office answering phones and reminding me of appointments and meetings. If you remember we made the decision to hire a youth minister/musician instead of a secretary and, judging by the life and growth of the parish this last year, that decision has paid off. But with the situation regarding our relationship to the diocese still unclear we are not yet able to hire a secretary. If you are interested in volunteering your time between 9:00am and noon Monday through Friday to answer phones and keep my calendar, please let me know.

Thank you,

Matt

GRATITUDE: We have seen a great outpouring of financial support which is incredibly encouraging to us. This is due both to a larger number of parishioners, our attendance per Sunday is pushing 90 now, and an increase in pledge amount from current parishioners. Thank you for your generosity. So far your stewardship has far exceeded our expectations.

If you have not yet turned in a pledge card, remember, it is never too late J

WALKABOUT EVANGELISM: This coming January (not sure about the date yet) we'll be scheduling an evangelism walkabout day. For those who are new to Good Shepherd, about twice a year we bake a few hundred small loaves of bread and pass them out door to door to those who live in the neighborhood. We put the bread in bags along with a tract that gives the message of salvation and some information about the church. God has blessed us with a lot of growth this year, over twenty new members and consistent guests. But of those, only two are converts. The rest are already believers in Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful thing to gain experienced and mature believers as we have. But Christ came to seek and save the lost. And he has commissioned us as his vehicles for that mission. The walkabout is one at least way that we share the gospel, personally, to those on the South-side. I hope you will volunteer to join this effort. I'll pass on more information as the time draws near.


BIBLE STUDY: All the Bible Studies are up and running this week

YOUTH INFORMATION FROM MICAH:

Dear Good Shepherd Youth

We are meeting at regular times this weekend, Jr. High on Saturday, Sr. High on Sunday. Don't forget to bring yourself, a Bible, and a friend.

Elementary age kids! We are going bowling this Saturday (Dec. 8) from 2-4 at Laurel Bowl. Don't miss it.

As always, remember to check out the website.

Be sure to look at the December calender and set aside those particular dates and times! Be sure to check the website for information

Good Shepherd Youth Group Calendar

DECEMBER:
Elementary
December 8 – Bowling, Laurel Bowl, 2-4 (Christina)

Junior High, Saturday Evenings
December 8 – Regular Meeting, 6-8 (Matt), Jason Bronson
December 15 – Regular Meeting, 6-8 (IFE), Meghan Sullivan
December 22 – White Elephant gift exchange and regular meeting, 6-8 (Jason)
December 29 – Micah out of town

Senior High, Sunday Evenings
December 9 – Regular Meeting, 6-8 (Kellie)
December 16 – Regular Meeting, 6-8 (Jeremy)
December 23 – White Elephant gift exchange and regular meeting, 6-8
December 30 – Micah out of town

As always, the contact info!
Micah Towery
3155 Broadway, Apt. 15
New York City , NY 10027

ECW CHRISTMAS BASKETS FOR THE HOMEBOUND: The annual Christmas Baskets will be delivered on Dec. 11th. If you have a relative or friend that you like to be included in this program let Mary Lindsey know by Dec. 9th.

ADULT EDUCATION SERIES: HERESIES AND CULTS: Last week we got a little side-tracked, but in a good way, discussing salvation and the question of whether you can lose it. The bible, I think, is clear in that regard. You did not earn your salvation and you cannot lose your salvation. You are saved through faith on the basis of the promise of God and the Person and Work of Christ. Your salvation is eternal and unchanging.

 

This week we will finish our discussion of Pelagius and then next week move on to a few smaller cults: Scientology, Bahai, and Unitarianism

HAVE YOU…. shared your faith with a friend? The vestry has challenged all of us to share our faith in Jesus Christ with at least one non-believer each month.

Good News for the Week
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4o he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Don't forget to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH

Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday December 9th, 2007

Monday:
pastor's day off

Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study
6:00 p.m. First Light Bible Study

Wednesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer

Thursday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
5:30 p.m. Shepherd's Bowl

6:30 Thursday Night Bible Study

Friday
6:30 a.m. Men's Breakfast/Bible Study
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
Pastor's sermon prep day

Saturday :
10:00 a.m. Women's Bible Study
4:30 p.m. Hebrew Class
6:00pm-8:00pm Jr. High Meeting

Sunday December 16th 2007 SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP (SEASON OF ADVENT)
8:00am Worship, Holy Communion and Sermon
9:15-10:15 a.m. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR ALL AGES
10:30am Worship, Holy Communion, Music, Sermon
6:00pm - 8:00pm Sr. High Meeting

God bless you all
In Christ,

Matt+

 

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