GLBT people need to be “championed.” By standing up for GLBT people in TEC, we stand for GLBT people everywhere. Since we in TEC have finally realized that God wants all of us to be equal partners with Him, it follows that GLBT people should have equal access to HOLY ORDERS and equal access to blessings of their unions … and, of course, we should be working to secure the full and equal civil rights for GLBT people.

Nigerian GLBT people (and the world’s people) need to know that our bishops most strongly oppose the current Nigerian legislation that would further criminalize GLBT people, their friends and supporters. Why is Archbishop Akinola being given a “free pass” on this? Our turning away from this issue is sinful and cowardly. Our bishops need to stand up and be counted. Lives are at stake. As the NYT pointed out today, the Nigerian government has bowed to international pressure before when considering further oppressing GLBT people.

We need to say that we want to be part of the Anglican Communion the way it has always been – polite, loose, diverse, tolerant, loving, forgiving, and patient. However, we want no part of a confessional communion where we seek to measure and judge one another. Christianity does not need any more “second class Christians” or any structures that could lead to such an arrangement. Bad idea. Again, our bishops need to say so.

We want the communion to know that our stance on GLBT people is in obedience to our understanding of scripture. We respect the authority of scripture; we disagree with Lambeth 1.10 and would characterize it as a time and culture bound uninspired response to the Good News of God in Christ. We can do better; TEC has done better.

We need to understand that Bishops and Primates on the far right are going to proceed with their agenda of realignment regardless of what our bishops say because they want themselves “in” and TEC out. They have made their intentions clear.

We spoke about our many frustrations with TEC and the AC this week.

The frustration that so many members of my parish have is whether our PB is a Christian? You acknowledged that her public responses (including those this week) beg this question. I am glad to know that privately she acknowledges to you that she is a Christian, but our PB’s private assurances need to be acknowledged publicly!

We also agreed that a major problem within TEC is clarity and consistency. I believe, there is a lack of clarity and consistency because of the hermeneutical principle of truth. As far as TEC is concerned, truth is “pluriform” and thus, it becomes impossible for us to be clear and consistent because “your truth may not be my truth.” I am of the opinion that when the TEC is unable to acknowledge John 14:6 we have nothing but, “pluriform truth” which pales in the face of all other frustrations.

For example, you mentioned frustration “that our desire to strengthen the “bonds of affection” may result in a covenant which transforms Anglicanism from a confessing church into a confessional church.” I agree, but there are bishops in TEC that have not acknowledge the “basic confession: God has raised Jesus from the dead and made him Lord.” In my view, our bishops have no one to blame, but themselves because TEC’s unity is based on “your truth may not be my truth” and that has slowly become acceptable.

You also state that: “The Primates of the Communion, for the first time ever, are making demands on one of the constituent Churches” and “set a deadline.” Is that really a surprise? Has not all four instruments of unity made clear that “the faith once delivered to the apostles” is not being carried out by TEC and that the polity of TEC has failed to honor what has been established and maintained as Christian and Anglican teachings? The AC is in a crisis because of the actions of TEC. In a crisis, leadership has a responsibility to act and this is why the leadership of the AC is taking these unprecedented steps.

I agree that “we have failed the homosexual community.” Where TEC has failed the most is in acknowledging and listening to those homosexual people who have left the “homosexual lifestyle.” Further, TEC has been mute during this period towards bisexual and transgender persons. What about their pain?

Unfortunately, we have both fallen into speaking about sex rather than the mission of the Church. I hope and pray to stay focused on mission and believing exactly what John writes in chapter 14 verse 6:

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (KJV)