The Joys of a State Church--Europe

This is an article that appeared in Christianity Today last May, 2005EuropeWeblog: The Joys of a State ChurchThe Godless minister and the sexless marriage. Compiled by Rob Moll | posted 05/31/2005 04:15 p.m.Those worried that evangelicals' participation in politics may produce a theocracy may take comfort from Western Europe, where church and state have mingled for centuries. The closer church and state get, the more the church looks like the state.Almost two years ago, a Danish minister said, "There is no heavenly God, there is no eternal life, there is no resurrection." After making the statement in an interview, Thorkild Grosboell was suspended by his bishop. But because the Evangelical Lutheran Church is the state church of Denmark, the bishop could not fire the disbelieving pastor. Only the government can do that, and "the government refused, saying he should be given another chance to explain himself to Jan Lindhardt, a regional bishop who has been one of his few defenders," according to the Associated Press. "Lindhardt has said that although he disagrees with Grosboell's views, there should be room for him in Denmark's state church."On Sunday, Grosboell returned to his pulpit in Taarbaek. Grosboell recently renewed his ministry vows, but said his views about God have not changed.In England, the intricacies of church/state relations have produced a strange requirement for gay clergy who are now allowed to register for civil unions. "The new law leaves [church officials] little choice but to accept the right of gay clergy to have civil partners," says the London Times. Despite the legal requirement, the church still requires gay clergy to remain celibate.So the church compromised. "Homosexual priests in the Church of England will be allowed to 'marry' their boyfriends under a proposal drawn up by senior bishops, led by Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury. … They will, however, have to give an assurance to their diocesan bishop that they will abstain from sex."That's far from the Puritan requirement that a marriage be consummated before it is official.Though the requirements may be changed before a final draft is approved by the House of Bishops, some bishops are already uncomfortable with them. "We all have clergy in gay partnerships in our dioceses, and there is a genuine reluctance on the part of a number of us to make their lives more difficult," said one bishop.It seems those fearing theocracy have little to worry about.God bless,Stever

This article is by Ruth Gledhill of the London Times, written 7/5/2005Clergy who don't believe in God The London Times ^ | 5 July 2005 | Ruth GledhillClergy and laity show signs of schism over homosexuality, miracles and the Almighty HUNDREDS of Church of England clergy doubt the existence of God and fewer than two thirds believe in miracles, a study out today says. The report, published on the eve of the General Synod, refers to “very fragile faultlines along which the Church of England could be torn apart”. Congregations are much more conservative than most of the comparatively liberal clergy preaching to them. The report says that if committed Anglicans are clear about one thing it is the existence of God: 97 per cent have no hesitation in affirming His existence. Yet, it continues, one in 33 clerics doubts the existence of God. If reflected throughout the Church’s 9,000 clergy the finding would mean that nearly 300 Church of England clergy are uncertain that God exists.(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; United KingdomKEYWORDS: ANGLICAN; ANGLICANS; CHURCH; CHURCHOFENGLAND; CLERGY; EUROPEANCHRISTIANS; GOD; UNBELIEVABLE-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.first 1-50, 51-100, 101-124 next last -------------------------------------------------This is truly unbelievable! If these clowns don't believe in God, what exactly do they believe in?To: Aussie Dasher> If these clowns don't believe in God, what exactly do they believe in? I do believe you have invented the next national parlor game. 10. Organic brown rice 9. Collection plates 8. Global warming 7. The return of the Mother Ship 6. Gaia 5. Public opinion polls 4. Therapy 3. Group nudity 2. Pedophilia 1. Entrails29 posted on 07/04/2005 7:20:14 PM PDT by T'wit ("My little jokes don't hurt nobody. But when Congress makes a joke, it's the LAW!" -- Will Rogers) [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 posted on 07/04/2005 6:53:09 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher [ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies ]-------------------------------------------------Stever concludes:Go to the following link if you want to follow this long thread:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1436566/postsGod bless,Stever

I believe in voting and being active... but the church jumping into bed with the government is a mistake all the way around. There are those in America who think that seperation of church and state means the church shouldnt have any say in the government... but thats wrong. Thomas Jefferson made it clear that the government was to stay out of the church. Heck, there are even some Americans who believe seperation of church and state is in the Constitution... (surprise! it's not!)I wish some of these people who feel this way would read the writings of our founding fathers, as well as the official documents they penned. These were very religious people who were very influenced by their faith. Granted, some were deists, and some were not true believers in Christ, but none-the-less they were influenced by the Bible. And tho some were not true believers, many were.Anyway... Denmark and England state churches... what apostacy. Thank God there are true believers in those countries who are really serving God, and not two masters.Krispy