Episcopalian Presiding Bishop’s Extreme Unbelief and Liberalism!

Richard Hollerman

On November 1, 2015, Michael Curry (age 62) preached at his installation as the first black “Presiding Bishop” of the extremely liberal and unbiblical Episcopal Church.[i] This was a memorable experience for this declining major Protestant denomination (in recent years, some 20 percent of the membership has departed) because of the ethnic background of Curry. Interestingly, only four (4) percent of Episcopalians are black, thus the membership is largely white and more affluent than most other Protestant Churches.

As we read over articles that detail the installation service, it was quite clear that this new Bishop would carry on the liberal spiral of this religious organization.

We don’t doubt the historical background of this denomination. Although American Episcopalianism only numbers some 1,800,000 to 2,000,000 members, it is part of the much larger worldwide body of Anglicanism. As the reader may know, this began as the Church of England and was the outcome of the British king’s desire to divorce his wife and marry another woman in order to have an heir to the throne. When the Roman “pope” would not condone this adultery, the English king broke away from Roman Catholicism and established his own British (or Anglican) Church.

As I read over the reports of the installation, many thoughts came to mind, ones that I encourage you to keep in mind as you compare your local Episcopal Church with Scripture.

1. The service was held in the huge Washington National Cathedral where traditionally the nation’s elite whites would congregate, including some of the American presidents. However, you may know that this ultra-liberal congregation made the news by publicly celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision to allow sodomites (homosexuals and lesbians) to “marry.” Obviously, this totally conflicts with Scripture that makes it clear that no homosexual will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) but will be under the judgment of God (Hebrews 13:4). In other words, homosexuals and other sexually immoral persons and perverts will be rejected by a pure and just God (Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8). Since this church or “Cathedral” is central to American Episcopalianism, we can see how monumental this service was.

2. The installation service at the Washington Cathedral was attended by 150 Episcopal bishops! They “streamed in together in white-and-red clerical garb.” Similar to the Catholic Church that likes liturgy and public processions, Episcopalianism also does, something that is totally incompatible with New Testament Christianity (cf. Matthew 23:5-12).

3. Another point of note is that the Episcopal Church has been known to install a practicing homosexual as bishop—the so-called “Bishop Gene Robinson” in 2004. (This was after Robinson divorced his wife! And since this time, Robinson has separated or divorced his sodomite partner!) Curry follows in this parade of liberal positions. Recently, an apostate and immoral “friend” of mine became a sodomite and became an Episcopalian priest!

4. The installation service, attended by 2,500 guests, included an “Indian drum processional.” (Does this sound like Colossians 3:16 or Ephesians 5:19?) But it also included “prayers of blessing” by ones that no one would imagine—Jewish and Muslim leaders! Consider this: If one must accept Jesus as the Son of God and Lord in order to receive eternal life and be saved (John 20:28-31; 1 John 5:11-13), why would this denomination condone the prayers of Jewish and Muslim leaders who cannot possibly be saved, but will be judged by God (John 3:16-18; Mark 16:16)?

5. Curry told the story of his parents. His mother brought her fiancé to an Episcopalian Church, but Curry’s father was in training to become a Baptist pastor. After this experience, his father chose to leave his former plans and become an Episcopalian priest instead! Would this be a change for the better or worse? While we are not Baptist, surely, based on the Bible, the Baptist Church is far closer to Scriptural teaching than is the Episcopalian Church. Rather than Curry’s story bringing applause, it should have brought tears!

6. Curry became the Presiding Bishop through an election! This may sound like a political thing to do, but it is the way that many denominations “elect” their leaders. Instead, New Testament elders (shepherds or overseers) where “chosen” or “appointed” based on strict Biblical qualifications (see 1 Timothy 3:1-8 and Titus 1:5-11). There is no majority vote or election to such an office (in fact, Biblical overseership or shepherding isn’t an “office”).

7. Curry has been likened to “Pope Francis,” the outgoing, friendly, and liberal Catholic leader. Although people think that this is a positive comparison, we know that the papacy of Roman Catholicism is far, far from Biblical Christianity. The first so-called “pope” didn’t arise until some 400 to 600 years after the New Testament was written, and this is far too late to be considered apostolic! If they like Francis because he is liberal, we can see why some would liken Curry to be like Francis in this regard!

8. Curry praised the outgoing Episcopal Presiding Bishop. As shocking as it may seem, this bishop was “Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori,” an extreme feminist! Anyone reading this who knows his or her Bible will recognize that this was utterly unbiblical in nature! Scripture says that only men (males) were to be chosen as overseers or shepherds (see 1 Timothy 3:1-2 and Titus 1:5-7). In the early community of saints, only men could be evangelists or preachers (Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5), apostles (Matthew 10), deacons (1 Timothy 3:12; cf. vv. 8-13), public teachers (1 Timothy 2:11-12), public speakers (1 Corinthians 14:33-37), or ones who would pray publicly (1 Timothy 2:8, Greek). This would limit such positions to men, and men alone.
   

   Episcopal Bishops

   Obviously, this would say that “Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori” was totally out of place and anti-Biblical. It also shows how extreme Episcopalianism has become in violating the very basics of Scripture. Yet Curry was able to say, “Let the record show that the Episcopal Church has had a leader in Katharine Jefferts Schori.” Significantly, the Episcopal bishop of Washington is also a woman: Marianne Budde!

9. Curry has officiated at sodomite or homosexual “weddings” at the Cathedral and he fully endorses such homosexual unions! We read that “the few complaints he received came mostly from conservative evangelicals” who “didn’t realize this is an Episcopal cathedral.” This does show that there is a difference between the more Biblical “conservative evangelical” stance and the more sexually immoral or perverted stance of liberal Evangelicalism! A 2014 internal survey says that “lingering conflict over this issue has become less frequent and less salient for congregations.” In other words, opposition to sexual perversion has been less of a “problem” and open acceptance of homosexual unions has become more fully permissible. It has been said that “Curry can be a bridge-builder on LGBTQ issues!” (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Queer.) Rather than being a matter of praise, this would be a matter of grief, disappointment, and horror to anyone who values God’s Word!

10. Curry and the Episcopal Church seem to insist on taking unbiblical and immoral stances, and this is a grief to people like the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America. Foley Beach says, “If Bishop Curry and the Episcopal Church are unwilling to genuinely repent of the unbiblical teaching and destructive actions that caused the division [between the Episcopal Church and worldwide Anglicanism], then reconciliation simply isn’t possible.”

11. Anglican Cannon Andrew Gross, the Anglican Director of Communications,” said that Curry “pushed orthodox members of his diocese to the periphery” when Curry was bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. Since Curry is an outspoken liberal, we can see why he would push “orthodox” or more conservative members out! We can also see why they would want to leave!

12. Feminist Episcopal priest, “Andrea Hayden,” who is the assisting “priest” of St. James Episcopal Church in Port Charlotte, Florida, praised Curry and this new opportunity for the denomination. She said, “It’s a joy and excitement to see what’s going to happen the next nine years. . . . The Episcopal Church has been so heady and we now have a Presiding Bishop, a leader who is … all about the heart, all about getting back to Jesus. I think sometimes we miss that because we’ve been fighting on so many levels of things that are in the world that we sometimes forget who we serve and whose we are.” We can only say that Hayden’s view of “getting back to Jesus” is totally misconceived. The Episcopal Church can only get back to Jesus if they are willing to repent of their sinful and immoral violation of God’s written Word and go back to God, Christ, and the way of life found in Scripture. Other than this, we find gross hypocrisy!

We encourage any Episcopalian reading this article and expose, to immediately repent of your involvement in this theologically and socially bankrupt denomination!  Even worldwide Anglicanism, that itself needs to repent of a massive number of unbiblical elements, has rejected the American Episcopal Church. The local Episcopal diocese in our own area has turned away from it and established its own organization.

Be willing to launch out on your own, taking the Bible as your guide, and reject all the elements that Episcopalianism has come to mean! Don’t follow Curry or any other liberal leader, but turn to Jesus as the only reliable Guide to truth!

Curry has said, “My brothers and sisters, God has not given up on God’s world. And God is not finished with the Episcopal Church yet.” Sadly, it would seem that God has given up on the world (1 John 5:19)! And surely God has given up on the apostate Episcopal Church! We encourage you to do likewise!

[i] “Michael Curry Installed as Presiding Bishop of Episcopal Church, Urges ‘the Way of Love’” by Christine A. Scheller (https://sojo.net/print/217564). “Episcopal Church installs its first African American presiding bishop” by Michelle Boorstein (washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/episcopal-church-installs-its-first-african-american- bishop/2015/ 11/01/d9b7c44c- 80d2-11e5-9afb-0c971f713 d0c_story.html).