Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Episcopal Church Split and the Press

Conservatives Expected to Split Episcopal Church


While technically or eccliastically this headline may be true, one must ask which group has "split" the church?

Consider the following quote:

They claim those churches have broken with traditional Christianity in many ways, but the development that precipitated their departure was the decision to ordain an openly gay bishop and to bless gay unions.


Interesting isn't it, how the reporter and paper publish a headline that can tend to infer blame on the part of conservatives?


Rom 16:17 "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them."

Lk 12:51 "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division."

5 comments:

  1. Sword,
    Good point! The headlines and photos news organizations use are many times chosen to manipulate public opinion!

    This is just another example.

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  2. I think the reason they said it was conservatives who split the church was because it was the conservatives who were leaving. The media have their biases, but I don't think this counts as an example of it.

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  3. This is no run of the mill newspaper, and you can be certain on top stories their editors are selective in their use of words.

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  4. "This is no run of the mill newspaper, and you can be certain on top stories their editors are selective in their use of words."

    Maybe so. I can't read their minds, and it would have been more accurate to state the action taken by the conservatives. One side can't split any more than one hand can clap.

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  5. I agree that on the one hand the headline can be taken simply to say that the conservatives are the ones spitting off, but given it's the New York Times, I doubt the ambiguity went without notice and was not intentional. Most major news agencies realize the importance of how they craft the headlines of their top stories.

    As far as "One side can't split any more than one hand can clap", I agree with you on one level, but on a theological level, the gospel remains the same from one generation to another, and when groups depart from it, while it may appear the others are spitting, on a more significant level they are remaining true and keeping unity!
    one handt

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