Ichabod

Wonder how long it will be before Ichabod (The Glory Has Departed) is written above the door of all denominations? Two instances of God’s Spirit departing come to mind.

Saul, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him” 1Samuel 16:14.

Samson, “Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him“ Judges 16:20

From OneNewsNow: Denominations make doctrinal compromises

Two mainline denominations have announced decisions indicating a further move away from Bible-based Christianity.

In Michigan, the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan is an ordained Zen Buddhist. Northern Michigan’s Episcopal congregations and delegates overwhelmingly elected the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester at their convention on Saturday.

The diocesan website says Thew Forrester “has practiced Zen meditation for almost a decade,” and the Buddhist community welcomed his commitment by granting him “lay ordination.” The website also says Northern Michigan’s new bishop “resonates deeply” with “his own interfaith dialogue with Buddhism and meditative practice.”

Meanwhile,  Presbyterian Church (USA) representatives in Arkansas and central North Carolina have endorsed amending the church constitution to allow non-celibate homosexuals to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons. The votes were taken at regional presbytery meetings on Saturday.

Homosexual men and women can be ordained in the PCUSA, but church standards currently forbid sex outside of traditional marriage between a man and woman.

The amendment goes into effect if a majority of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries approve it. So far, 24 presbyteries have voted for the amendment and 39 have voted against it, according to the Presbyterian Lay Committee, a group that opposes ordaining non-celibate homosexuals.

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