If you haven't read the entry titled Brand X you should probably do so before reading the rest of this entry.
In the Episcopal church, the battle over homosexual clergy is only a symptom of the full-scale war going on in that denomination and in many others. Rather than split from the church to form their own denomination, those who feel the church ought to approve of homosexuality, are fighting within the church. They want the Church to officially approve of their views despite thousands of years of doctrine to the contrary. Why?
In my opinion, the reason for this is clear; Their true agenda is not to receive official approval for homosexual clergy, but to dramatically alter the core doctrine of the church. Those who view the Bible as the inerrant and inspired word of God stand in direct contrast to those who believe that the will of the majority, as embodied in changing cultural values, should have the final word. The latter see the church, indeed they see the very nature of right and wrong itself, as relative. They believe the church should "evolve" along with society and are, therefore, determined to see changes take place. The issue of homosexuality and it's place in the church is only one of many changes they are pursuing. They refuse to acknowledge the role of The Bible is any substantial way without distorting it through various "interpretations".
In The Miami Herald, Bishop M. Thomas Shaw of Massachusetts is quoted as commenting on the election of a homosexual clergy as "as evidence that the Episcopal Church was 'open to the movement of the Spirit,' and predicted that its openness to homosexuals would prove a 'wonderful evangelistic tool to strengthen the life of the church.'" How this Bishop could claim that diluting the very core of his church's beliefs would be beneficial is beyond my understanding, but he isn't alone in this sentiment. Bishop James L. Jelinek of Minnesota was also quoted in the Miami Herald article as saying, "None of us have any differences over God's love, where we have difficulty is over what it means to be human." Neither of these bishops mentioned the role of doctrine in the church but instead preferred to see it in very human and as a result, relative, terms.
The struggle here is a reflection of the hidden civil war currently raging in American culture. It is a result of the war between the Secularists and Traditional Religion. Those who would seek the church's blessing on homosexual activity are determined to challenge the status of scripture in determining morality. Unless they change traditional religion itself they are destined to become one of many inconsequential splinter groups that have existed throughout the history of the church. The Rev. Canon James D. Shoucair of Pittsburgh stated "I don't think there's any real question that this (Robinson's election) is a departure from the historic doctrine and theology of the witness of Scripture as it's been interpreted for 2,000 years."
This struggle within the Episcopal denomination has vast implications for our society. Without a consensus on the nature of right and wrong and without any objective means to come to that consensus, then any passing fad may become the model of how we "should" live our lives. Those who view the Holy Scriptures as the determinant of right and wrong should be concerned. At any time, our society may decide that those beliefs are not only immoral but also illegal.
The current struggle also has implications for other religious denominations. The Brand X anymore.