Celibacy a Man-Made Rule that Can be Changed

After Spong's reign of terror as bishop of Newark, a third of the priests were active homosexuals. In order to do this, basically all his new clergy were homosexuals - blatant discrimination against heterosexuals. Nice.

The result? Catastrophic declines in membership and giving.

And he thinks that he can offer advice?

Correction: "discerning"

TO WMARKW: You wrote, "Most of the Bible contains pretty good ideas for the time they were written, but since then humans have a learned a lot and hence discarded the unnecessary and unhelpful parts."

If that's the case, just throw away the whole book because you wouldn't know which parts to keep and which to discard. Or are you more decerning than the rest of us?

As far as it being written by men, Paul has already addressed that concern in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."

As far as women and preaching goes, Paul also addressed that problem.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."

Just as all mankind have received a sinful nature because of Adam's disobedience, so have women recieved the curse of Eve being deceived. Get over it.

Once again the Bible proves it's infallibility in teaching truth and prophesy. It speaks of the likes of John Shelby Spong and all his false teachings on this site and in his books.

1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times SOME SHALL DEPART from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when THEY WILL NOT endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"

2 Peter 2:1 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be FALSE TEACHERS among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

2 Thessalonians 2:3 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a FALLING AWAY FIRST, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"

Philippians 3:17-19 "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the ENEMIES OF THE CROSS of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"

Galatians 1:8,9 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let HIM BE ACCURSED. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

So, John Shelby Spong, I reprove and rebuke you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. By the Word of God, you are to be accursed.

"Of what value is the Bible? None of these supposedly Christian churches follow it's teachings."

Most of the Bible contains pretty good ideas for the time they were written, but since then humans have a learned a lot and hence discarded the unnecessary and unhelpful parts. Prohibiting women from ministry today would have no more basis than marrying their deceased husband's brother.

The bible is a "rule book"? It was written by men 2-3000 years ago (if you think God wrote it, identify a passage that a person of that time couldn't have written, like how many galaxies are in universe). Of course we will dispense with the social conditions of that time.

Of what value is the Bible? None of these supposedly Christian churches follow it's teachings. Roman Catholicism unbiblically ban their clergy from marrying and the Episcopalians unbiblically allow women and gays to teach and minister. Can you imagine playing a sport without adhering to the rule book? It would be utter chaos and that's why these "religious" organizations are anything but, Christian. That's why I quit being an Episcopalian when I was "born again". People ask me what denomination I am. I tell them that I'm a Christian.

As Chris Hitchens points out, that is about what one should expect by a church founded on the family values of Henry VIII.