Like the popular relationship status on Facebook, one's religious affiliation is becoming ever more complex.
Former Archbishop George Carey, primate of the Church of England-known as the Episcopal Church in America-will address the changing direction of his brand of Protestantism tomorrow afternoon in the Divinity School.
As leader of the Anglican Church from 1991 to 2002, Archbishop Carey devoted much time to development of the church in Africa and Asia and oversaw two major changes in the doctrine of the Anglican Communion.
During his tenure, women gained the right of ordination, and in 1998, anyone leading a homosexual lifestyle was excluded from entering the priesthood.
In 2003, Gene Robinson became the first openly homosexual priest who was elected bishop by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Robinson's ascendance shocked many in the Anglican Communion. The American Episcopalians' contempt for the ruling authority of their church has created much tension on both sides of the pond, including some rumors of a schism.
The Protestant movement resulted from the greatest fissure of the Christian faith to date. Many Protestants have followed in the footsteps of their independent-minded predecessors, branching out in hundreds of directions.
The Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist denominations all have numerous factions under their umbrella titles. The Free-Methodist movement, for example, began in the 1800s because of slavery and a disagreement about the financial responsibilities of members-inter-denominational schisms over social issues are hardly new.
Will the Episcopal Church remain under the control of the Anglican Communion, or was the ECUSA flexing its muscles with the issue of homosexuality? Will it soon slip down the proverbial slope and become a separate denomination?
Archbishop Carey intends to address the "past blessings, present challenges [and] future hope" of his dear denomination tomorrow and will hopefully offer solace to those fearing a split. His experience with diverse groups and sticky social issues gives him a unique perspective and position for change.
But a larger problem is at work here behind the scenes. This situation highlights the perennially tenuous ties between individual church members as well as individuals and their religion at large.
Any group of people will suffer rifts, but when it comes to religion, the disagreements often hit too close to home and result in more than hurt feelings or bruised pride. Interpersonal issues develop around biblical principles, and can condemn an entire church to strife.
Even more troubling are the problems just one church member can cause by forwarding a novel doctrine or idea. A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a Protestant denomination with special concern for foreign missions, did not originally intend to form a new church when he created two informal inter-church organizations.
Today this denomination joins hundreds of others among the ranks of Evangelical Protestantism.
With all the bickering among church members, and the quibbling over church doctrine, one wonders-is there any end to the constant reduplication of denominations, or is the Church destined to be divided into smaller and smaller subgroups until the end of time?
As long as there are people with opinions, new denominations will form. It would be astonishing if all Christians-or for that matter all Muslims or all Jews or all the members of any religion-could live peacefully and happily in one church denomination. Though some might argue that the Dark Ages were just that time, there have always been varied interpretations of text and doctrine, and there have always been struggles between the faithful.
Archbishop Carey may try to save the Anglican Communion from separation today, but in ten years there will be another issue, or a different cause of conflict for some major denomination. Hopefully, when that happens another strong voice of peace will speak out for unity in Christ.
Emily Thomey is a Trinity junior. Her column runs every other Tuesday.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.