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Eminentoes
Seat of Liberalism
Gary R. Hall’s Washington National Cathedral is becoming the happening place.
Is the Washington National Cathedral the spiritual center of the nation? In the mind of the liberal Episcopal cathedral’s new dean, it should be.
Such an assertion would surprise many of America’s churchgoers, the vast majority of whom are not even Oldline Protestants, let alone Episcopalians. But since assuming leadership of the Cathedral in October, Dean Gary R. Hall has frequently spoken of the church’s role as being “at the center” of American public life. Hall wants to raise the cathedral’s profile as not just a center of worship, but as an organized political advocacy center on a host of liberal issues.
Unlike some of his predecessors, Hall is not content to host conversational forums with authors and poets or preside over high-profile funerals like those of Gerald Ford and Neil Armstrong. From calling in December for new firearms restrictions, to announcing last week that the massive gothic church is available for gay weddings, Hall embraces liberal causes as easily as he dismisses traditional Christianity.
Prior to arriving at the Cathedral, Hall served briefly as a parish rector in Michigan. Before that, he served as dean of the Episcopal Church’s Seabury-Western Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Like other struggling Episcopal seminaries, Seabury sought to alleviate its precarious finances by offloading properties. Under Hall’s tenure, Seabury sold its entire campus for $13 million to neighboring Northwestern University, all while sending out cheery press releases about the swiftly declining school “embodying our vision by becoming what’s next in a seminary.” The school no longer offers a Master of Divinity and has partnered with another Episcopal seminary in Ohio, no doubt with a look towards being merged out of existence.
Despite having freshly arrived from a failed seminary and a parish that by Evangelical or Roman Catholic standards would be viewed as somewhat small, Hall clearly has feelings of grandeur about his new office, seeing the National Cathedral as the center of American religious life.
Previous generations of liberal Episcopal clergy often spoke in layers of obfuscation; discovering the heretical teaching buried in their writing and preaching required hours of decoding. Hall represents a younger generation of liberal Episcopalians who resemble nothing so much as Unitarian Universalists decked out in stoles and surplices; they are quick to denounce those who advocate historic Christian teaching—especially moral teaching—as intolerant perpetrators of injustice who must be silenced.
In an October interview with the Detroit Free Press Hall announced that he is, “not about trying to convert someone to Christianity. I don’t feel I’m supposed to convert Jews or Muslims or Hindus or Buddhists or Native Americans to Christianity so that they can be saved. That’s not an issue for me.”
Hall was also forthcoming about the fact that he finds common cause with those who do not profess a faith in Jesus Christ.
“I have much more in common with progressive Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists than I do with certain people in my own tradition, with fundamentalist Christians,” Hall declared. “The part of Christianity I stand with is the part in which we can live with ambiguity and with pluralism.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly considering his background, Hall has brought politics to the forefront at the National Cathedral, already a liberal congregation that has hosted anti-Israel film screenings and new age worship seminars. In December, the cathedral almost immediately issued a press release following the Newtown, Connecticut shootings, in which an upcoming Sunday sermon calling for firearms regulation was promoted. In his sermon that weekend, Hall dismissed calling the shooter “evil” as “reflexive” and dehumanizing. Instead, Hall touted a political rather than a spiritual solution.
“Our political leaders need to know that there is a group of people in America who will serve as a counterweight to the gun lobby, who will stand together with our leaders and support them as they act to take assault weapons off the streets,” Hall sermonized. The dean advised that the best way to mourn Newtown’s victims is to “mobilize the faith community for gun control.”
The following month, Hall explained how a decision to conduct same-sex marriage is about more than just cathedral policy; it is also a move to influence the country.
“As a kind of tall-steeple, public church in the nation’s capital, by saying we’re going to bless same-sex marriages, conduct same-sex marriages, we are really trying to take the next step for marriage equality in the nation and in the culture,” Hall told the Associated Press.
Like other Episcopal congregations that have authorized same-sex marriage rites, the cathedral has issued a series of guidelines to alleviate concerns that the church is not serious about marriage, even as it unilaterally redefines it contrary to the way it has been historically understood throughout Christendom:
At least one person in the couple, therefore, must have been baptized. Only couples directly affiliated with the life of the Cathedral—as active, contributing members of the congregation; as alumni or alumnae of the Cathedral schools; as individuals who have made significant volunteer or donor contributions over a period of time; or those judged to have played an exceptional role in the life of the nation—are eligible to be married at the Cathedral.
About the Author
Jeff Walton directs the Anglican program at the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (25) | Leave a comment
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Gary B| 1.21.13 @ 7:22AM
"Hall wants to raise the cathedral’s profile as not just a center of worship, but as an organized political advocacy center on a host of liberal issues."
Well, well. Whatever happened to the beloved liberal claim of separation of church and state?
Gary B| 1.21.13 @ 8:00AM
I wonder if their tax status will ever be reviewed? Silly question...
SC| 1.21.13 @ 10:43AM
"I wonder if their tax status will ever be reviewed? Silly question..."
As should."The American Spectator's" tax status..??
Rhoetus| 1.21.13 @ 7:10PM
Crap like this is why I left the leftist Methodist Church.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 7:30AM
Let's review: Minister Homosexual has a new Gig at the Washington D.C. Cathedral/Bathhouse.
After running a small Seminary and a little Parish IN TO THE GROUND, he now finds himself being rewarded with the National Cathedral, right smack dab in the middle of Caligula City, Fornication Central, and Sodom and Gomorrah West.
Like the great White Tower in Lord of the Rings, this Cathedral looms over the Horizon and serves as a Focal Point for Evil.
Like the White Wizard - Sauron - this Anti-Christian and his Anti-Church, will serve their Master by amassing an Army to build their New Messiah a Tower, that he might let loose his Arrow and Kill God.
Minister Sodomy is not a Christian Pastor. He does not Minister CHRIST'S teachings to those who've fallen from the path of righteousness. Au contraire. He absolves them of their Sins. He does not say, as Jesus did: "Now go and sin no more". No way. People like that - like CHRIST - represent "Intolerant Perpetrators of Injustice, and must be silenced".
I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and make the assumption that Friar Fellatio would have been a Vote for Barabbas when Pilate was deciding whom to spare from Crucifixion.
They have the Government, the Schools, Hollywood and Television. They've taken over the Language and redefined what it is to be Married or to be a Family.
Now they seek to rewrite the Gospels in Black Jesus' Image.
This can only end one way.
Badly.
Von Mises Jr| 1.21.13 @ 10:25AM
While you also have a potty mouth, my friend, you have principles and morals. I may be obnoxious especially when dealing with dweebs like twerp but I do not miss Mass on Sunday and I try to obey the Commandments.
But it just goes to show that Jesus was correct 2,000 years ago when he spoke about the rich man reaching the Kingdom of Heaven as more difficult than a camel passing through the eye of a needle. Hall, Rev. Wright, Screwy Louie Farrakhan and twerp got their work cut out for them.
So why we may not have pleasant table manners, I like my chances and yours better than these so-called men of the Cloth or our friend twerp.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 11:12AM
I go to Church on Sundays, as well.
My wife informs me that I shouldn't be allowed in Church "because you Drink, you Smoke, you say bad words" and so on and so on. And, she's saying this with her little Asian accent, which cracks me up.
I tell her that I'm the reason they have Churches, and that, without guys like me, there'd be no reason for God, and Jesus, and the whole nine yards.
What this Super Homo piece a Garbage in DC is doing, is setting up an Anti-Church, just blocks away from the Anti-Amercan's Anti-Semite Anti-White House.
Can The Dark Ages be that far away.
Cause, I'm thinking that they can't.
Von Mises Jr| 1.21.13 @ 11:39AM
You have a self-righteous wife also? What is so bad about smoking and drinking? I know three guys about 60-65 with one dead and two others not long to go (most likely) with cancer. Two of the three don't drink that much nor smoke. I think I am killing the germs with this behavior.
The Second Dark Ages are probably not what is coming. It is the Second Coming. Keep your head raised high and prepare for Judgment. And be thankful you are not one of these Pharisees or Perp or Arnie or whoever he is pretending to be today. What is he doing working on MLK day anyway?
Gary B| 1.21.13 @ 7:57AM
“...we are really trying to take the next step for marriage equality in the nation and in the culture,” Hall told the Associated Press.
In other words these progressive, fake Christians are going to place their imprimatur on jamming a square peg into a round hole and making an in-our-face mockery of one of civilization's moral underpinnings that has stood the test of ions of time and that spans all mainstream religions. All because they want to be interviewed by Oprah. I can't wait to see the cathedral's float in the next gay pride parade.
Rich D| 1.22.13 @ 6:06PM
It might resemble the Oscar Meyer mobile.
Ronald54321| 1.21.13 @ 9:16AM
The Episcopal Church started pushing immorality in the early 60's with the new morality movement. Now they are pushing sodomy. Big deal. There's not one person in the US that would be surprised if they advocated baby sex - or care. Episcopalians will be Episcopalians.
Gary B| 1.21.13 @ 9:47AM
You're right. They've been losing market share for quite a while. In order to recover, they've abandoned principles and gone for the big-tent approach in a race to the bottom. It hasn't worked for the Republican Party and it's not working for these hopeless hypocrites either. The same consultants must be blowing in their ear.
It's a real shame to see such a beautiful building become just another liberal outpost. Everything they touch turns into another manure pile.
Petronius| 1.21.13 @ 11:03AM
I'd bet this pussturd had an ancestor who cheered for the lions, and will soon sponsor wiccan circles in the undercroft.
JP| 1.21.13 @ 11:19AM
The National Cathedral will eventually become the sole property of the Progressive, Secular, Gay Left. Eventually not even the taxpayers will be willing to support it. In the end, it will probably be purchased by some Muslim businessman and turned into either a mosque or a rabbat.
Hardcard| 1.21.13 @ 11:34AM
God is watching, evil never takes a break, renounce satan and evil. Sodom was destroyed, have faith in God through Christ Jesus.
Gary B| 1.21.13 @ 5:23PM
Good advice...
SUBVET| 1.21.13 @ 11:47AM
Daniel 2:21
Citizen Jerry| 1.21.13 @ 12:03PM
Just another prime example of why the Episcopal Church is dying. Icabod -- the glory has departed.
TLP| 1.21.13 @ 1:07PM
The Episcopal Church, long ago, became The Gay Pride Parade, down 5th Avenue.
How fitting that a once Great Religious denomination has found a home, in the Once Great Capitol City, of a Once Great Country.
They're like New Jersey and the Mafia.
They're Perfect, together.
cicero| 1.21.13 @ 2:15PM
The Episcopalians long ago transferred thier loyalties from Christianity to Mamon. They believe that they are going where the money is. I remember reading somewhere that someone once said "The kingdom of God is not of this earth." If that is the case, these guys have decided that it is this earth that they want a kingdom in. So, they have hitched their wagons to the secular star. They are following the money. They are pursueing the moneied interests, hoping that all those fine liberals who don't want to follow the teachings of Christ, but want to appear pious will fill their pews, and will fill their coffers. I think, perchance, that they are going to be really surprised.
Job| 1.21.13 @ 3:10PM
see now i don't get that i mean the homo stuff in a Christian church; musta never heard of Sodom and Gomoraeah; and it breaks a commandment i think if i got this right its the tenth one: Covet not your neighbors wife, nor his ox, nor his ASS.
spike59| 1.21.13 @ 4:54PM
'Is the Washington National Cathedral the spiritual center of the nation?'
---------------------------------------------
that would be where the 'stuff' swirls towards, right????
Rhoetus| 1.21.13 @ 7:13PM
Please piss on Woodrow Wilson's grave next time you are in DC.
Occam's Tool| 1.22.13 @ 3:37AM
Indeed, an excellent grave to piss on, right after pissing on Teddy's.
Yup, Liberal Christianity's brains are in "the seat." This is another church allied with Jihadists.
hrgfue | 1.21.13 @ 10:10PM
2013 Happy New Year,NFL,NBA