by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

The worst reason to do anything is in reaction to fear because it causes overreaction. In the present day Church there is such a fear of the radical feminist movement with its attendant push for the ordination of women that some people are afraid for women to have any part in worship. They are right to oppose the ordination of women to the holy office of priests simply because God is opposed to it and declares as much in the Scriptures. It is outside the scope of this paper to discuss the reasons for the exclusion of women from the priesthood, but suffice it to say that nothing that is said in this paper is meant to imply or prepare the way for the ordination of women as priests. If we follow the rule of Scripture in the Church, there is no need to be afraid, that is, to determine our practices in worship out of fear. We should never give up legitimate things that God leaves us free to do simply because we are afraid that doing them will cause us to stumble into doing illegitimate things. This, after all, was the beginning of sin in the Garden of Eden. Eve should not have spoken to the serpent at all, of course, but her sinful response was that God had not only told them not to eat the fruit, but they were not even to touch it, which God never said. If one prohibits what God allows, he will eventually allow what God forbids.

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

In 1 Peter 3:13–22, where we read the broader context of the baptism of Noah and his household, we find this very strong assertion, "This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you." Peter says, "Baptism saves." But what does that mean? Peter compares the water of baptism to the water of the flood. Therefore we can view Noah’s experience as a kind of baptism, a household baptism—Noah, his wife, and his children.

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”—Luke 5:8.

The disciples had been fishing all night, and now were mending their nets. A stranger appears. They had seen him, probably, once before, and they remembered enough of him to command respect. He borrowed Simon Peter’s boat and preached a sermon to the crowd. After he had finished, he told them to go out into deeper water and let down their nets again. Peter objected that they were professional fishermen and had already fished all night without success. Eventually they obeyed Jesus, and, instead of disappointment, they took so many fish that the boats almost sank, and the net began to break. Surprised at this strange miracle, and the one who had worked it, Peter thought himself quite unworthy to be in such company, and fell on his knees, and cried this prayer, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, Christ teaches us that the just will live by faith. Those who dwell in the love of Christ cannot forget all that is of grace and instead harbor feelings of hate and resentment. Those who forget all that is of grace will be last and will completely lose what they worked for, while those who seem to be last, by keeping humility, will be first and foremost in the Day of Judgment.

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse

For several years now the Reformed Episcopal Church has been saying and believing that worship is the most important thing we do, the thing that no other institution or organization in the world can do. We did not make that up just so we could carve out a unique place for the Church in the world, because we thought it ought to be true, or because we had a personal, subjective preference to focus on worship while other churches prefer to emphasize evangelism, church growth, youth programs, music programs, or education. We say and believe that because it is what the Bible teaches.

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse 

Introduction— The Flood of Noah and the Exodus are both called baptisms— but not in the Old Testament. Encouragement to persevere since will be victorious, and warning based on privilege and responsibility. 

by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse 

We hear a great deal about New Testament evangelism, visitation evangelism, crusade evangelism, revivals, etc. I sometimes get the feeling that evangelism is something one does instead of who one is. That is, evangelism is an activity that is viewed as separate from the other activities in your life, and it is done at certain specified times in a weekly schedule when you aren’t busy with something else. 

 by The Rt. Rev. Daniel R. Morse 

The sacrifice of Isaac as recounted in Genesis 22 is generally taken to be a test of Abraham’s faith. That is, did he really trust God or not? Did he love God more than anything else, including his son? Would Abraham trust God with his son, and was he willing to give up everything, including his son, for God? The presence or absence of faith, not the content of what he believed, is what most people think is being tested. And since Abraham passed the test he is made the supreme example for all other believers of what it means to have great faith. After all, many say, he is called the father of those who have faith (Romans 4:16). But is the Apostle Paul referring to the fact that Abraham had faith, or is he speaking of the facts Abraham believed in?