Kendall Harmon

Kendall S. Harmon (born 1960), is a writer and priest of the Anglican Church in North America. Formerly a leading traditional theologian with the Episcopal Church, Harmon is known for his activity, writing, and commentary on matters related to homosexuality and the Anglican church in the years prior to, during, and following the schism of the Episcopal Church and the subsequent formation of the Anglican Church in North America.[1][2][3][4]

The Rev. Canon

Kendall Harmon
Harmon interviewed in a 2005 Anglican Communion Network documentary.
Born1960 (age 62–63)
EducationBowdoin College, Regent College, Trinity School for Ministry
Alma materUniversity of Oxford
Occupation(s)Anglican Communion Development Director, Anglican Diocese of South Carolina
Notable workFinally Excluded from God
Children3
Theological work

Early life and education

Harmon studied at Bowdoin College and Regent College in Vancouver, Canada and the Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.[5]

In 1993, he received a doctoral degree from Oxford University for his dissertation on aspects of the doctrine of Hell in regards to Universalism.[6]: 57 [7][8]

Career

Harmon worked at Holy Comforter in Sumter, South Carolina in the 1980s and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Summerville, South Carolina in the 1990s.[6]: 53 [9][10]

In 2002, Harmon began serving as Canon Theologian for the Anglican Diocese of the South . He also served as the Assistant Rector for Yonges Island, Christ St. Paul's Church.[5]

In 2009, following the schism in the Episcopal Church that led to the formation of the Anglican Church in North America, Harmon was appointed as the Anglican Communion Development Director in the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, where he also works in media relations.[5] Harmon was a leader of the American Anglican Council.[11][12]

In 1991, Harmon presented the paper "The Case against Conditionalism: A Response to Edward William Fudge", defending a traditional Christian view of hell, at the Fourth Edinburgh Conference on Christian Dogmatics in 1991, in disagreement with Edward Fudge's book The Fire That Consumes.[13][14][15][16]

Traditional Anglican writing and activism

Harmon operates the blog TitusOneNine, which is frequented by those who follow and comment upon Anglican and Episcopal affairs.[17][18][19]

Harmon has remarked upon changes to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, the ordination of women, sex outside of marriage and homosexuality with conservative Christian views.[20][21][22][10][23][24][25] Harmon regularly remarked upon the state of the Christianity and the Episcopal Church leading up to the schism.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

Harmon wrote a booklet, A Deeply Disturbing Document: A Comprehensive Critique of the Episcopal Church Curriculum Sexuality: A Divine Gift, denouncing the Episcopal educational booklet Sexuality: A Divine Gift, A Sacramental Approach to Human Sexuality and Family Life[6]: 50, 53–54  and was often quoted in the news after the booklet's circulation. Bishop C. Fitzsimmons Allison praised and partially credited Harmon for the rejection of Sexuality: A Divine Gift by the Episcopal General Convention.[6]: 50, 53–54 [33] Harmon also criticized another piece of sexual educational media, About Your Sexuality.[34]

Harmon campaigned against the election of Barbara Harris as bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts in 1988. He opined on Harris, a black woman, campaigning that she was angry, uneducated, inexperienced, and extremist.[6]: 54–55 [10][35][36]

Harmon criticized the ordination of Robert Williams in "Should a Practicing Homosexual be Ordained in the Episcopal Church Today?," an editorial published in church newsletter Jubilate Deo in February 1990.[6]: 63  His 2005 article "Anglicanism at the Crossroads", in which he detailed a conservative Christian view of homosexuality's incompatibility with biblical scripture, appeared in The Guardian.[37]

In 2004, he commented on the increased number of same-sex union ceremonies within the church.[38] He decried the election of homosexual bishops Gene Robinson in 2003 and Mary Douglas Glasspool in 2009.[2][39][40][41][42][43][11] Following the election of Robinson at the 2003 General Convention of the Episcopal Church, he read a statement on behalf of the conservatives that claimed that the church had left the Anglican faith.[44][45][46] Harmon called for the intervention of the Archbishop of Canterbury.[47] In 2007, Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, chaired a group that assessed the U.S. Episcopal Church's supporting for gay clergy and congregation; Harmon deemed the group's concluding report "poor".[48][49] Harmon also objected to the 2009 election of Thew Forrester, who practiced Zen Buddhism and amended the liturgy without approval.[50][51][52][53]

In 2006, Harmon campaigned that an internal Episcopal committee reviewing anti-Semitism be limited only to the liturgy and not to scripture. He was unsuccessful.[28] Following the 2007 funeral of former United States President Gerald Ford, Harmon criticized Rev. Robert Certain's truncation of scripture in the gospel reading.[4] In 2008, he objected to Lenten liturgical changes promoted by the Church.[54]

Personal life

He is married to a nurse practitioner named Elizabeth; they have three children.[5]

Works
  • "Should Practicing Homosexual Persons be Ordained in the Episcopal Church Today?" Shaker Heights, Ohio: Episcopalians United, 1991. [Contributor] [excerpt]
  • Finally Excluded from God?: Some Twentieth Century Theological Explorations of the Problem of Hell and Universalism with Reference to the Historical Development of These Doctrines. 1993 D.Phil. from Oxford University [Dissertation]
  • "Nothingness and Human Destiny: Hell in the Thought of C.S. Lewis," in David Mills, ed., The Pilgrim's Guide: C.S. Lewis and the Art of Witness (Eerdmans, 1998). ISBN 0-8028-3777-8. [Contributor][55]

References
  1. Zoll, Rachel (2007-09-26). "'Restraint' pledged in electing gays". The Miami Herald. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  2. Helfand, Duke (2009-08-08). "Episcopals test policy on gay clergy". Star-Phoenix, Los Angeles Times. p. 62. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  3. Eckstrom, Kevin (2003-08-07). "Gay Bishop Vote Threatens Episcopal Schism". The Ledger/Religion News Service. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  4. Olsen, Ted (2007-01-04). "Finding and Missing Jesus at Ford's Funeral". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  5. "Spokespersons Biographies". The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  6. Caldwell, Ronald J. (2017). A history of the Episcopal Church schism in South Carolina. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. ISBN 9781532618857. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  7. Blanchard, Laurence Malcolm (2015-04-01). Will All be Saved?: An Assessment of Universalism in Western Theology. Authentic Media Inc. ISBN 978-1-84227-891-8.
  8. Dr Kendall Harmon backgrounds on the problems in South Carolina at #gafcon2018, GAFCON Official, 2018-07-31, retrieved 2023-03-21
  9. Mills, David (1999). The Pilgrim's Guide: C. S. Lewis and the Art of Witness. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8028-4689-1.
  10. Harmon, Kendall S. (1989-02-12). "Why all the fuss over Barbara Harris?". The Item. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  11. Eckstrom, Kevin (2004-10-01). "Disappointed Anglican Conservatives Mull Options, Threaten Revolt". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  12. Eckstrom, Kevin; Nowell, Robert (2004-10-01). "Report Rebukes Episcopalians for Disunity but Declines Sanctions". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  13. Date, Christopher and Ron Highfield. A Consuming Passion: Essays on Hell and Immortality in Honor of Edward Fudge Archived 2023-03-18 at the Wayback Machine. (2015). United Kingdom: Wipf and Stock Publishers. P. 59.
  14. Fudge, Edward (2012). The fire that consumes : a Biblical and historical study of the doctrine of final punishment (3rd ed.). Cambridge. ISBN 978-0-7188-4104-1. OCLC 847592085.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. Gray, Tony. "Destroyed For Ever: An Examination of the Debates Concerning Annihilation and Conditional Immortality". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  16. Peterson, Robert A. (2000-10-23). "Undying Worm, Unquenchable Fire". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  17. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life. Institute on Religion and Public Life. 2008.
  18. "TitusOneNine". Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  19. Eckstrom, Kevin (2005-02-28). "In Anglican Report, There's Something for Everyone, Once Again". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  20. Mattingly, Terry (2007-05-13). "Tradition's role at fore". Republican and Herald. p. 33. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  21. Sachs, W. L. (2009). Homosexuality and the Crisis of Anglicanism Archived 2023-03-18 at the Wayback Machine. Cambridge University Press. p.19-20.
  22. Bates, Stephen (2003-10-31). "The Guardian Profile: Gene Robinson". The Guardian. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  23. White, Gayle (1988-07-02). "Sexuality paper stirs controversy". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 66. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  24. LeBlanc, Douglas (2004-10-01). "Conservative Episcopalians Challenge Church Politics as Usual". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  25. Olsen, Ted (2004-05-01). "Canadian Anglicans 'Affirm Integrity and Sanctity' of Homosexual Relationships". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  26. Biema, David Van (2008-06-30). "An Anglican Schism: Headed for US?". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  27. Lampman, Jane (2008-06-30). "Traditionalists lay out bold challenge to Anglican leadership". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  28. Burke, Daniel (2006-07-13). "Episcopal Church to Address Anti-Jewish Prejudice in Scripture, Liturgy". Religion News Service. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  29. LeBlanc, Douglas (2004-10-01). "N.T. Wright: Anglican Report Is 'Fireproofing the House'". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  30. Olsen, Ted (2004-05-01). "Newsweek catches up to Left Behind". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  31. Burke, Daniel (2008-12-05). "What's Ahead for the Fractured Episcopal Church?". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  32. LeBlanc, Douglas (2004-10-01). "Windsor Report Leaves Conservative Episcopalians Hopping Mad". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  33. Hyer, Marjorie (1988-05-29). "Sex book causes stir in Episcopal Church". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  34. McManus, Mike (1988-04-16). "Sexuality report sparks controversy". The Dispatch. p. 18. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  35. McManus, Michael (1988-12-14). "First woman 'bishop' on the firing line". El Paso Herald-Post. p. 43. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  36. Hirsley, Michael (1988-12-04). "Episcopalians divided on bishop". Chicago Tribune. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  37. Harmon, Kendall (18 February 2005). "Anglicanism at the crossroads". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  38. Zoll, Rachel (2004-08-07). "More episcopal dioceses blessing gay couples". Morning Sentinel. p. 26. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  39. "Los Angeles Episcopalians elect lesbian bishop - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  40. Lampman, Jane (2006-05-04). "Episcopalians face key votes over gays". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Archived from the original on 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  41. Cutrara, Daniel S. (2015-05-01). Wicked Cinema: Sex and Religion on Screen. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-0753-3.
  42. Heimbach, Daniel R. (2004-11-09). True Sexual Morality: Recovering Biblical Standards for a Culture in Crisis. Crossway. ISBN 978-1-4335-1602-3.
  43. Kuruvila, Matthai (2009-08-12). "Gay bishops may further divide Episcopal Church". SFGATE. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  44. Hall, Caroline J. Addington (2013-03-22). A Thorn in the Flesh: How Gay Sexuality is Changing the Episcopal Church. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 154–155. ISBN 978-1-4422-1996-0.
  45. Zoll, Rachel (2003-08-07). "Conservatives protest gay bishop". The Springfield News-Leader. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  46. "Translating the Anglican Primates". ChristianityToday.com. 2003-10-01. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  47. Caldwell, Ronald James (2017-08-09). A History of the Episcopal Church Schism in South Carolina. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4982-4467-1.
  48. Bates, Stephen (2007-02-16). "Anglican leaders avoid church split over homosexuals". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  49. Mwavizo, Morris; Trounson, Rebecca (2007-02-20). "Anglicans avoid split for now on gay issues". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  50. Lockwood, Frank E. (2009-06-08). "Too Unorthodox Even for the Episcopal Church?". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  51. Conger, George (2009-03-27). "Why Episcopalians Have a Muslim Priest and a Buddhist Bishop". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  52. Gordon, Tracy (2009-04-16). "In an online world, all (church) politics is global". Religion News Service. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  53. "Smorgasbord religion on the grow throughout United States". Baptist Standard. 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  54. Wunkerink, Susan (2008-03-06). "Episcopal Stations of the Cross — Without the Cross". Christianity Today. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  55. Weems, Reggie. “Universalism Denied: C. S. Lewis’ Unpublished Letters to Alan Fairhurst.” Journal of Inklings Studies, vol. 7, no. 2, 2017, pp. 87–98. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48616153. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023.
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