Today's Verse: 1 Corinthians 5:9 (NIV)
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—

Paul, in this verse. refers to those people within the church.  He qualifies this later by enumerating the offenses of sexual morality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness, and slander.  His advice is to expel the wicked from the church.  His reference is conduct in the church.

Today's Comments: The New American Commentary: 2 Corinthians suggests that Paul may be concerned here about the formation of spiritual identity, as compared with the surrounding world.  The Pulpit Commentary: 1 Corinthians suggests that flagrant violation of morale law by those in the church is a justifiable reason that we should separate ourselves from them.  It is to show them that their conduct is unacceptable.  Yet, such separation should be designed with repentance, recovery, forgiveness and restoration in mind.  For, we are not free from sin, but we are forgiven for the sins that we commit. 

Does this mean that we should expel homosexuals from the church, because of the acts that they commit?  I don't think that I am ready to go that far.  But when the church condones homosexual acts,  even between committed, consulting adults, I think that it has gone too far.  While I do not think that my parish, Blessed Sacrament, needs to leave the Episcopal Church, it has an obligation to condemn those who profess that homosexuality is something that is ordained or gifted by God.  And, we must be sure that we make our situation clear to the world that we are separated from Episcopal Church  on this and other heretical beliefs held by them.