The Rabbinical Assembly shoots down Toby Katz

Over a year ago, our temporary guest blogger, Ms. Toby Katz, claimed that my attempt to be a true "Conservative Apikoris" was doomed to failure:

There is only one way you can become an apikores in the Conservative Movement. Accept Jesus into your heart.

Well, Ms. Katz' attempt to diss the Conservative movement by insisting it has no standards has just been slapped down, by no less than the Committee On Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly. A hat tip to Rabbi Barry Leff, who provided me to the RA's Teshuva Links, and this very relevant teshuva by Rabbi David David H. Lincoln:

May an Avowed Atheist serve as a Shaliach Tzibur?

The answer, not so suprisingly, is "no." Not that they insist on a mind-meld to verify belief in the Deity, which is probably just as well, as there are a lot of atheists at Conservative shuls who just keep quiet about it. Not me, though. The apikorsis I'm exploring is of a different kind.

So there, Toby! It's possible to be an apikoris in the Conservative movement without having to believe in Jesus.