Posted on 10/24/2005 1:49:30 PM PDT by Mount Athos
A liberal Episcopal group is crafting a strategy to disenfranchise about 16 conservative bishops if the denomination's pivotal General Convention next year in Columbus, Ohio, results in a church split.
Informally named the "Day After" for the aftermath of the June 13-21 event, the strategy outlines a way to file canonical charges against conservative bishops, unseat them from their dioceses, have interim bishops waiting to replace them and draft lawsuits ready to file before secular courts for possession of diocesan property.
The strategy was revealed in a leaked copy of minutes drafted at a Sept. 29 meeting in Dallas of a 10-member steering committee for Via Media, a network of 13 liberal independent Episcopal groups.
"It was a worst-case scenario -- what people in various dioceses would need to do if their bishop and much of their diocesan leadership decided to walk away from the Episcopal Church," said Joan Gundersen, the steering committee member who drafted the minutes.
Conservatives also "have made statements to that effect," she said.
In July, about 20 liberal and conservative Episcopal bishops met secretly in Los Angeles to discuss how to divide billions in church assets in the event of a split.
The memo assumes that the Episcopal Church will refuse to renounce its 2003 consecration of V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as the denomination's first openly homosexual bishop, an action many archbishops in the 70-million-member Anglican Communion have urged it to do.
If the 2.2-million-member Episcopal Church votes to uphold Bishop Robinson's consecration, conservative bishops are widely expected to walk out. Sixteen of them are affiliated with two conservative groups -- the American Anglican Communion (AAC) and the Anglican Communion Network.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I'm a conservative Christian as well, and as we are citizens of two places (heaven and our country), like Paul, we can avail ourselves of the law when we have exhausted all biblical efforts in terms of dealing with our supposed 'brothers'. You first have to recognize whether those you may take to court really are 'brothers' or not.
Scripture doesn't say you can never take matters to the courts, as some matters (crimes, etc) should be dealt with there because there are not only spiritual consequences the church needs to address, but secular consequences as well (prison, fines, reparations, etc.). scripture says make good faith efforts to resolve the problem outside of the courts, the courts/secualr law is the last resort. As citizens of America, if they will not respond to us as brothers, your last resort (if you want to pursue it) is to appeal to the secular courts. Christians always have that option. It just shouldn't be the first thing we do if we are dealing with fellow Christians. When we deal with non-Christians, we really only have two choices: don't do anything, or going to the courts.
Lee
Run, don't walk, away from the Episcopal Church.
"If there is a split, how many will be left in the Episcopal church?"
Better question: If there is a split, how many ** Christians ** will be left in the Episcopal church?
Answer: None.
If you want on/off the ping list let me and little jeremiah know.
TEXANS - VOTE NOV 8TH FOR PROPOSITION 2 - THE MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT
There is little worse than using religious traditions, buildings, and so on to promote evil which is directly in opposition to God's words.
In July, about 20 liberal and conservative Episcopal bishops met secretly in Los Angeles to discuss how to divide billions in church assets in the event of a split.
that should be easy, let the queers and those who support them move on with nothing
the liberals have proven that they are no longer Christian (How can they claim His name if they intentionally and habitually reject what He teaches?) so they fall under the civil laws. We have a duty to use the civil law where necessary
The evolution continues....
Hey, the Conservative Episcopalians in Los Angeles could just become Catholics. After all, LA doesn't have a Catholic bishop at the moment. The cathedra is vacant.
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