Episcopal liberals prepare for split

The Washington Times ^ | October 24, 2005 | Julia Duin

[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.

[PeterFinn]

Here be the fruits of "tolerance" when the apostate and heretical take over the church.

Were I a conservative Episcoplaian I'd shake the proverbial dust from my sandals at the church door and head on down the road to a Bible-believing church.

To Hell with the liberal Christians, they're going there anyways.

[Brilliant]

for possession of diocesan property...


Seems like the liberal bishops are more concerned about material things than spirituality.

[MeanWestTexan]

So much for believers not suing believers.

We (a conservative congregation kicked out by our bishop) left our church building, even though we had a good lawsuit, because of that Biblical directive.

At lease they are consistent in their disdain for the Bible.

[Mount Athos]

Unseating 1 bishop unbiblically canonized and living in perpetual scandalous sin? No can do!

Unseat 19 bishops striving to actually follow Christianity? No problem, done in a flash!

[Kimmers]

Liberalism is not just effecting the Episcopalians it is seeping into many other churches....we just need to be aware of what our churches are teaching....just a comment like we already don't realize this...

[blue-duncan]

"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."

"When pondering this question it is worth mentioning the well-worn (and perhaps apocryphal) story of Thomas Aquinas, who surprised Pope Innocent II as he was counting stacks of money. The pope said, “Brother you see that Peter can no longer say ‘Silver and gold have I none.’”

“Quite true,” replied Aquinas, “Peter can also no longer say to the lame man, ‘Rise up and walk.’”

That speaks volumes about the spiritual condition of ECUSA, today.

[PAR35]

I've been meaning to ask - how are things going at the old and the new church? Freepmail me if you want.

[Chickensoup]

If there is a split, how many will be left in the Episcopal church?

[Redleg Duke]

As Lutheran, I have a modest suggestion. Let the Conservatives inherit the existing Episcopal properties and assets, and let the liberals inherit....HELL!

[kjo]

We Roman Catholics would love to have them.

[quark]

"Karl Marx had a good line about Episcopalians. In a preface to Volume 1 of 'Das Kapital,' he wrote that the 'English Established Church' -- of which the Episcopal Church is an American offshoot -- would 'more readily pardon an attack on 38 of its 39 articles than on 1/39 of its income.' Marx was referring to the Church of England's Articles of Religion, a basic summary of its doctrine. His cynicism seems vindicated in the Episcopal Church's recent abandonment of biblical teaching on homosexuality.

-- Diane Knippers (RIP), 2003

[Unam Sanctam]

FYI

[HangnJudge]

The true worth of the Church
and it's only meaningful content
is the Body of Christ

All other things are chaff,
Millstones around their neck

The Church triumphant can meet in any house
Or in a garden, if necessary - Gethsemane?

[MeanWestTexan]

Nah, we've been nothing but trouble since the Synod of Whitby (that's when St. Augustine convinced the the Celtic Church to join the RCC) --- it was always a rocky relationship.

I think we even ate a few of the Romans.

[NoCmpromiz]

pingeth thee

[Jim Noble]

So much for believers not suing believers

You'd be right-except that they aren't believers.

[Jim Noble]

how many will be left in the Episcopal church?

One generation, more or less.

[AFPhys]

I decided not to wait for those "Episcopal liberals" to decide.

I've completed my split with them.

They may do whatever they like, but it is not the faith taught in the Bible.

[Professional Engineer]

ping