Take note of this, my friends. This is the old 'outsiders just don't understand how our church works lingo'. And the hobs definitely state they do not plan to hinder the Gen Con in any way. That line is the final coffin nail.
You may very well be right. At any rate it is an attempt to make people think that there is genuine lay involvement. I can only imagine that if there were legitimate canvassing of the laity on this issue, the HOB would have to shut down.
But then, they will never consider that. And I thought the Romans were 'top-down'.
"We note here that our decision-making structures differ from those in many parts of the Anglican Communion and that our actions require conciliar involvement by all the baptized of our church, lay and ordained. Therefore we as bishops, in offering our regrets, do not intend to preempt the canonical authority of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church."
They now claim it's all an issue having to do with a supposed ECUSA democratic process, and that General Convention has to make the decision.
Where was General Convention when the House of Bishop unilaterally ratified Vicky Jean's ordination two years ago?!?!? Why didn't they say then that they couldn't make such a deicion without first getting General Convention's agreement it is fine to make a homosexual adulterer a bishop?