Posted on 04/21/2005 4:50:47 PM PDT by sionnsar
Bishop Smith had invited all the clergy of the Diocese Of CT to the Cathedral in Hartford to share a conversation with him about the impasse between him and the “CT Six.” These are the six parish rectors whom Bishop Smith and the Standing Committee of CT have found have “abandoned the communion of the church.”
The turn out was very strong. I would say about double what we had for renewal of vows. At least 150 clergy by my count. The tone of the meeting was prayerful and sober. That the contorversy was painful and exacting a high price for both the bishop and the clergy was obvious to all and I thought brought out the best in the gathered clergy. There were a few intemperate remarks including allusions to conspiracies from both supporters and detractors of General Convention 2003. These remarks were much the exception to the rule. As a rule the remarks by the clergy gathered expressed a deep desire for both the bishop and the six to try harder to reach some mutual accomadation. One priest asked that both the bishop and the six find a way to go back rather than forward. Bishop Smith had been paritcularly offeded by a letter the group had sent him which he interpreted as a list of demands. The six demured saying that they had never meant to demand but only to express their desires and to set out a place for the beginning of negotiations. It was clear to me that in the midst of the exchanges there had been some misunderstandings of both the substance of what was being asked for and the emotional envelope in which the message was being sent. Give it another try was the theme of the day to my ears.
When called on, I said that I could hear mutually exclusive positions between the Bishop and the six but that I did not hear that the interest the bishop had of protecting the polity of the church and the interest of the six to act with integrity according to their understanding of their ordination vows were mutually exclusive interests and that I believed common ground could be found and would help in anyway I could to facilitate that process. I also asked that the Bishop and the six express their greatest fear and best hope for this situation. He said he feared that even if it came to a parting of the ways that it would be with acrimony and a lack of mutuality that would leave one side or the other feeling victimized. He hoped that he might be able to rebuild his relationships with the congregaitons. Christopher Leighton of St. Paul’s, Darien spoke next and apologized for not responding to the question because he had another point to which he wanted to respond. The meeting went on according to the order in which people had been recognized and I was disappointed that I didn’t get to hear one of the six respond to that question.
Toward the end of the meeting as the misconstrual of the famous letter became more evident Bishop Smith expressed a desire to find a way to go back to the state of the discussion before that letter was recieved. I thought that both parties stepped back just a bit and that there was some new room in which a more Godly outcome might emerge.
The meeting ended with prayer.
I continue to offer my original remarks as a sketch of a possible way forward. here
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. I have great respect for Leander Harding, but he is still trying to move deck chairs on the Titanic and hoping against hope that they really didn't hit that iceberg after all.
If Smith was about to take such strong actions based on a misunderstanding his personal managment skills and ability to bring reconcilation to parties is severly in question.
Personally, I don't think he is that much of a reactionary or that stupid.
Thanks for your dedication to this ministry. I look forward to your pings each day, and have recently especially appreciated your "coverage" of the CT Diocese, which is an old stomping ground for the Mrs. and I.
It's strange, but it almost seems as if in the wake of John Paul II and the election of Benedict, that there is some contagious grace in the air, and some hearts are being touched. Time will tell if there is any substance to this impression.
Bishop Smith had been paritcularly offeded by a letter the group had sent him which he interpreted as a list of demands.
Does smith maybe not think God is offended by what's happening in the Church and does smith maybe think that he [smith] knows what's best?
My wife's family has deep roots in the CT diocese too. I do not know how many still attend, but I think the number is quite small now.
(My favorite book last year was: "Eats, Shoots and Leaves." A quite entertaining read.)
No - more than just one. :) Look again.
Your postings are appreciated.
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