Posted on 04/06/2006 7:09:37 PM PDT by sionnsar
Early news has suggested that the report from the task force appointed by the Presiding Bishop to help frame General Convention's response to the Windsor Report, and the softening tone from the recent House of Bishops meeting at Kanuga, provides some hope for the Episcopal Church's repentance and return to "good status" within the Anglican Communion. However, after viewing many inputs, and extensive commentary on them, it it seems certain that what we are observing is simply the interminable process for making fudge.
Here for your reading pleasure, is an exhaustive collection of links sources, with some excerpts:
Duncan Gray, Bishop Mississippi
I found the work of the task force to be enormously helpful. Some thirty resolutions are being proposed as a legislative response, but were available to us only as general concepts. However, the tone, wisdom and insight of the report and the bishops' subsequent conversation were very encouraging. Clearly, not everyone was happy with the content of all the proposals, but I sensed a real softening of the hard edges and an expanding of the middle ground that I have so longed for in our common life.
John Howe, Bishop, Central Florida
The Commission's recommendations will reach about as far in the direction of Windsor as this Church can possibly reach. Unfortunately (in my opinion) not far enough.
Our bishops are NOT repentant for the decision to confirm Gene Robinson's election in and of itself - for they do not believe it was wrong. But they are sincerely sorry/repentant for having breached the 'bonds of affection.' And they do NOT want to see the Communion destroyed.
Washington Times
John-David Schofield, Bishop, San Joaquin
Quoting Bennison, "When we use the word 'repentance' it usually means we have come to the conclusion that we're wrong and intend not to continue to do whatever it is we have been doing. I don't see," he continued, "how we can talk about repenting when it is clear we intend to go on marrying same-sex couples and electing homosexual persons to the Episcopate."
It is utter double-talk to speak about the House of Bishops repenting the decisions they made regarding acceptable practices within the Church with regard to the sacraments and human sexuality.
San Francisco Chronicle
a href="http://www.etdiocese.net/sermons/2006/3-26-Good-Samaritan-Knoxville.htm" target="_blank">Charles vonRosenberg, Bishop, E. Tennessee
News Telegraph (UK)
Kendall Harmon's comment on above link: A reminder to blog readers-General Convention is a bicameral legislature-it consists of two houses. Any legislation which passes has to pass each house in the same form-KSH.
Jeffrey Steenson, Bishop, Rio Grande
... the commission appears to have reached a consensus that our continued membership in the Anglican Communion can no longer be taken for granted.
It does not adopt the Windsor Report's "moratorium" language, but it is certainly a step in that direction.
Kirk Smith, Bishop, Arizona
From my perspective, these resolutions represent an endorsement of the Windsor Report and express a clear desire not to do anything that would further jeopardize our standing with the rest of the Communion.
I think one might say this represents a 'go slow' approach for our church. Without backing away from decisions we have made, it is nonetheless a clear message that we will work to conform to the requests of the majority of the Anglican Communion as expressed in the Windsor Report.
Sigh.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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