Posted on 05/02/2006 5:23:07 PM PDT by sionnsar
So how's this Saturday's episcopal election in the Episcopal Diocese of California going to go anyway? Considering that the Episcopal Diocese of California largely consists of San Francisco and Marin County, perhaps the most left-wing region in this country, this is how it's going to go:
Delegates from 81 Episcopal churches in the Bay Area will vote Saturday to elect a new bishop of the Diocese of California.
Despite diocesewide concerns, the Rev. Christopher Martin of St. Paul’s in San Rafael says he is surprised his parishioners are "not that anxious" about the election outcome. Most clergy he talks to, on the other hand, are "mindful of the consequences, should a gay bishop be chosen."
Martin says leaving the Anglican Communion "would be a great loss," as its thousands of congregations offer each other counsel in religious matters and strength in addressing global humanitarian issues.
Jim Ward, rector of St. Stephen’s, says he has not made up his mind how he will vote, but some weeks ago, commenting on "whether we should wait before we elect another gay bishop or go ahead and do it now," quoted Martin Luther King’s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," saying "justice delayed is justice denied."
In other words, Jim hasn't decided whether to vote for the lesbian or for one of the two male homosexuals.
Stafford Matthews of St. Stephen’s, whose lay committee will vote at the Saturday election, says, "It’s clear that members of the Anglican Communion would consider ordination of a gay bishop an irremediable breach in the relationship. Assuming that’s true (and that a gay bishop is elected), the question for the national church is whether maintaining that relationship is more important than to ordain a person irrespective of sexual orientation."
Marion Cedarblade, member of the selection committee from St. Paul’s in San Rafael, says she would have no hesitation in voting for a gay candidate, should one prove her favorite. Yes, she worries about a schism in the church, "but the Anglican communion will probably cut us loose anyway."
Richard J. Anderson, rector of Holy Innocents Church in Corte Madera, says he isn’t worried. "The church has weathered controversies in the past. It’s been 2,000 years of weathering. We seem to lose sight of that."
Given the fact that this is the Bay Area we're talking about, I think a homosexual is pretty much a lock. My money's still on Bonnie "It's an Apple Brown Betty, Not a Glock 9mm Semiautomatic" Perry but I guess any of the three would make an excellent homosexual bishop.
And I hope California takes this step. We'd have a month of increasingly frantic "don't even think about voting him/her down, bitches" lobbying from Susan Russell, Louie Crew and their friends. And the Special Commission report would instantly become so much waste paper.
It would be a clarifying moment. There would be no need for any more useless yammering about "regret." ECUSA would not be able to get away with, "This is the last one, we swear," or get a chance to cook another batch of fudge. There would be no need for any debate or discussion at all.
It would be a moment of truth for Episcopal conservatives as well. If California elects and ECUSA approves another homosexual bishop, a conservative walkout from GenCon would be a necessity. In the event GenCon approves another homosexual the Network must put immediate and very definite distance between itself and ECUSA if the Network wants to maintain any credibility at all
There would be no more commissions, no more reports and no more endless hammering out of language so that everyone's happy. The Current Unpleasantness would be reduced to its most basic level. In or out. Up or down. Does Rowan Williams want to keep ECUSA in the family or does he want to maintain the allegiance of the most vital part of the Anglican world? Does ECUSA want to remain Anglican?
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Reason #589 why I left California, never to return.
Our (Diocese of the Western States) Synod concludes Saturday -- my wife's recent affliction will keep us from attending, but at least it frees me to track these events...
I will be very interested to see what the future of St Columba, Inverness will be. The vestry signed over their 9 acres to Bishop Swing when he asked for the deed. I love that place and those people and pray that God will allow them to continue their ministry.
Do you think that the HOB and HOD will vote to confirm the election if a homosexual bishop is elected?
I am very sorry to hear she is not well. We will certainly add her to our prayer list for healing.
In Christ,
Deacon Paul+
That is a beautiful place. The last time I visited Fr. Schofield was still there.
Fr.David (Bishop John David) Schofield is the most joyful Christian man I can remember meeting. I had the priviledge of having him for my spiritual director. He was sure that, with his conservative views, he could never get elected Bishop, but he was wrong. The Diocese of San Joaquin is blessed to have him. I went to St Columba for 20 years...I moved away, but it's still home to me.
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