Posted on 06/25/2006 6:48:54 PM PDT by sionnsar
[This is the second recycle/rewrite of a post from May 9. I'm going to keep bumping it to the top until Newark announces its nominees. Of course that event only shows whether they intend to test the waters after resolution B033. More on the resolution soon.]
When I originally wrote this on May 9, very few blogs had done much with the plan of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark (ECUSA) to announce nominees for their next bishop days after General Convention. The timing is spectacular, given the long lead-up in their nomination process.
Then we had the additional spectacle of Louie Crew, founder of Integrity and co-chair of Newark's nominating committee interviewing candidates for Presiding Bishop for Witness magazine. Key questions for all include: "If a gay or lesbian person is elected on your watch, would you consent to the election?" and "If a gay or lesbian person is elected on your watch, would you be willing to serve as key consecrator?"
I'll have to go back and read his interview of our new Presiding Bishop-elect. She will be installed in time to consecrate the next bishop of Newark. All the nominees for PB will vote on confirming the election.
One might call Dr. Crew's journalistic effort "hedging your bets." There is bound to be a better name for it, but I didn't see better alternatives in the blogs.
The image came to mind of the youth chemistry set my parents once gave me. Surely such hazards are illegal now. Even without adding unauthorized reactants, I managed some pretty good eruptions.
Now we have the Episcopal Church's most prominent (not to say most outrageous) gay, who is co-chair of his diocese's bishop nominating committee, interviewing the person who will decide how to lead the church in regard to that election, nominees for which will be announced a week or so after the election of the Presiding Bishop.
Sorry for the long sentence, but the elements had to be combined. Keep an eye on Newark for the potential explosion.
PLEASE NOTE: Louie Crew made it to a microphone at Convention (before debate was cut off by the majority) to oppose the final soft resolution calling for "restraint" in consecrating bishops who might cause a "strain" on the Anglican Communion. Crew (and all militant gays) wanted no restrictions that even hinted that same-sex issues were in view.
The nominations and election in Newark will be a large bit of evidence about the effectiveness of the "restraint" promoted by GC. It was widely rumored that Elizabeth Kaeton, a prominent Episcopal lesbian, is on Newark's list. If nominated, she will run and she will be formidable.
The New York Times took early note of Newark (being across the river and all). Neela Banerjee concluded her report on the recent San Francisco bishop election by pointing readers' interest to Newark:
In September, the Diocese of Newark will elect a new bishop. Candidates have not been announced, but given the traditions of the diocese, church experts said, one of the candidates could be openly gay or lesbian.
The media continues to get the issue wrong. The argument is about non-celibate gay candidates. An openly homosexual, but celibate person could be approved readily.
If not Newark, what about the next diocese that elects a non-celibate gay person? Attempts will certainly be made until it happens.
Where will the actions of GC take us? Your guess is as good as anyone's.
[Here is the timetable from the original post–with some amendments reflecting the General Convention's actions. Note especially the next regular Primates meeting!]
See Newark's timeline on the diocese website. Placed in relation to General Convention, two key items fit like this:
-February through June, 2006-–Diocese of Newark screens candidates for next bishop.
-April 7–Report of the Special Commission (Episcopal Church) on The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. Key sample: The theologically diverse commission who produced The Windsor Report (see para. 134), urged a moratorium on further elections and consecrations of gay bishops. The Commission recommends "very considerable caution in the nomination, election, consent to, and consecration of bishops whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion." A suggestion of "refrain from" [such consecrations] was turned down by the commission. It can be argued that "very considerable caution" is what all dioceses exercise now in the nomination and election of a bishop.
-June 13-21–General Convention–only under huge pressure from the Presiding Bishop and PB-elect adopts soft language calling for "restraint."
-June 28–Newark to announce nominees for next bishop
-September (date??)-Next regular meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion. PB Griswold would be TEC representative if he is welcome!
-September 23–Special convention to elect Bishop of Newark
-October & November–Consents process
-November 4–New Presiding Bishop installed
-December 1–Bishop-Elect of Newark in office (date of consecration not yet set).
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.
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