Posted on 06/29/2006 4:49:00 PM PDT by sionnsar
Ruth Gledhill: Newark Re-enters Anglican Fray
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....In line with this, one member of the TEC bishops and deputies email discussion list has posted this:
"Any number of folks have suggested recently that we frame some sort of amicable divorce to let the disgruntled go peaceably and nicely That would be a terrible strategic error. First, we have no reason to believe that the harm and humiliation that groups like the ACN, etc have sought to perpetrate upon TEC would end.
"In fact, if we let them leave with all their resources we have simply given them a platform to carry on their promised war against TEC. Remember, please, that they are collecting parish directories in order to allow their lay arm to continue to agitate among TEC's membership.
"So step one is to promise them a long legal battle for every scrap of property and every dime in every bank account. We need to make it clear they will spend the next ten years litigating.
"The standard is that if there is one person in a parish or one person in a Diocese who wish to remain in TEC they become the legitimate stewards of everything that is now TEC's
"Second, let's remember that these folks have no constituency from which to draw for growth. Catholics will always pick Rome over Rome wannabes and in the evangelical-fundamentalist world the folks withdrawing from TEC are guppies among sharks.
"Their fantasy life says that they will grow and grow and just show us all, but the reality is that apart from the Truros and Planos, they have lived sheltered lives as bible thumpers. Which means, again, that they can only hope to grow from trying to sew more discord in TEC.
"Third, I certainly hope that in San Joachin, South Carolina, Pittsburgh and Fort Worth people are preparing Diocesan Conventions to replace those who are leaving. Whomever has the authority should declare those Sees vacant and support local folks as they re-organize. [See below. --sionnsar] This same organizing should begin now in every other Diocese that has withdrawn it's accession to the Canons and Constitution.
"Fourth, we are already an international church, spanning turf from Taiwan to France. We should offer alternative primatial oversight to any parish or Diocese anywhere in the world who would rather be
associated with TEC than the curial-fundamentalist WWAC emerging under ++Rowan's mismanagement. Before he assigns us second class status, let's demonstrate the power of a participatory democratic church. We should be prepared to welcome as Sister and Brother Provinces those like Scotland, Ireland, Wales, South Africa, Brazil, etc who will not
support the emerging shape of the WWAC.
"Hopefully the Executive Council and the PB's office will take leadership in these matters, but if not, then instead of continuing to worry over the true impact of B033, we could instead become proactive
in this full court press against the theo-terrorists of the ACN-IRD-AAC-NAG-ACI grouping."
Back in 1988, I covered the wives' conference at the Lambeth Conference and popped in occasionally to the main press office to consult with my great mentor Clifford Longley. The story I wrote about polygamy didn't go down too well. It might even have been the reason the spouses' conference, as it became to include the male husbands of women bishops, was closed to the press in 1998.
But now, I can hardly wait to see what happens in 2008. Will Gene Robinson and Michael Barlowe, in the likely event that he is elected, be invited? And will their partners? And if so, will we be allowed to cover what will presumably become the "spouses and partners conference"?
An "amicable divorce" indeed.
Maybe I'm not feeling so tired after all. The "vita media", or to be technically accurate the vita mediorum, looks so full of fun and entertainment for the future, you'ld have to be a complete pagan not to find it of interest.
The last couple of days have been invigorating for orthodox Episcopalians. But these should be under no illusions. The TECkies will play rough:
Dioceses and congregations, however, do not officially "leave" the Episcopal Church simply because leaders or any number of members depart, said the Rev. Jan Nunley, deputy for Communication at the Episcopal Church Center in New York. "Parishes are created by dioceses and dioceses are created by action of the General Convention," she said. "People are free to leave," but congregations and dioceses continue within church structures.
Nunley confirmed that the Episcopal Church’s elected leadership may, if necessary, declare a diocese vacant, and that in such a case the Presiding Bishop would call for the election of a new diocesan bishop, among other actions.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. ICHABOD
Spoken like true godly, humble Christians.
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