Posted on 01/20/2007 5:50:05 PM PST by sionnsar
Kate Schori makes it official. TEC means to play rough:
The Episcopal Church, in consultation with the Diocese of Virginia, regrets the recent votes by members of some congregations in Virginia to leave this Church. We wish to be clear, however, that while individuals have the right and privilege to depart or return at any time, congregations do not. Congregations exist because they are in communion with the bishop of a diocese, through recognition by diocesan governing bodies (diocesan synods, councils, or conventions). Congregations cannot unilaterally disestablish themselves or remove themselves from a diocese. In addition, by canon law, property of all sorts held by parishes is held and must be used for the mission of the Episcopal Church through diocesan bishops and governing bodies. As a Church, we cannot abrogate our interest in such property, as it is a fiduciary and moral duty to preserve such property for generations to come and the ministries to be served both now and in the future.
"A fiduciary and moral duty." Interesting order of words in that phrase.
The recent decisions by some members of congregations in Virginia to leave the Episcopal Church and ally with the Anglican Church of Nigeria have no cognizance in our polity. Ancient precedent (from as early as the fourth century) in the Church requires bishops to respect diocesan boundaries, and to refrain from crossing into or acting officially in dioceses other than their own. As a Church we cannot and will not work to subvert that ancient precedent by facilitating the establishment of congregations which are purportedly responsible to bishops in other parts of the Anglican Communion within the diocesan boundaries of the Episcopal Church.
Pause for a moment and let the breathtaking dishonesty of that paragraph wash over you. You probably don't want to list all the ways that the Episcopal Church violates "ancient precedent (from as early as the fourth century)" every time it wakes up in the morning or you'll be up all night. But just to name two, it would seem that making a bishop out of an unrepentant sinner and women's ordination itself qualify as violations of ancient precedent but there's ancient precedent and then there's ancient precedent, I guess.
The Episcopal Church continues to seek reconciliation with those who have decided to leave this Church, and reminds all parties that our doors are open to any who wish to return. Together with the Diocese of Virginia we seek to be clear about who we are as Episcopalians, and to continue to reach out in healing to this broken world. The overwhelming majority of the more than 7,600 congregations of the Episcopal Church are engaged in doing exactly that.
I'm game. Taking back Robbie's pointy hat and admitting that he should never have gotten it in the first place would be a good start. Oh, that's right. In the Episcopal Church, "reconciliation" means we do whatever we want and we let you disagree with it as long as your checks clear. Never mind then. But good luck getting all this past the primates in Dar es Salaam, Kate.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. I've followed these sad posts, brought about by the pathetic Homo in NH.
It is sad, but V. Gene Robinson is only a marker along the way (down). This has been coming for a long, long time.
Yes, indeed. Sionnsar is quite right. Vicky Gene was merely the "touche" that stung too much in a sword fight that's been going on for a long, long time. Some would say 40+ years, others might say since 1979. I happen to be in the 40+ years camp. The Episcopal Church in the U.S. took a hard left turn in the 1960's & it's the product of those turbulent anti-establishment & reactionary times who are now the LEADERS of this dying church. These moral, spiritual, & mental midgets can quote you chapter & verse from the writings of Karl Marx, but have only a passing acquaintance with Holy Scripture. They have accepted & put their stamp of approval on every manner of sin - from abortion on demand, to multiple marriages & divorces, to adultery, to homosexuality. Worse, they've embraced a theology that questions or dismisses the divinity of Jesus &, thus, can no longer be accurately termed a "Christian" church. In a word, The Episcopal Church has become an abomination & something to be avoided if one truly seeks salvation.
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