Posted on 02/11/2007 6:08:28 PM PST by sionnsar
Katharine Jefferts Schori and the folks at 815 (based in their lovely offices in Manhattan), filed more lawsuits yesterday here in Virginia against all the parishes (their clergy, vestries, and trustees) that followed the Diocese of Virginia's Protocol for Departing Churches. So along with Bishop Lee and the Diocese of Virginia, now 815 (TEC) has sued everybody as well. That's a nice thing to do before getting on the plane for Tanzania.
Told my brother, the Methodist, that the diocese and the national church are suing lay volunteers and he wondered, "what kind of church is that?"
By the way - just for the record - we here at BabyBlue have no problem with a woman being a bishop if she is called by the Lord to do that - which would include believing He is the Lord. This conflict has nothing to do with women's ordination - in fact, Bishop Lee inhibited the interim vicar of one of the Virginia churches - an ordained woman. She got a letter just like all the others. Now that's equality.
But as we think about the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church going over to Tanzania to share the love, knowing that she's just sued all these volunteer lay people in Virginia (and of course, all the primates knowing what she's done as well), perhaps the best thing to do now is to take a deep breath and pray.
"That's a nice thing to do before getting on the plane for Tanzania."
It does seem, at a minimum, impolitic, doesn't it. It says to me that she thinks she will walk out of the meeting in Africa still the head of a church in communion with a majority of the Anglican Communion.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad."
K, I don't think so -- though that is in the realm of possibility. Remember that the former PECUSA, more recently ECUSA (Episcopal Church of the United States of America), is now named TEC (The Episcopal Church), with missions elsewhere.
My guess is that in short order (measured on the Anglican timescale -- you impatient Orthodox will have to cool your heels for a while *\;-), we will see two worldwide Communions: Anglican (what's left after the liberal minority departs) and Episcopalian (what walked out of the faith).
Lawyers are going to be the ruin of Western Civilization.
Some references at:
http://aacblog.classicalanglican.net/
I tend to agree with Sionnsar on this. 815's move smacks of hardball tactics. The strategy appears to be to continue on their chosen path, the Anglican Communion notwithstanding. The message is clear. If the Communion choses not to accept this, TEC will make it as difficult and costly as it can for any who stand in its way. If the church suffers, so much the better. (In the event of a liquidation of assets, 815 believes itself to be in the position of preferred shareholder) TEC leadership is motivated by something very different than the Holy Ghost.
"Lawyers are going to be the ruin of Western Civilization."
No, lawyers are just a service provider. The civilization itself is the problem. IT is what wants the lawyers. The lawyers merely fulfill the demand.
The interesting part is suing the volunteers. That is aimed at silencing all lay opposition. Being a volunteer in Church is free. You do something good, and you get the reward of a smile, perhaps, and the knowledge you've done something good. A lawsuit imposes a cost on volunteering - a steep and frightening cost. It is designed to intimidate the laity from doing anything at all, to silence them and frighten them away from even volunteering.
Or another possibility. If she expects that Akinola and others will refuse to meet with her, or worse, then she can use this action as the pretext for their behavior. IOW, she's attempting to "pre-spin" her own upcoming moment of shame..
I've been meaning to ask. Is there a Mr. Schori? Has he been seen in public?
From her official biography on the TEC website...
Bishop Jefferts Schori and her husband, Richard Miles Schori, a retired theoretical mathematician (topologist), were married in 1979. They have one daughter, Katharine Johanna, 25, who is a first lieutenant and pilot in the U. S. Air Force.
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