Posted on 09/18/2008 5:51:48 PM PDT by Huber
The House of Bishops purported deposition of Bishop Robert Duncan will not change the agenda for the Oct. 4 Diocesan Convention or change Bishop Duncan’s status as a bishop in good standing within the Anglican Communion.
The action of the House of Bishops, which was taken in a closed meeting on September 18 in Salt Lake City, Utah, contravenes numerous canons of The Episcopal Church. While Bishop Duncan continues to believe that the "deposition" is unlawful, he will not challenge the "deposition" prior to the end of the diocese’s October 4 convention unless forced to do so by the leadership of The Episcopal Church.
On October 4, diocesan convention deputies will consider the second reading of a constitutional change that would realign the diocese with the Province of the Southern Cone. With the passage of that constitutional change, the diocese will be free to welcome Bishop Duncan back as its bishop. In the meantime, under the diocese’s governing documents, the standing committee will serve as the diocese’s ecclesiastical authority.
“This is of course a very painful moment for Pittsburgh Episcopalians. The leadership of The Episcopal Church has inserted itself in a most violent manner into the affairs and governance of our diocese. While we await the decision of the diocesan convention on realignment to a different province of the Anglican Communion, we will stand firm against any further attempts by those outside our boundaries intimidate us,” said the Rev. David Wilson, president of the Standing Committee.
Bishop Duncan’s own continuing status as a bishop in The Anglican Communion has been secured by the Province of the Southern Cone.
“As was resolved by resolution made at the Provincial Synod in Valparaiso last November 2007, we are happy to welcome Bishop Duncan into the Province of the Southern Cone as a member of our House of Bishops, effective immediately. Neither the Presiding Bishop nor the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church has any further jurisdiction over his ministry. We pray for all Anglicans in Pittsburgh as they consider their own relationship with The Episcopal Church in the coming weeks,” said Archbishop Gregory Venables.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. I recommend using snipers to defend the perimeter...
To say it is a potential legal mess is an understatement.
As I understand it, the "implied trust" of property ownership supposedly established by the Dennis cannons are EXERCISED BY THE DIOCESES' BISHOP (not 815, i.e. TEC). This is one reason why the wicked witch of the west was so anxious to remove Duncan, and presumably appoint one of her lackeys in his place... who would probably try to cancel the meeting....or if that's not possible, make a legal claim to all the Churches in the diocese properties BEFORE Oct. 4.
If that were done, then, the new rump bishop could sue, and if the courts in Pennsylvania accept the legality of TEC's trust claim over the churches....they could win--and force all the dioceses' congregations out of their own churches.
Unlike in the state of Virginia, I don't believe Pennsylvania has the statute which is supposed to recognize ownership of individual church properties to the congregation in the event of a denomination-wide split.
Anglicans, and ALL CHRISTIAN READERS OF THIS POST, PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH!!!
And may the Comforter come beside and deeply bless Bishop Duncan, and direct and hear his prayers for his people.
Faithful Anglicans in North America and beyond are building a new North American Anglican Province. It is expected that Bishop Duncan will be its Primate.
Think of it: Dr. Schori “deposes” Bishop Duncan.
Bishop Duncan becomes Primate of North America.
What does the next Primate’s Meeting (if there even is one) look like when Dr. Schori walks in and sees the new Archbishop Duncan sitting next to Archbishops Akinola and Venables?
“You can’t win. If you strike me down I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine” - Alec Guiness in Star Wars
Duncan will only be sitting in that meeting if the Anglican Communion satisfies Akinola and Venables (so that they’ll be there) and recognizes a new North American Anglican Province. Of course, TEC might have a small problem with that - but then, if there aren’t changes in the AC, TEC might walk.
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