Posted on 09/17/2003 3:30:46 PM PDT by ahadams2
September 16, 2003 11:54 PM
Quincy diocese to consider leaving Episcopal Church
By Stephanie Massick, Staff writer Chicago Street Decorating Center
The Episcopal Diocese of Quincy has drafted several resolutions that, if approved, would separate it from the Episcopal Church of the United States.
This follows the church's decision in early August to confirm an openly gay man as bishop. In a 62-45 vote, the Episcopal General Convention confirmed the election of the Rev. Gene Robinson -- who has lived with his male partner for 13 years -- as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire.
``There is no precedent for a situation such as this,'' said Tad Brenner, vice chancellor of the Quincy diocese. ``There was a whole lot of controversy. Many folks and many theologians see this as being a drastic departure (from) the recognized teachings of the church.''
Mr. Brenner said the issue is two-fold, as it involves both homosexuality and sex out of the bonds of marriage. Both topics spur a variety of reactions from church officials and parishioners.
``There are opinions as wide and as vast as you could possibly imagine,'' he said.
Quincy and Springfield, two of Illinois' three dioceses, both voted against the election of the Rev. Robinson, while Chicago was in favor.
The three resolutions drafted by officials state that the Quincy diocese, one of the more conservative in the country and one of only three that refuse to ordain women, would become independent of the Episcopal Church, be regarded as its own branch or be combined with other like-minded churches at a future date.
Representatives from the churches within the diocese will vote on the resolutions at the synod, an annual meeting, which will be held Oct. 17 and 18 in Rock Island.
Another meeting scheduled for a few days before the Quincy diocese synod will be attended by primates -- archbishops in charge of geographical areas -- from around the world. These primates represent the 77 million people who belong to the Anglican Communion, which includes Episcopalians.
Such a meeting usually takes place only once a decade. The last was in 1998, so the primates weren't scheduled to meet again until 2008. However, the lead archbishop ``called a special meeting,'' Mr. Brenner said. ``This is an extraordinary event.''
The Quincy resolutions were drafted because of the meeting of the primates, he continued. ``The point was to have something that could potentially be needed, depending on the statements issued by the primates, (some of whom) are extremely upset at the action taken by the American church.''
While the drafters of the resolutions ``took their best guess as to things the primates might say or do,'' Mr. Brenner said, ``we don't know what the primates are going to say. There's a good deal of uncertainty. A lot of questions have been asked, but none of them will be answered for quite awhile. It could be as much as recognizing two separate churches in the United States. It could be as little as saying, `Everybody needs to pray about this.'
Shortly after the vote confirming the gay bishop, the Rev. Bill Knapp of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Silvis expressed concern that the decision could end up causing splits in the church.
``We could no longer be in communion with that,'' he said.
I haven't met him but I've heard that from people who know him. I think it's telling that he is not the one being quoted by the article. That tells me that he's not the type who seeks notoriety or publicity, but is focused on tending his flock and keeping them from straying. Would that more of our shepherds were so focused.
You have pegged him to a tee. I once spoke with him at St. Clements in Philadelphia after he came to say Mass (Tridentine Rite following the Anglican Missal) administer confirmation and asked him why, given his Catholic beliefs, he had not become a Roman Catholic.
He said that he would have personally, were he not a Bishop, but that he felt a committment to bring all his diocese with him, and that he wished to be recognized as having valid orders by Rome, so that he could continue in his vocation with his whole diocese.
He is truly a man with a heart for Christ!
Once he has seperated himself from the hell-hole of the Episcopal Church, if the diocese can be convinced to jump, I hope he sends letters of communion to the Pope (like the Eastern Bishops do), asking for the corporate admission of his whole diocese, with him as Bishop, and recognition of his orders. I believe that in the present environment, this could be possible if he can proove his lineage via the Polish National Catholic Church or elsewhere.
I think we're going to see a spate of activity and news stories to go along, as October 16 approaches.
I would EXPECT Quincy to leave. IIRC, they've already taken over or offered to take over administration of a few orthodox Anglican parishes in very loony dioceses.
Each of you has an urgent freepmail.
He was rather taken aback by some of my comments. A list of some of them:
1. The most evil thing I can do as a Christian is to accept homosexuals as if there is nothing sinful in their activities, dooming them to an eternity of torment.
2. Monogamous homosexuality is as much a sin as a bank robber who only robs one particular bank over and over.
3. The actions of our bishops and the others who voted in favor of Robinson was an act of moral cowardice. Their votes were only acceptable to the politically correct element of society.
4. Whenever a church accedes to the wishes and desires of society instead of the Commandments of God, it can no longer call itself a church. For if our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had done so, he would have died of old age.
5. If the Diocese of Connecticut, this church or him as our Rector think for one minute I will be run out of my church without a terrible fight for the soul of the church, they are sadly mistaken and advised to gird your loins for they have unleashed a dedicated foe and filled him with a burning resolve.
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