Episcopalians fireworks ahead?
Posted July 15, 2006
If a conservative diocese tries to declare its independence from the Episcopal Church, things are going to get mighty interesting.
Since the 2006 General Convention, about a half-dozen dioceses have taken steps to lessen ties with the denomination's national leadership. So far, none has tried to completely break completely away.
The denomination says secession isn't allowed by canon (or church) law and it has a strategy in place to deal with would be defectors -- including bishops. "People are free to leave," spokeswoman Rev. Jan Nunley told the Episcopal News Service, but they can't take a diocese with them.
According to ENS, "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."
Some Episcopalian blogs are already abuzz with talk of a possible strike against one of the renegade dioceses. If it happens, it will be the opening salvo in a lengthy legal battle. The Living Church magazine reported today that a "presentment" -- or church indictment -- will likely be filed against the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield, Bishop of San Joaquin. It's unclear exactly what the charges would be. San Joaquin's diocesan convention reportedly changed its bylaws regarding ownership of diocesan property in recent years.
Also complicating matters, the Nigerian primate has appointed a leading U.S. conservative clergyman, The Rev. Canon Martyn Minns, to serve as a "missionary bishop" in the United States. The boundary crossing is yet another headache for those who are trying to avoid a denominational split.
To read the entire ENS article, go to: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_76450_ENG_HTM.htm
To see The Living Church's article, go to: http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=2242
To see the press release about Minns' selection as bishop, go to: http://truro.timberlakepublishing.com/content.asp?contentid=702
COMMENTS:
AUTHOR: Shafter McKnight
EMAIL: SMNWKY127@aol.com
DATE: 07/20/2006 09:43:11 PM
I was never officially a member of the Episcopal Church, though I attended one or another for many years off and on--as well as get married in the Episcopal Church. It has changed dramatically in the last few decades--so much so that it borders on being almost non-Christian---like a Unitarian Church with a Catholic ambience. I wish that it would return to a more conservative position on many current issues at hand these days.
AUTHOR: Allen
EMAIL: kyronin@aol.com
DATE: 07/24/2006 08:45:16 PM
Saying the Episcopal church borders on un-Christian is about the most ridiculous thing someone could say. Our faith in God and Jesus is reaffirmed every time we worship, not only in the ancient creeds we recite but in the individual beliefs of the members. I myself am very much a faithful, dedicated Christian, just because we accept people from all walks of life into our midst doesn't make us less Christian, it makes us moreso.