On December 14th, ENS reported that the Presiding Bishop wrote to +John David "saying that she assumes his declaration that he is now under the authority of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone "means you understand yourself to have departed the Episcopal Church and are no longer functioning as a member of the clergy in this Church."This morning, Kendall Harmon posted +Schofield's (lengthy) response over at titusonenine. And I read it pretty carefully. And I have to admit I just wasn't exactly sure what his point was.
Fr. Jake offered his usual thorough analysis, reaching the conclusion "Temporary or not, becoming a member of another House of Bishops does indeed define his relationship with the Episcopal Church."
But the most clarifying analysis came from Dr. Louie Crew who offered this concise summary:
I'm out if you want to consider me in; I'm in if you want to consider me out. Gotcha! +JDS
I think that about covers it.
If you want to read more there's a Living Church interview with Steve Waring. But for "clarity," I commend this comment posted on the Living Church website in response to the interview:
It is ridiculous for Bishop Schofield to say that he has nothing against the national church or the leadership in the church. I live in the Diocese of San Joaquin and I have heard him malign the national church over the 20 years he has been a bishop and, more recently, he has maligned Presiding Bishop Schori. He has decimated the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of San Joaquin. He has divided churches with his views and actions, and he could care less about the people in the pews who have been hurt. For more than 40 years, I was a faithful member of a church in Turlock, CA, and I was opposed to his attitude toward the national church. We were without a priest, and Bishop Schofield brought in a priest, deposed in the national church, to serve in our parish. 5 members of the vestry, including me, resigned and left because we could not be in our church in these circumstances. Have the rest of you forgotten integrity? Why do you believe whatever this man says?
Beryl Simkins
Posted on: December 21, 2007 8:50 PM.
3 comments:
Dear Rev. Russell:
JDS is simply following in a long line of artful dodgers in the annoying Episcopal tradition of not letting your "yes be yes" or "your no, be no."
Reading the tomes of most bishops, including your new PB and the ABC, is most frustrating in that navigating the maze of their verbosity always leaves confused.
The true master of confusing double speak was Bp. Griswold, who has mercifully faded into the background.
Someone should tell these academics that the shortest line between two points is straight. Talk and writing is the same.
A sinner saved by God's Grace
Jim of Michigan
p.s.
Nice to see your picture has returned....
A sinner saved by God's Grace
Jim from Michigan
Yeah, I still haven't figured out why pictures occasionally disappear for awhile and then show back up. Oh well ... one of those "mysteries of life" I guess.
Post a Comment