Schism Du Jour

For regular viewers of "As the Anglican World Turns" today's vote by the Diocese of San Joaquin to abandon the faith and order of the Episcopal Church comes as no surprise. It is the "Long Expected Schism" orchestrated by Bishop Schofield (pictured below) and others committed to splitting the church they have failed to recreate in their own image.

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Adrian Mendoza, Modesto Bee / AP

The blogs and news are full of commentary and Kendall Harmon has done his usual efficient job of compiling links and sources ... check them out at titusonenine.

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Here's the comment I made on his site:

It is indeed a sad day—on that score I agree with Kendall. But the crocodile tears from those who have prayed, worked, schemed and finally brought about their Long Expected Schism are a bit much. When we look back at the history of the “rending of the fabric of the Anglican Communion” the date will not be July 29, 1974 or February 11, 1989 or even November 2, 2003 ... it will be December 8, 2007 and the responsibility for the rip will lay at the feed of those who today have walked away from historic Anglicanism and embraced hysteric Schmaticism.

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And it's all hardly breaking news. Here's a bit from a December 2006 blog: Come, thou long expected schism:

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...how does it work that after 30 (at least) years of living with differences it is those of us committed to continuing to live with those differences (including being in communion with those who do not accept our orders, affirm our relationships or acknowledge our vocations) who are being blamed for this ecclesial rupture orchestrated by those whose criterion for being included is being agreed with.

And here's a piece I wrote way back before General Convention 2003: What if they gave a schism and nobody came?
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What it takes to create schism is for someone to leave -- and I am sick unto death with the unity of this church being placed on the shoulders of those of us who have committed to stay. When are we going to hold accountable those who threaten to leave? When will we name the actions of those who have conspired with factions of the larger Anglican communion to actively oppress and marginalize its GLBT members with what it is: fomenting schism -- creating conflict -- sacrificing the unity of the church to their own agenda of power, control and heterosexism?

If schism happens ... the blame will lie not with Claiming the Blessing, the Diocese of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson or the countless GLBT Christians living out their faith journeys in the Episcopal Church. It will lie firmly at the feet of those whose will to power is greater than their willingness to embrace the other, whose commitment to crisis is greater than their faith in the Gospel and whose singular obsession with things sexual has blinded them to the Spirit's revelation via things incarnational."
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So we reach the point where, sadly, "Come thou long expected Schism" is the All-the-Rage-Advent refrain again this year in reasserter-land:
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Come, Thou long expected Schism

Born to set Thy people free

From our fears of queers release us

As we quest for Purity.

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CANA’s strength and consolation

Hope of homophobes thou art

Dear Desire of “Network” nations

Joy of every “Windsor” heart.

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Reasserters you’ll deliver

As you split the church apart.

Come thou long expected schism

Let the glorious rupture start!

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And so the rupture starts, but for the record, the rest of us are sticking to the original ...

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Come, thou long-expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

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... and when the dust has settled from this shameful schism du jour we will get on with the work of the church -- with or without those who "like a good fight."

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