Another shoe drops ...

Pittsburgh bishop has abandoned communion of The Episcopal Church,
Title IV Review Committee says

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I'm coming late to blog-land today ... busy, busy, busy in parish-land ... but wanted to stay abreast of the latest delevopments in "As the Anglican World Turns."

The latest shoe to drop is the Title IV Review Committee's determination that +Bob Duncan has INDEED abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church ... the story is outlined in this ENS article and a PDF of +Katharine's "Dear Bob" letter is available here.

Here's the "bottom line" -- from the ENS article:

Her letter told Duncan that she sought the canonically required permission from the House's three senior bishops with jurisdiction to inhibit him, based on the certification, from the performance of any episcopal, ministerial or canonical acts.

"On 11 January 2008 they informed me that such consents would not be given at this time by all three bishops," Jefferts Schori wrote.

"Pursuant to the time limits stated in Canon IV.9, the matter will not come before the House of Bishops at its next scheduled meeting in March 2008, but will come before the House at the next meeting thereafter," the Presiding Bishop wrote in her letter.

"I would, however, welcome a statement by you within the next two months providing evidence that you once more consider yourself fully subject to the doctrine, discipline and worship of this Church," Jefferts Schori wrote in her letter to Duncan.

The three senior bishops with jurisdiction -- Leo Frade of Southeast Florida, Peter Lee of Virginia, and Don Wimberly of Texas -- did give their permission on January 11 for Jefferts Schori to inhibit Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin Bishop John-David Schofield in another case where the Title IV Review Committee certified an abandonment of the communion of the church. The House will consider the case matter involving Schofield in March.

So what next? Well, looks like similar action pending regarding Fort Worth's Bishop Jack Iker, at least based on this "Dear Jack" letter made public today by the Diocese of Fort Worth, wherein +Katharine writes,

I believe you misinterpreted my previous letter. I gave no "acknowledgement that dioceses can and do leave The Episcopal Church." On the contrary, I continue to aver that individuals may leave, but congregations and dioceses do not. I continue to urge you to withdraw from any encouragement of such a belief, or action toward departure, as I believe it to be violation of the vows we have both repeatedly taken to "conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church."

Seems clear enough to me. And ALSO seems clear to me that there are going to be more "shoes dropping" before all is said and done. Stay tuned!
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