Updated again Sunday morning
From epiScope: Renunciation of Orders
Today, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori “accepted the renunciation of the Ordained Ministry of this Church, made in writing on November 24, 2008 by the Right Rev. Jack Leo Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth who is, therefore, removed from Ordained Ministry of this Church and released from the obligations of all Ministerial offices, and is deprived of the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority as a Minister of God’s Word and Sacraments conferred on him in Ordinations.”
Saturday morning update
There is a detailed ENS report: Presiding Bishop declares inhibited Fort Worth bishop has renounced his orders.
See also PB “accepts” Bishop Iker’s renunciation of orders at Episcopal Café.
Here is what was published on the date mentioned above.
Read what she wrote to the House of Bishops.
…My decision to accept Bishop Iker’s voluntary renunciation fits squarely within the canons. Bishop Iker’s November 24 statement clearly constitutes “a renunciation of the ordained ministry of this Church, and a desire to be removed therefrom” as contemplated by Canon III.12.7(a). Other, similar letters — most recently from Bishops Bena and Fairfield — have also been treated as voluntary renunciations and with the consent of my Council of Advice I have accepted them and removed and released those bishops from our ordained ministry, as well…
Sunday morning update
Bishop Iker has issued a statement: What Renunciation?
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Episcopal Church presiding bishop says Iker renounced orders.
And, Bishop Iker commented on the proposed new province in this newspaper report: Fort Worth Episcopal bishop weighs in on the church’s split.
The Steering Committee North Texas Episcopalians issued this statement.
Which greatly in my mind reduces the question to basics – changes there have been, several, but which changes are worthy of the name Christian?
Those promoting the 10 Commandments + the 2 kainä entoläs ones of the NT: Love God with all your might and you Neighbour as yourself, or those promoting something else ;=)
The shining gold in the Iker Ft W business is that the door is now procedurally open for an earlier reorganization of a continuing TEC diocese, as Iker now clearly says he is SC and nothing at all to do with TEC. He may have shot himself in the foot with that one, long-term, though of course he will deny seeing that he has done so. Expect court law suits over property and so forth to begin shortly in Texas, as Iker is as like to be as grabby as SanJ or PBRGH before him. As interventions go, this one… Read more »
I wish that the PB hadn’t worded the notice about Bp. Iker so that it was possible to interpret it as if he had written her and said, “I want to renounce my orders.” I buy the argument that by saying he’s gone over to the SC and denying any canonical authority on the part of PECUSA he effectively *did* renounce his orders – I just wish that she had phrased it that way.
“We wonder by what authority the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States presumes to inhibit a bishop of the Province of the Southern Cone. We do not recognize the authority of the Presiding Bishop over us. We regret this illegal, unconstitutional, and uncanonical attempt to interfere with the rights and ministry of a diocese of another province of the Anglican Communion. We call upon her to desist from any further actions in our diocese and that she refrain from any further border crossing” – The Rev. Dr. Thomas Hightower, President, The Standing Committee of Forth Worth… Read more »