The Bishop of California Bill Swing has again attacked NACDAP on his diocesan site and in the Witness with This Mutiny Will Fail; the Church Will Abide. After summarising remarks made by another, unnamed, but easily recognisable bishop, he comments:
There have been people inside the Episcopal Church and outside the Episcopal Church who have been plotting our church’s demise long before there was an Episcopal election in New Hampshire: for almost half a century. The plotters have been living in a fury of win-lose for generations. Finally, they have assumed that they cannot win and take control of the Episcopal Church so they seek to destroy it and assume control as the orthodox remnant. Timing is everything for them. They see the present moment as the perfect storm where wealthy American ideologues and angry African bishops and cultural divides and shocked ecumenical and interfaith partners converge to assist their victory.
What they don’t realize is that the Episcopal Church has more staying power than they suppose. When our bishops, priests, and deacons took a solemn oath at ordination vowing to be loyal to the doctrine, discipline, worship of the Episcopal Church, we meant it. Millions of laity for hundreds of years have confirmed their faith in context of the Episcopal Church — in good times and bad. Together we gave our sacred honor to the revelation of God in Christ as lived out in the Episcopal Church. Our history has been earned with countless sacrifices. We have all been embarrassed as well as enhanced; won some, lost some. With prayer, sweat, and endurance we have built cathedrals, seminaries, religious communities, youth camps, schools, social ministries, hospitals, and churches. We will abide. Although the Southern Cone finds us unacceptable, we will abide. Even though the Archbishop of Canterbury and the primates and Anglican Consultative Council sever us from their fellowship, we will abide. Personally, I don’t think that the Archbishop of Canterbury would ever do that, but should he dismiss us, we will abide.
I genuinely grieve that we have all reached this moment. But this is not the last moment, only a passing moment. There will be fairer days, and in the light I expect to see the Episcopal Church afloat on the deep and sailing. This mutiny will fail. The Episcopal Church will abide.
Another view of NACDAP plans can be found in What would +Rowan do? by Thomas Bushnell.
The more I think about it, the more I think people should go read James 1:19-2:8 (http://bible.org/netbible/jam1.htm). The idea that people could be against the friendly wee Episcopalian church down the road from me is depressing and abhorrent.
Who cares what Swing thinks. He’s in the backwash of Christian movement. He sounds like he gets his views from Air America. When I was very young, the country had apopulation of about 130,000,000. Since then the poipulation has more than doubled, but the ECUSA hasn’t grown as well. Swing, Ed Bacon, and others can’t seem to figure out why that is.
What is so amazing is that Bishop Swing cannot conceive that he may be wrong! When the huge majority of the Anglican Communion suggest such he and his colleagues cry that they are suffering prophets. Perhaps he should consider that those opposed to these Episcopal novelties might be right. On a second matter raised by +Swing — he refers to the loyalty vows taken at ordination. These are to Episcopal doctrine as a part of Anglican doctrine. This is inherent in our ECUSA constitution. If the doctrines of ECUSA depart those of the Anglican Communion then I believe that our… Read more »
Does anyone have a link to the set of vows taken at ordination time?
This is the wording for Priests in the ECUSA Ordinal: The Bishop says to the ordinand Will you be loyal to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this Church has received them? And will you, in accordance with the canons of this Church, obey your bishop and other ministers who may have authority over you and your work? Answer I am willing and ready to do so; and I solemnly declare that I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation;… Read more »
quote: “I solemnly declare that I do believe the Holy Scriptures… and I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church.” Do we have an idea of what The Episcopal Church used to believe? I understand there was a certain ‘reformation’ at some stage in ECUSA’s history (forgive my ignorance). If you want to see how far some of our leaders have got from this solemn commitment, check out Swing’s AMAZING universalism website http://www.uri.org and the bio @ http://www.uri.org/The_Rt._Rev._William_Swing.htmlthey give him as pioneer of same – it is “jaw-drop” as they in England,… Read more »
This is the US 1928 BCP vow to which I referred in my earlier comment. Bishop. Will you be ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God’s Word; and to use both public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole, within your Cures, as need shall require, and occasion shall be given? Answer. I will, the Lord being my helper. 1662 (under which I was ordained) is identical There are also vows to obey the “godly admonitions and judgements” of… Read more »