Updated Wednesday evening
The Bishop of Fort Worth has received another letter from the Presiding Bishop.
You can read the letter here (PDF). The full text is here below the fold.
Earlier correspondence is here.
The Living Church reports this as Bishop Iker Receives Another Letter Threatening Disciplinary Action.
Update
Bishop Iker also wrote a message to to all Clergy and Convention Delegates of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. And he commented to the press on both the letter from the Presiding Bishop to him (the letter itself is included on the same page) and on the letter from the Presiding Bishop to Bishop Duncan.
January 9, 2008
The Rt. Rev Jack L. Iker, D.D.
The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth
2900 Alameda
Fort Worth, TX 76108
Dear Jack,
Thank you for your letter. I believe you have 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 a violation of the vows we have both repeatedly taken to “conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church.”
I lament your belief that clergy and laity with your theological position are being systematically eliminated from positions of leadership and influence. If they are disappearing, it is by their own decision and at their own hands. I note how carefully the current and former Presidents of the House of Deputies have been to ensure broad representation in appointment to various church bodies, and know that my predecessors and I have also sought to include all theological positions in appointments within our purview.
You state your concern about those who would stand by their convictions being threatened with depositions and lawsuits. I would also note that depositions and lawsuits have no substance if there has been no violation. Fear of same is probably not rational if there is no basis for same.
I pray that your ministry may be one of abundance in the coming year, and I remain
Your servant in Christ,
Katharine Jefferts Schori
Oh, but I love our Presiding Bishop.
“Fear of same is probably not rational if there is no basis for same.” Touche’!
Wow! Compact and energetic and to the point. Compare with the windy Advent letter of the ABC. I think Our Katharine should give him some tutoring in communication.
After reading through the two sets of requests to the review committee, I am again most struck by the unquestioned and underlying presumption. Is is comprehensively and completely true that, if say queer folks are known in our worlds as citizens who work productively, care committedly, and pray as well as they are able from time to time to time – that con evo believers cannot work, do their special con evo version of family, and pray as well? Does this key presupposition not equally well simply presume almost all of the old negative stuff we formerly believed to be… Read more »
Bishop Katharine (PhD) apparently never took “Anglican fudge” — she says what she means & she means what she says — no wonder the schismatics are terrified!
Yeah, +Jack, it’s all just a great big secret conspiracy.
You’d know all about how that works, wouldn’t you?
“And just exactly where does he think he gets to go, if his realignment is successful? He will still, afterwards, be living and working and praying, right among all those of us whom he has so consistently trash talked and disavowed as real live decent human beings in so much of his leadership. We will not have actually gone anywhere at that point, besides where we were before his realignment campaign, and where we will be even if it achieves its goals. Nor will Duncan be anywhere else, other than right there, among and with all the rest of us.”… Read more »
+Jack Leo is a tempermental man who throws tantrums. +Jack Leo leaves rooms/refuses to “listen” if speakers are going to discuss ANYTHING which he condemns as unworthy, unholy or in conflict with his demands. +Iker refused/refuses to attend meetings (HOB and NY TEC offices) where offering The diocese of Ft Worth are on “alternate Episcopal oversight” are on the table/agenda. Bishop Jack Leo, diminishes the spiritual worthiness of fellow Christians/human beings at The Body of Christ and DEMANDS a direct relationship with the ABC. As Bishop of Fort Worth, Bishop Jack, excludes and demoralizes members of his “flock” on a… Read more »
“BISHOP STANTON OF DALLAS AND I had a very good meeting yesterday at St. Vincent’s, where we discussed how to make provision for any parishes in this Diocese that may choose to remain in TEC if the Diocesan Convention votes to separate from The Episcopal Church.” I hope and trust the faithful Episcopalians in Fort Worth and Presiding Bishop Jefferts-Schori will tell both Bishop Iker and Bishop Stanton how little they care for whatever “provisions” they cooked up in their meeting. Bishop Iker will be an ex-Episcopalian in the event he departs so his opinion will count for nothing. Bishop… Read more »
As a cradle Episcopalian, born and raised in the Diocese of Dallas, I thank God that we have an intelligent, rational, and God-fearing Bishop. The Diocese of Ft. Worth is our nearest neighbor, and they most certainly ARE our concern. They, and we, still believe that the Bible is the word of God, that Jesus Christ was and is the only-begotten Son of God, who lived and died and rose again to save us from our sins. And, yes, most of us still believe that homosexuality IS a SIN, no matter how you try to whitewash it. Unless, of course,… Read more »
“”In vain do they worship…teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Find a commandment in the gospels…not the OT, not Paul’s letters, not anywhere but the gospels…that condemns homosexuals. I dare you.
“And, yes, most of us still believe that homosexuality IS a SIN, no matter how you try to whitewash it. Unless, of course, you disbelieve the Bible, in which case, why claim to be Christians at all?” See, despite the past several centuries, some of us still believe usury is a sin, no matter how you whitewash it, unless of course you disbelieve the Bible, in which case, why claim to be a Christian at all? Many of us believe that it is a sin to take another human life, unless you don’t believe the Bible, in which case why… Read more »
Bishop Stanton has no more authority to decide the fate of faithful Episcopalians in other dioceses than anyone else. He can not simply sit down with another bishop (much less one about to be deposed)and carve up Fort Worth like they were partitioning Poland. The Diocese of Fort Worth does exist and will continue to exist when Bishop Iker is gone. Only General Convention can decide otherwise. Fort Worth is about to be liberated from the Network. For that I envy them and I pray that one day we in Dallas will experience the same fate. The ice is already… Read more »
Angela Norton, of Gilmer, Texas posits that being eligible to claim that one is a Christian comes down to acceptance that homosexuality — regardless of circumstances, regardless of orientation, regardless of whether we speak of two people in a committed and monogamous relationship — is a “SIN”. Ford Elms, in the following post, points out the hypocrisy and absurdity of Angela’s contention, and as a heterosexual father of three and grandfather of one, I endorse Ford’s brilliant exposé. Oh, and though I have only been an Episcopalian for thirty-two years, and cannot claim the honor of being a “cradle Episcopalian,”… Read more »
“I endorse Ford’s brilliant exposé.” But it isn’t my brilliant expose, though thank you for comments. This is the position of everyone I know. That’s what I keep saying. As far as I can tell, from everyone I have spoken to, from everything I can see, this is the image of Christianity the world has: people who are quite willing to sell out their principles when it benefits them, then turn around and savage anyone who seeks to do the same thing if they don’t agree. It is a religion that is not worthy of respect, that is, in the… Read more »
Jesus was “in but not of” this world, and Jesus loved this world. In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth, as it is done in heaven. God befriended all sorts of people, he scandalised the teachers of the law and even his own disciples. He began his public ministry by introducing himself to a Samaritan woman by the well – the social pariahs of that time – see John 4. He rebuked Peter for trying to limit forgiveness – Matthew 18. He taught the disciples that anyone who preaches in… Read more »