whither the Network?
7 CommentsNetwork Bishops to Meet April 24
Bishops of those Episcopal Church dioceses that have formally affiliated with the Anglican Communion Network will meet in Chicago on April 24. The purpose of the meeting is to allow Network bishops to speak frankly with each other about the future.
As the crisis in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion has deepened, Network bishops and dioceses have been moving in several directions. Some Network dioceses have reaffiliated or are considering reaffiliating with other provinces of the Anglican Communion. Individual Network bishops have left The Episcopal Church to join other communions. Other bishops are attempting to be a voice for orthodoxy within The Episcopal Church.
“I have called this meeting because we need to talk frankly and openly about the future and how we as Network bishops can help the Network best fulfill its mission to build a biblical, missionary and united Anglican witness in the years ahead,” said Bishop Robert Duncan, moderator of the Network. “It is clear that the Network has a continuing mission to unite orthodox Anglicans, especially as increasing numbers of Network parishes and now dioceses are exiting The Episcopal Church. We will be talking about how we can work together to accomplish this goal even as we bless the several paths we have chosen as bishops and dioceses,” he added.
Dioceses that have made formal decisions to affiliate with the Network are Fort Worth, Quincy, Pittsburgh, Albany, South Carolina, San Joaquin, Central Florida, Dallas and Springfield. (The Diocese of the Rio Grande took a number of steps toward affiliation. However, their status was never completely clear.) With these dioceses, the Network also has 231 individual parish affiliates in five geographical convocations and one non-geographical convocation. Of this group, 105 parishes are under the care of The Anglican Provinces of Kenya, Uganda, or the Southern Cone. The entire diocese of San Joaquin is also under the oversight of The Province of the Southern Cone.
two meetings in London
Global South Anglican has published Statement from the Global South Primates Steering Committee, London, Mar 13-15, 2008.
Five Primates – Abp Peter Akinola, Abp Greg Venables, Abp Kolini, Abp Mouneer Anis and Abp John Chew – met together for some heart to heart conversations from 13th to 15th March in London. They released this statement…
The first three listed of these primates also attended the GAFCON meeting reported here:
We met in England as the leadership team of the Global Anglican Future Conference and Jerusalem Pilgrimage from March 10-12, 2008…
See picture here of the latter group, and the caption lists them:
41 CommentsLeft to Right, Rt Rev Nicodemus Okille, Uganda, representing Archbishop Henry Orombi, Rt Rev Don Harvey, Anglican Network in Canada, Canon Dr Vinay Samuel (India), Rt Rev Chuck Murphy (Anglican Mission in America) Consultant, Rt Rev Wallace Benn, Lewes, England, Rt Rev Martyn Minns, CANA, USA, Mr Hugh Pratt, England, Treasurer,Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Bendel, Nigeria, Rt Rev David Anderson, CANA, Consultant, Rev David Pileggi, Christ Church Jerusalem, Consultant, Canon Dr Chris Sugden, England
Front Row – Rt Rev Bob Duncan, Moderator, Common Cause, USA, Archbishop Greg Venables, Southern Cone, Archbishop Peter Akinola, Primate of all Nigeria, Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, Rwanda, Archbishop Peter Jensen, Sydney, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, Kenya
Easter in New Hampshire
Riazat Butt of the Guardian spent the weekend in the Diocese of New Hampshire, and her report is titled Gay bishop’s mission to unite.
22 Comments… The Guardian spent the Easter weekend with Robinson as he battled the winds and blizzards on a 400-mile road trip around his US diocese. But the conditions were nothing compared with those he has encountered trying to make it to the Lambeth conference, the 10-yearly gathering of the world’s Anglican bishops, which takes place in Canterbury, Kent, from July 16 to August 3.
Two weeks ago Robinson was told he would not be allowed to take part in the event – the only bishop out of 880 to be excluded. He will still go to Canterbury, but with no official status and the same access as a member of the public. Yet he will, inevitably, be one of its star attractions. Robinson will not go into detail, but says he has his own events planned, including one with award-winning actor and gay rights campaigner Sir Ian McKellen, who will perform a reading…
Easter Day at Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Easter Day Sermon is here.
And he also wrote this article published in today’s Observer newspaper, We live in a culture of blame – but there is another way.
7 CommentsHoly Week images
The Church Times portfolio of Holy Week images includes this photo by Julia Low of a medieval wall painting in St Albans Abbey.
0 Commentsfurther reports on Bishop Schofield and San Joaquin
Pat Ashworth wrote in the Church Times US bishops agree to depose Schofield.
George Conger at Religious Intelligence/CEN continued to take a different view over what happened at the recent meeting of the American House of Bishops: Doubts over deposition trial.
Mark Harris takes serious issue with the quality of George Conger’s report, see Beyond Schofield and Cox.
Rob Eaton reports from the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin (he is a member of it), in Answers from the Standing Committee: What are you “doing”?
(TA readers will recall that this committee wrote this reply on 1 February to this letter sent to them by the Presiding Bishop on 25 January.)
Meanwhile, the new diocesan website shows increased activity relating to the forthcoming diocesan convention, see here, here, and here.
8 Commentsopinions on Easter Eve
David Stancliffe writes in The Times about How an election in Sudan signals a new resurrection.
Earlier in the week, Andrew White wrote there about Iraq five years on.
Last Sunday, John Cornwell asked in the Sunday Times Are Muslim enclaves no-go areas, forcing other people out (hat tip Andrew Brown).
Christopher Howse explains in the Daily Telegraph Why the Big Bang is not Creation.
At Ekklesia Simon Barrow follows up on the article by Peter Selby linked here yesterday with Why the church needs a new foreign policy.
And he also wrote Resurrection is no Easter conjuring trick.
In the Guardian Danny Rich writes about how Purim is a timely reminder of past persecution of the Jews and the fragility of Israel in Face to faith.
Giles Fraser also writes there today, about A funny kind of Christian.
And in the Church Times he wrote about Trusting in God beyond my death.
17 Commentsopinions on Good Friday
The Church Times leader is titled Only perfect love can cast out fear.
Last week, in the Church Times Peter Selby wrote about Why war is never a final solution.
The Guardian carried a leader today titled In praise of… the Council of Nicaea.
Justin Lewis-Anthony wrote about Gambling and Good Friday.
2 CommentsSchism is not the greatest evil
Paul Gibson has written an essay Why I am not afraid of schism which appears on the Anglican Church of Canada website.
7 CommentsThe bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada were recently reported to be “alarmed” by the prospect of schism in the Anglican Communion (Anglican Journal, December 2007). The current controversy in the Communion over issues related to homosexuality appears to have created a mood or atmosphere of anxiety and fear, as though schism were the greatest evil that could befall the church and which should be avoided at all cost.
In the remarks which follow I will propose that schism is far from being a catastrophic situation, let alone the most desperate condition that may overtake a church, and that, in the words of President F.D. Roosevelt, there is nothing to fear but fear itself.
First, let us go to the biblical background…
North Africa comes to Lambeth
Global South Anglican has published Bishop Mouneer Anis Reflections on the Joint Standing Committee (JSC).
Among the comments there, this from Tunde Popoola:
12 CommentsSadly, this Godly Archbishop sound prepared to face more disappointments at Lambeth. I admire his determination in speaking up. What I do not like is the way his participation is used to legitimize questionable decisions only for him to shout foul afterwards. I pray he soon realizes that continued participation with those he believes are wrong, who listen to him but are not ready to repent is a tactic encouragement for what he believes is wrong to continue.
Posted by Tunde on 03/18 at 05:56 AM
SE Asia comes to Lambeth
Global South Anglican has published a Statement by the Synod of The Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia (2008).
29 Commentsdue process for bishops
There has been considerable discussion on blogs, for example here, about the voting process in the American House of Bishops. Some articles arising from that:
Living Church HOB Secretary: ‘No One Challenged’ PB’s Ruling by George Conger and Steve Waring, and also this commentary Flaws in Misconduct Canons by Steve Waring.
The Anglican Communion Institute has published On the Matter of Deposing Bishops at a Time of Communion Self-Assessment by Ephraim Radner, Christopher Seitz, Philip Turner.
Tony Clavier wrote To encourage others: The canon-legal conundrum on Covenant.
20 CommentsChristchurch NZ election confirmed
The choice of Victoria Matthews as Bishop of Christchurch in New Zealand has been confirmed:
Official diocesan announcement: Eighth Bishop of Christchurch announced
Episcopal News Service NEW ZEALAND: Canada’s Victoria Matthews named bishop of Christchurch
7 CommentsPittsburgh responds to charges
Updated Tuesday morning
(Apologies for the lack of TA for about ten hours today.)
The Bishop of Pittsburgh, Robert Duncan has responded to the charges made against him earlier, as reported here.
His letter to the Presiding Bishop is in PDF format here.
His lawyer’s letter to the lawyer for the national church is in PDF format here.
The Pittsburgh diocesan news release is here.
Episcopal News Service has a detailed report: Duncan replies to charges of abandonment of communion with Episcopal Church. There is this explanation about what may happen next:
Diocese of North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry, one of the bishops who briefed the media on the March 12 sessions of the House of Bishops meeting, told ENS that very few of the bishops had read the lengthy certification of the charges against Duncan. Hence, he said, Jefferts Schori suggested that the material be sent to all bishops to read.
Curry said the Presiding Bishop then agreed that her office would poll the bishops about the advisability of convening a special meeting of the House in May 2008 or whether to consider the matter at the House’s already-scheduled September meeting. Curry predicted that the answer to the question may be based in large part on the logistics of coordinating all the bishops’ calendars to find a meeting time in May.
Lionel Deimel has written two analyses, see Duncan’s Defense and Legal Matters.
3 Commentsyet more American reports
ENS reports San Joaquin Episcopalians greet bishop recommended for provisional role.
The new website for the San Joaquin diocese contains information about the Special Meeting of the Convention of the diocese.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a report by Steve Levin Clock is ticking for fate of Bishop Duncan:
11 CommentsThe leader of the Episcopal Church will poll bishops nationally next month in an effort to move the possible deposition of Pittsburgh Bishop Robert W. Duncan Jr. ahead to May.
While Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s reasons have not been made public, the impact of accelerating the deposition could be far reaching not only for Bishop Duncan but the entire worldwide Anglican Communion…
…According to an e-mail sent this week from David Booth Beers, the chancellor to the presiding bishop, to about two dozen Pittsburgh Episcopalians representing a spectrum of the diocese, he wrote that the Rev. Jefferts Schori would “poll the House of Bishops in April to see when the House would next like to meet to discuss, among other things, the certification respecting Bishop Duncan. It is not accurate to say that she is seeking approval to proceed; rather, she seeks the mind of the House as to when to proceed.”
opinions before Holy Week
Mordechai Beck writes in Face to Faith for the Guardian about how the real reason for the veiling of religious women may be lost in the sands of time.
Dave Walker on the Church Times blog has all the gen on the BBC Passion.
Giles Fraser in the Church Times wants us to Learn from Anglicans’ secular cousins.
In The Times Jonathan Romain writes about a New prayer book for Britain’s Reform Jews.
Christopher Howse writes in the Daily Telegraph about The city lost in the sands.
Savi Hensman writes for Ekklesia about Being on the side of the crucified.
15 Commentsroundup of American reports
Updated again Saturday morning
The Church Times has a report by Pat Ashworth Lambeth ban on Robinson upheld. The CT went to press before the Wednesday announcements re San Joaquin etc.
The Living Church has a report No Decision on Bishop Schofield’s Lambeth Invitation.
The Church of England Newspaper has a report by George Conger Lambeth invitations reviewed.
For secular press reports on San Joaquin there is a round-up at epiScope Schofield minus plus. And this item at Episcopal Café.
The soon-to-be new Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin has a new website.
There are further comments and reactions in this ENS report House of Bishops’ actions draw reactions from interest groups, ELO readers.
Two further items:
Forward in Faith North America reports that Bishop Edward MacBurney, bishop retired of the Diocese of Quincy, has been formally charged with canonical violations by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. See Former Quincy Bishop Charged.
And Stand Firm reports that Presiding Bishop Plans to Try Bishop Duncan before the Lambeth Conference. (What this means is to some extent explained in the comments to the article.)
Friday evening update
Several bishops have posted comments on their recent meeting, see here.
There is a report in the Living Church by George Conger and Steve Waring which asserts that Deposition Votes Failed to Achieve Canonically Required Majority.
Added Saturday morning
Official response to the above: House of Bishops’ votes valid, chancellor confirms. See text below the fold.
33 CommentsSan Joaquin further developments
Episcopal News Service reports:
House of Bishops deposes Schofield; San Joaquin special convention set for March 29. It includes:
…The Presiding Bishop, during a telephone press conference after the conclusion of the March 7-12 Camp Allen meeting in Navasota, Texas, said she will personally convene the special convention in San Joaquin. She declined to identify a nominee for provisional bishop.
“As of today he is no longer a bishop in the Episcopal Church,” she said of Schofield. “Matters down the road will include clarifying the status of Corp Sole, which is how property is held in that diocese…”
and
San Joaquin diocese asked to consider Jerry Lamb as provisional bishop:
12 CommentsBishop Jerry A. Lamb — retired bishop of Northern California and most recently interim bishop of Nevada — has been recommended by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to serve as provisional bishop of the Central California Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin.
Lamb can begin work in this capacity after ratification by the diocese’s convention, set to meet March 29 in Lodi, California…
American statement on Lambeth Conference
The House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church issued this House of Bishops statement on the Lambeth Conference.
It includes this:
20 CommentsEven though we did not all support the consecration of the Bishop of New Hampshire, we acknowledge that he is a canonically elected and consecrated bishop in this church. We regret that he alone among bishops ministering within the territorial boundaries of their dioceses and provinces, did not receive an invitation to attend the Lambeth Conference.
two bishops deposed
Updated twice
ENS reports House of Bishops consents to deposition of John-David Schofield, William Cox:
The House of Bishops voted March 12 to consent to the deposition from the ordained ministry of the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield, bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin, and the Rt. Rev. William Jackson Cox, bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Maryland, resigned.
Members of the House of Bishops are preparing a statement regarding these actions and for release after a March 12 afternoon session…
Here’s the text in the case of Bp Schofield:
RESOLUTION
RESOLVED, that pursuant to Canon IV.9.2 of the Episcopal Church, the House of Bishops hereby consents to the Deposition from the ordained ministry of the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield, Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin.
EXPLANATION: On January 9, 2008, the Title IV Review Committee certified to the Presiding Bishop, pursuant to Canon IV.9.1, that the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield, Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin, has repudiated the Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship of the Episcopal Church and has abandoned the Communion of the Church by, inter alia, departing from the Episcopal Church and purporting to take his Diocese with him into affiliation with the Province of the Southern Cone. In the intervening two months since the Presiding Bishop gave notice to Bishop Schofield of the foregoing certification, Bishop Schofield has failed to submit to the Presiding Bishop sufficient retraction or denial of the actions found by the Title IV Review Committee. Accordingly, the Presiding Bishop has presented the matter to the House of Bishops and requested consent to Bishop Schofield’s Deposition.
Update One
Bishop Schofield responds to the HOB decision
NACDAP: Episcopal House of Bishops Votes to Depose Network Bishops
Update Two
House of Bishops statement on Schofield, Cox
Archbishop Venables Memo to Bishop Schofield
For press coverage, see Episcopal Café Secular media file reports on the actions of the House of Bishops.
56 Comments