In light of the California court’s ruling, Bishop Lamb sent letters Jan. 14 seeking dialogue with those who have disaffiliated. One letter was sent to clergy who have accepted canonical licenses issued by the Southern Cone; the second was sent to church-goers.
“There has been enough pain and suffering on all sides of the issue of separation from The Episcopal Church,” Bishop Lamb wrote to clergy. “It is time for us to speak to one another face to face about returning to the fold of The Episcopal Church or setting forth a plan for gracious leave-taking.”
Shortly before the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin’s annual convention last October, Bishop Lamb inhibited all of the San Joaquin clergy who accepted canonical licenses from the Church of the Southern Cone. The inhibitions will automatically become depositions from the ordained ministry of The Episcopal Church in April if the inhibited clergy take no further action.
[i]“It is time for us to speak to one another face to face about returning to the fold of The Episcopal Church or setting forth a plan for gracious leave-taking.â€[/i]
Recent diocesan convention resolutions make it clear that the Episcopal Club has no intention of listening, just imposing, to conservative/ reasserting / traditional congregation.
Any ‘reconciliation’ will be on the terms of TEc, no compromise, no making nice, no accommodation of dissenting viewpoints.
The only plan for ‘gracious leave taking’ will be “If you leave, WE take the property”.
No one has responded, Jerry? I wonder why?
Jerry didn’t do much. In fact he didn’t even answer my letter of concern as a delegate to his Northern California Diocesan Convention in 2003. This resulted in my separation from ECUSA. I would not expect him to do much in San Joaquin, particularly in along the lines of reconcilliation. The guy is not impressive.
The lupine shepherd once again calls the battered lambs:
“Come, lambkins, it’s time for dinner! Let’s get you to the table.”
[blockquote]“It is time for us to speak to one another face to face about returning to the fold of The Episcopal Church or setting forth a plan for gracious leave-taking.â€[/blockquote]
um…….
The ‘leave-taking’ has already happened, hasn’t it?
So what is he saying? Come back so we can separate amicably? Surely he doesn’t think that the people who have left are interested in ‘reconciliation’ at this stage of the game. Especially not in the way that TEC demonstrates what it means by ‘reconciliation’. (i.e. hauling people into court) I’m with you Irenaus… this sounds like the wolf inviting lambs to a ‘dinner party’. There’s nothing gracious about it. If you want a gracious departure, make a gracious offer. Send letters dimissory to the Southern Cone, lift the inhibitions and take counsel together as equals in the Body of Christ. Having conversation with the stated purpose of ‘reconciliation’ when you are holding a big stick and wielding power is no invitation at all.
Hmmph! That “big stick” of his is just a little twig!