In an interview with a reporter for The Living Church Canon Daryl Fenton, chief operating officer for the Network, acknowledged that the distance between The Episcopal Church leadership and the Network has grown to the size of a chasm, but he downplayed the likelihood of a formal departure occurring during this meeting.
“Even in safe dioceses the level of dissatisfaction is growing,” he said. “People are becoming radicalized and less patient. We really are concerned about catholicity, however. We consider ourselves to be under the authority of the primates and we will not do anything which would undercut the careful agreements they have already worked out.”
In their February communiqué, the primates requested a response from the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church by Sept. 30. The deadline falls five days after the conclusion of the fall House of Bishops’ meeting. During his address, Bishop Duncan said the Network bishops had agreed to attend the House of Bishops’ meeting in order not to abandon the wider coalition of ”˜Windsor’ bishops in what Bishop Duncan said was “their last stand.”
A formal departure might not come during the meeting, but whatever could happen afterwards is a different story.
[i]During his address, Bishop Duncan said the Network bishops had agreed to attend the House of Bishops’ meeting in order not to abandon the wider coalition of ‘Windsor’ bishops in what Bishop Duncan said was “their last stand.â€[/i]
This is good news: I had heard that Bishop Duncan might not attend. I pray that the Windsor Bishops hold their ground and by God’s help begin to turn TEC around.
Also there are many Christians in TEC (not just Bishops) that we should not abandon.
#2 Eugene: I hear ya and agree (though see no indication whatsoever that TEC will turn around).
However, with regard to your last statement I must point out that there were many more Christians in TEC who have found the Apostles Teaching, their faith, and themselves slowly “abandoned”.
I firmly believe that the faithful need a place to go, but they will not be “abandoned”. When it comes down to it everyone has a choice. Some will choose to stay.
PS: If someone insists on assuming the status of “abandoned victim” they should consider who abandoned whom, and perhaps even who abandoned them first.
I disagree strongly with Eugene. What is needed for those Christians remaining in the TEC (like myself) are good life boats that can take is to a seaworthy vessel. It is a crime to leave a Christian on the sinking ship of the TEC and not provide safe passage off. We are talking about a ship where bishops stay silent when reciting parts of the Nicene creed, deny Jesus’ divinity, atoning sacrifice, and/or resurrection. And those are the majority.
Robroy,
I think you and Eugene are saying basically the same thing; that the Christians within TEC must not be abandoned.