Lay People at the General ConÂvention of the Episcopal Church in the United States will have some hard questions for the Archbishop of Canterbury when he visits, says the president of the House of DepuÂties, Bonnie Anderson.
The triennial convention meets next week in Anaheim, California. Eyes from all around the Anglican Communion will be on its business, notably whether it will vote to reÂpeal Resolution BO33, which in 2006 urged a halt to ordaining any more gay bishops for the time being.
To repeal it would require the consent of both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. Bishops have no collective authority to exercise power in the Church, where laity and clergy have an equal voice, and the former have historically exercised strong influÂence. They elect bishops in a demoÂcratic operation ”” something that is out of the experience of many proÂv-inces in the Anglican Communion, Mrs Anderson says.
“In the wisdom of our forebears, we were not delegated to repeat the viewpoint of those who elect us, but deputised because we are trusted by the people who elect us to go with an open mind.â€
Therein lies a big part of the problem. There is no accountability and a tiny faction steers TEC toward extinction.
[i]Mrs Anderson believes the mix to be representative of the Church, but says: “I think what I like to call the diverse centre of the House of Deputies has moved a bit toward the left, simply because some of the voices we have valued in the past have left our Church. We will be paying particular attention to listening to our brothers and sisters from the more conservaÂtive dioceses simply because of that.â€[/i]
I wonder. How the South Carolina delegates are treated will be revealing.
I remember Joan Malley – a Pittsburgh delegate – describing how arranging the dioceses alphabetically in 2003 led to the Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania delegations sitting next to each other. Talk about a study in contrasts!
This quote was especially rich I think:
“Four clergy and four laity are voted on to the General Convention in hotly contested elections in each of the 110 dioceses. The number includes 46 deputies openly acknowledged to be gay. Mrs Anderson believes the mix to be representative of the Church, but says: “I think what I like to call the diverse centre of the House of Deputies has moved a bit toward the left, simply because some of the voices we have valued in the past have left our Church.
“the diverse centre of the House of Deputies has moved a bit toward the left,” a bit? Not sure it’s been that “diverse” for a long time, but I think we can be sure that it’s moved much more than “a bit” to the left!
“Hotly contested elections?” Not hardly. Usually, in my experience, a rubber stamp of those whom the Nominating Committee could get to run.
So, how does a conservative, working man or woman, with a mortgage, 2.3 kids, and a dog go to General Convention? Would you really want to use your two weeks vacation from your job to play church politics? Then add in the fact that not all your expenses are covered.
Another though, “US Laity Fear Centralization”! Are you kidding me the ones in charge are all about centralization! Look at the actions of the PB and GC, and the hissy fit the HOBD Listserve had over the ACI paper on the independence of Dioceses. They just don’t want to have other centers of power tell them what to do!
EA’s #4 is a good reason why TEC is inherently incapable of becoming a family-friendly church. TEC’s structures make it difficult for moms and dads to participate in church governance at anything above congregation level. And without that “face time” becoming a deputy is unlikely. Couple that with a well-organized campaign by the left to push politically sympathetic candidates (“friendlies” vs “hostiles” to use their express terminology) and you have today’s status.
#5.
That was my impression too. They don’t want anybody telling them what to do. However, they want to tell everyone else what to do.
BillB, I’ve been saying this for months.
TEC likes to charge any critics with having emotional problems – well, this “You’re trying to centralize power!” is about as close to a textbook example of “projection” as one is likely to find. EA#5 nails some good examples, and we all could just keep typin’ ’em if we tried. Today, TEC is trying to boot Anglicans out of Daughters of the King and the PB wants to have some kind of say over who gets to be a DOK officer.
If Satan’s deceptions were not so destructive, I would just sit and admire his artistry. (Let’s try to remember that TEC, however mad, is not Satan. TEC is a deceived victim of our common enemy. Doesn’t make things any easier but should help inform our prayers at least.)
Perhaps the HOD is dissatisfied with the HOB’s inability, or perhaps unwillingness (although this seems hard to fathom), to lead the church even further to the left, and even more quickly. If they could find a way to consolidate power through the convention, I have no doubt that the unrepresentative representatives in the HOD would complete their radical transformation of the church quite rapidly. I guess my question is this: is there a way to consolidate power in the HOD?
This is what Bishop Bill Love of the Diocese of Albany had to say in the most recent “Diocesan Update” sent by email to his diocese regarding the General Convention:
“This coming Monday, July 6th, the eight members of the Diocese of Albany Deputation and I will be traveling to Anaheim, California, for the 176th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. Our diocesan deputation includes: ….
I ask you and every member of the Diocese to please keep each of us and all those attending General Convention in your prayers.
As we all know, The Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion are deeply divided. There are several proposed resolutions coming before General Convention, that have the potential, if passed, of bringing even greater division and destruction, both within The Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion.
Please join me in prayer and fasting, asking the Lord through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to touch and transform the hearts and minds of each member of the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, cleansing and purifying us of anything that is not of God, that we might hear His voice clearly as we attempt to discern His will, and then act in obedience to His will and always to His honor and glory in all that is said and done at General Convention.”
Enough said. Bishop Bill is a truly godly and strong leader of our diocese.