We also had a disturbing private (no one in the gallery) conversation in the House of Bishops that led me to feel discouraged about what lies ahead. That conversation is private, so I can’t detail it, but there seems to be a kind of belligerent attitude toward the House of Deputies by some of our bishops. Their vision of the episcopate is way too “high and mighty” for my taste, or my theology, and I am not happy about it. The last thing we bishops need is a larger measure of arrogance. Didn’t Jesus save his most serious criticism for the religious powers-that-be of his day who lorded their power and position over others
The very criticisms reasserters level at revisionist bishops and GC.
The reappraiser’s mantra is, “Jesus (only, usually, most severely, &c) criticized people who disagree with me.”
“My taste, my theology… I am not too happy” Isn’t that sort of a, I dunno, Western heresy?
Sorry, but his hypocritical whinging just made me laugh. He can’t be that clueless, or is it that he doesn’t care?
Gene seems to have forgotten Ubuntu.
It’s all about “me, me, me” with him, Mari. And quite frankly, it’s tiresome.
This Kiss of Judas known as General Convention 2009 isn’t genuine enough for him? Come on! We all know that the whiners have won the field and this GC will go down in objective people’s minds as the most ludicrous example of egos run amok in the waning history of TEC. If Mississippi, S.C., et al have any dignity or self-respect they will abandon this sorry joke after the sacrament of marriage is redefined. If such dioceses just sit there, then they are to blame by their polite, patient smiles which are nothing less than Robinson’s own Judas Kiss on the face of Christ. Leave the d!#n place and have some dignity.
Poor baby.
How about, “Who cares.”
So if bishops aren’t really supposed to lead the Church or make decisions, and they really when it comes down to it aren’t any different in expectations or role from the laity except for the costume… why does anybody care who can be consecrated a bishop anyway?
8, and your point is?
I love this. “Oh, they are so belligerent and arrogant! I can’t tell you what they said or did that makes them that way, of course, but that’s how they are.” This is how he keeps confidences — by leaving the “private” conversation to the imaginations of his readers, and feeding their imagination with his insinuations? It would have showed more respect to their dignity if he had simply repeated verbatim what they said, rather than give this impression.
C’mon. Which of you in the ACNA paid him off to make such divisive comments at GC? ‘Fess up.
In a conversation with my bishop last week, he told me that he thought there would be an attempted “power grab” by the house of deputies during this convention. He told me that what they were hearing from the HOD was that the Bishops were becoming too much of a central authority. When I commented that this wasn’t something he was hearing from the conservatives, he agreed that it was coming “…from the other side.” We didn’t discuss it much, but the feeling I came away with was that the HOB is perceived as dragging its collective feet when it comes to the radical agenda, possibly as a result of the last primates gathering, and maybe even Lambeth. So apparently, there is some feeling of contention between the houses, at least in some minds. He commented that some of the deputies were complaining that the Bishops weren’t showing leadership, as I recall.
I guess some members of the HOB don’t see themselves as lemmings.
:The last thing we bishops need is a larger measure of arrogance.”
“That pot is black!,” said the kettle.
#13, yes, I don’t know if +VGR’s irony meter is out of batteries or maybe it overloaded and shorted out over the past couple of years..
Interesting Kendall,
This is exactly what you said to watch out for!