My own review of the Episcopal Church after General Convention 2009 is that we have reiterated, and claimed our dependence upon, local initiatives for ministry in this church. On the controversial sexuality issues of the day, the Episcopal Church recognized pastoral generosity at the local level. On matters relating to the wider Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church has urged local parishes, and dioceses and individuals, to develop personal and missional relationships themselves. I especially appreciated this Convention’s work on ecumenical and inter-religious relationships; again, our Episcopal Church recognized that good and healthy ecumenical relationships occur most authentically at the local level. We entered into full relationship with the Moravian Church; we took more definite steps toward theological discussion with our neighbors in the Presbyterian and Methodist churches.
Perhaps the most dramatic decision of General Convention was the Episcopal Church budget for the next three years. Surely everyone recognizes that the global economic recalibration has affected even our local parishes, and certainly our larger offices. The Episcopal Church passed a budget which eliminated some major staff positions at the national level; the budget assumes that some of those offices will no longer exist. There was understandable lament at those decisions.
On the other hand, that very budget was also part of a de-centralization theme, a theme of local initiative, which lay in the background of almost every General Convention action this summer.
Fascinating. A vastly increased section of the budget for suing clergy, vestries, parishes, and dioceses — money concentrated in the hands of KJS and Beers — and yet Sam Candler firmly believes that this “very budget was also part of a de-centralization theme.”
I don’t know Sam well but have met him before, and think it unlikely that he’s deliberately misrepresenting what happened. I think it is likely he believes what he’s said. But how remarkable a mindset it suggests!
I have seen this over and again with reappraisers, especially with a certain kind of institutional liberal. It’s a strange capacity to boldly believe, as the White Queen said to Alice, “six impossible things before breakfast.” Sam has entered the Happy Zone, a strange kind of Pollyannish “reality” where TEC is thriving, TEC is still fully Windsor compliant and the moratorium is in effect, 815 is divesting itself of top-down power, the decisions of GC 2009 will enable TEC parishes to establish close relationships with the rest of the Christian world, and the rest of the Anglican Communion will feel deeply listened to.
I think its important to note this carefully. Dishonest people can sometimes be shamed into feeling regret and telling the truth. CRAZY people can’t, however. It’s important to know when you are dealing with a kind of sunny Magoo-like madness, which is widespread in TEC.
When you realize this it saves you a lot of time. When you realize that your father or uncle or old high school chum really believes he’s Napolean, or that he regularly goes on flying saucer rides, there’s not much of a point “staying in conversation.” Instead you just do your best to love them without engaging the craziness.
“On the other hand, that very budget was also part of a de-centralization theme, a theme of local initiative, which lay in the background of almost every General Convention action this summer.”
Decentralization in everything except legal matters…..we will be happy to contribute our share when there is a need to sue. Why, we even put it in the budget…….
RE: ” Dishonest people can sometimes be shamed into feeling regret and telling the truth. CRAZY people can’t, however. It’s important to know when you are dealing with a kind of sunny Magoo-like madness, which is widespread in TEC.”
Oh this is so so true.
Now, let’s see if Sam makes it to the short list of nominees for bishop of Upper SC. What a ride this is going to be!
#4, I thought he was waiting for +Alexander to retire?
We clergy see this sort of thinking quite regularly when we visit our parishioners in the Alzheimers unit. You play along with whatever the “patient” says, but if you present them with reality, often they momentarily freeze up, then carry on talking nonsense. It’s excusable in the home, but not among the leadership of the church.
Aren’t 5 of the first 6 comments [i]ad hominem[/i]?