“No living bishop that I know, in my opinion, is capable of having the faith, the scholarship, the courage, the wisdom to put out this paper,” Bishop Allison said. His remarks, and a sustained ovation that followed, are available in an audio file on the Rev. Canon Kendall Harmon’s weblog, TitusOneNine.
Bishop Allison “got a huge ovation, and it was the crescendo of the day,” said Canon Harmon, who is the diocese’s canon theologian. He said Bishop Allison’s praise for Bishop Lawrence is noteworthy because of Bishop Allison’s involvement in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA). Both of those bodies have broken all ties to The Episcopal Church, which is more than Bishop Lawrence and the standing committee have recommended.
Canon Harmon believes the bishop is helping move the diocese from a passive and parish-based identity toward a collegial and collaborative practice.
“To turn a diocese, unlike a parish, is like turning an ocean liner,” Canon Harmon said. “It’s a herculean task.”
“crescendo” means “growing” or, in musical contexts “getting gradually louder.” It does not mean “high point.”
Why is it that when I try to “read it all,” I do not get to the rest of the article, merely a refreshed page?
The Article may be read here:
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2009/8/14/predecessor-gives-bishops-critique-highest-marks
Elf
Will there be any report on the afternoon session?
The applause did come after +Fitz’s remarks, but I rather thought it was the overdue response to +Mark Lawrence’s paper that +Fitz was urging upon us (and rightfully so).
“To turn a diocese, unlike a parish, is like turning an ocean liner….”
I think a good many Rectors would protest that parishes can be ocean liners too. Look at for instance the size of the Falls Church.
Can we get a transcript of +Fitz’s remarks for us lay people?
John
I’ve decided not to post the transcript of what Bishop Allison said. After listening to it again I find that it would be like posting a family conversation from thanksgiving dinner on the web. Out of context I believe it may take on a very different meaning then what was intended. My apologies to the curious for letting you down. The applause were for Bishop Lawrence.
Palmettopastor – Thank you for not posting the transcript. Many of us thought that, while Bp. Allison’s comments were an overdue expression of thanks for the obviously deep work that had been undertaken by Bp. Lawrence… the effect was to hinder dialogue. The audio of this should not have been posted… nor should anyone have recorded any of this “family conversation”.