[Phil] Linder has been dean of the downtown cathedral for a decade.
In an earlier letter bowing out of the nomination process, he made it clear it would be difficult to leave Trinity to become bishop.
“We are at a critical moment in the history of our beloved Trinity,” he wrote. Trinity, with a membership topping 4,200, is currently in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation of the historic sanctuary, he noted. “Today, the staff, vestry and laity of Trinity are worshipping, working and serving Christ at a level that I have never before witnessed,” he said.
But in reconsidering, Linder told the congregation that much prayer and a lengthy discernment process “has led me full circle back to Trinity Cathedral, where I believe God, and I pray all of you, desire for me to continue to serve as your priest and dean.”
What his action show is indecision. Is this really a candidate the Diocese of Upper SC needs?
Clearly, some do, but actions speak louder than words..and his actions says I really do not want to be your bishop. But apparently some do…is it the clergy or laity driven?
Interesting question and an important one prior to the election.
The electoral hokey-pokey is the prelude to the liturgical fidget and the canonical/constitutional free form, to use a dance analogy. Shame to see the Diocese of my confirmation in such a poke.
On the bright side, the Affirming Catholics assert that the Diocese is the basic unit of the Church (in their understanding, at least in the CoE -see article above) and the errors in one affect the whole Church. Refreshing that some recognize that relatedness even as they undermine it. Seems to be limited to the CoE.
StandFirm entries indicated that Dean Linder may have withdrawn from the Search Cmte process but then allowed his name to be petition-submitted subsequenetly, so he would not have to answer the hard questions in the survey the other candidates had to answer when they were chosen. Don’t know if that is true, but would welcome anyone with knowledge of this to comment.
Billy, I doubt that was it. I think he prayed, got confused, withdrew, prayed some more, finally decided to open himself up to the Spirit’s action. I’d advocate for the most charitable interpretation of the Dean’s actions.