December 12, 2009
The Rev. W. Andrew Waldo elected eighth bishop of Upper South Carolina
The Rev. W. Andrew Waldo was elected eighth bishop of Upper South Carolina by the 87th Diocesan Convention meeting today at Trinity Cathedral, Columbia. Fr. Waldo was elected on the third ballot.
The Rev. W. Andrew Waldo has been rector of Trinity Church, Excelsior, Minnesota, since 1994. He was born in Douglas, Georgia, and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, the second of six children in an Episcopal clergy family. He received his M.Div. from Sewanee, M. Mus. from the New England Conservatory of Music, and B.A. from Whittier College, and is a graduate of Indian Springs Preparatory School, Helena, Alabama.
Previous clergy positions include curate, Grace Church, Manchester, New Hampshire and rector, St. Mark’s, LaGrange, Georgia. He currently serves on the Minnesota Diocesan Council and Constitution and Canons Committee. His previous service includes Standing Committee, Liturgy and Music Commissions (Minnesota, Atlanta, and New Hampshire), and Diocesan Board of Examining Chaplains. He is a member of the Spiritual Faculty of CREDO, a national clergy wellness initiative of the Church Pension Group.
Fr. Waldo is married to a Minnesota native, Mary Halverson Waldo, a musician and teacher. They have three sons: Jonathan (Amber); James; and Benjamin. They reside in Shorewood, Minnesota. His recreational interests include biking, music, history, and model trains.
Before retiring his father Mark Sr was rector in the 1980s of Christ the Redeemer Birmingham AL and his brother Mark Jr served for a time in the 1990s as rector of St Alban’s Murrysville in the Diocese of Pittsburgh — I beleive Mark Jr is now in the Diocese of VA.
This is a complete disaster for DUSC and the entire Church.
[blockquote] He received his M.Div. from Sewanee [/blockquote] All I know about Sewanee is what I have observed on the weblogs, including their EFT program. I will probably offend someone here, but it seems that this school graduates precisely the kind of student that is now leading The Episcopal Church into its inexorable decline.
I was part of the seminal group of California churches that left the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. The press uniformly chalked it up to sexuality issues, but that was not strictly the case. For many of us, a disagreement on sexuality issues alone would not have led us to vote to extract ourselves from TEC.
But instead, for many of us, it was deeper theological reasons. Chief among them was a bishop (J. Jon Bruno) who strenuously resisted the notion that Jesus was the way and the truth, and showed an evident disregard for the authority of Holy Scripture.
I may be off base, but W. Andrew Waldo is giving me flashbacks.
Prepare for a decline…make that STEEP decline for the DUSC. Part of the ECUSA implosion plan no doubt. Faithful cannot possibly stay with his record.
Intercessor
#3 Brer you put your finger on something which I have observed reading and listening to the words of everyone from the Presiding Bishop down through the revisionist bishops and clergy. It is not that they are bad people or malicious or even stupid, although some clearly are, that accounts for the extraordinary statements they come out with. It is more that they are deeply and profoundly ignorant – almost certainly from the poor general and theological training they have received. The association of such people with the particular schools they attended is too great a correlation to dismiss.
South Carolina and Virginia are the only states where parishes can leave with property. Wonder if any dusc parishes will bolt?
Pageantmaster has a well taken point. Consider also that many are anglican [okay, Episcopal] converts: second career clergy, doing things not because they must, but because they can; and calling the result vocation. Or, running from some other tradition, and bringing their culture with them. Insofar as there are few who will, these days, say, “This is the way,” what is a simple elder, raised in a church that knew what was righ to do, now that everything is negotiable…
No, they aren’t malicious or stupid, btu maybe incompetant…?
Let me edit, please. I would rather have said: what is a simple elder to do, having been raised in a church that knew what was right, now that everything is negotiable.
And of course btu=but
I hurt when I talk about these matters.
#1
Andrew’s father, The Rev. Mark Waldo, Sr., was the rector of Church of the Ascension in Montgomery until his retirement in 1991(ish). He was rector there for around 25 years, and has returned as rector-emeritus. I don’t think he was ever in Birmingham. Andrew’s other brother in the ministry, Mark, Jr., is in Millbrook, AL at St. Michael and All Angels.
Announcement to all passengers and crew, “A new captain is on board. All is wel……..glub….”
What was/is Waldo’s offense that prompts comments like No. 4?
Ahhhh…. now I get it. On the spiritual faculty of CREDO. For some time they have grooming him for one of these positions in TEO.
NoVA Scout… the projected steep declines is predicted according to to his obvious revisionist viewpoints. And not only am I fine with that, the prospect delights me. As a fervent believer in capitalist principles and organization that no longer appeals to its market finds itself going down the tubes in every respect. The truth is, the market we call churchgoers is right in its judgments most (if not all) of the time.
I know almost nothing about this new bishop. One thing I must comment on is that just because he has a degree from Sewanee does not NECESSARILY mean he is “out there.” I might point out that Canon Neil Michel from Dallas also graduated from the Seminary of the University of the South. It was not all bad back in the day (80’s). (I am not saying it is all bad now.) Most of what people hear about what is going on at Sewanee is what is happening in the College of Arts and Sciences. AFAIK, there is no rampant heresy at the SOT of Sewanee. (The PB is not a grad!!)
#4 and 14–He is divorced; he practices open communion; he believes Jesus is a way, but there are other ways; he will send practicing LGBT’s to seminary; he approves SSB’s/marriages; he is a self described disciple of Gene Robinson; he approves of practicing LGBT bishops. On every one of these issues he is 180 degrees out from the diocesan survey, which would make one think the diocese won’t be very receptive to him, which means diocesan income will fall even more that it already has. #6–No congregation will leave, but alot of individulas will. With income as it is now, we are barely able to support our mission churches. When it drops even further due to this idiotic choice, I can see at least 5 churches closing in the next 2 years and Lord knows how many more in this man’s tenure.
LOL and TEC alleges that the decline they are experiencing is simply part of the decline seen by all the formerly mainline (now sideline) denominations. Maybe the explanation is simpler… not many want to buy what they are selling.
#15, divorced and remarried?
In response to #15 I really want to encourage people to use the phrase “communion of the unbaptized” because the phrase “open communion” has other connotations and uses involving openness or closedness of the altar/table to some among the baptized. This nomenclature I believe prevents unnecessary confusion on this matter.
http://12.0.101.92/reports/PR_ChartsDemo/exports/ParishRPT_1213200952342PM.pdf
The parish chart for Trinity, Excelsior, Minnesota
Everyone I know who is in or who has graduated from EFM has become a stark raving liberal and uber-fan of Bishop Spong. What is being taught in this program that seems to diminish rather than to build one up in the Faith?
Is it not possible for the ACNA or some other group of more conservative/faithful Episcopalians/Anglicans to offer an alternate version of this very popular ministry?
Have others here had a different experience with EFM? Perhaps it depends on who the instructor is?
#20 Archangelica,
You may want to talk with Anglicat about FCD (Foundations for Christian Discernment).
Kendall–You are absolutely correct. I quit using the phrase yesterday, because it is confusing. Thanks for your input.
#17–Yes.