Jack Iker, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, was tired of fighting his church. As a conservative and traditionalist, he had long disagreed with its practice of ordaining women priests. He was deeply dismayed by its more recent consecration of a gay bishop, its policy of blessing same-sex unions, and its movement away from the Biblical teaching that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. These changes, he felt, were all proof that his denomination had lost its way. And so, on November 15, 2008, after fifteen years as a bishop, Iker left the Episcopal Church.
But he did not leave alone. He took most of the Diocese of Fort Worth with him: 48 churches, 15,000 parishioners, and more than 58 clergy. The loyalist minority who did not follow him made up only 8 churches. And in a startling assertion of temporal power against a centuries-old establishment, Iker announced that he and his flock would be keeping their assets””hundreds of millions of dollars of real estate, buildings, and investments””the legacy of a century and a half of worship. He was leaving, in other words, but he wasn’t going anywhere.
A pretty fair article, although I’ve never seen a picture of +Iker with a beard.
I notice David Roseberry helpfully putting his finger on the issue. This is exactly the topic we are discussing at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, 5-6 February. We are fortunate to have experts from RC, UMC, PCA, Orthodox Church, Ch of England, and Episcopal Church. I note that the chief counsel for FW is attending, Shelby Sharp, as well as Mike Watson and AS Haley, Robert Munday, and others. If interested, see http://www.anglicancommunioninstitute.com
C Seitz
that is the second article i have read in texas monthly which addressed the issues so even handedly. surprising since the publication seems to be quite liberal in general. good job TM.