To the clergy of the Diocese of Fort Worth
The Realignment Moves Forward
At our Diocesan Convention in 2003, the following resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority vote of both the clergy and the lay delegates:
We declare our commitment to work with those Bishops and dioceses and those primates and Provinces that will now move forward with a realignment of the Anglican Communion; we reaffirm the authority of Holy Scripture and our intention to continue faithfully to uphold and propagate the historic Faith and Order of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church under the sovereignty of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A lot has transpired in the four years since we made that bold declaration, and a great deal has taken place just this past summer that has reinforced that firm resolve. I am pleased to report to you that the realignment of the Anglican Communion is well under way. Take for example the events of last week, when a number of the primates of Provinces of the Global South took the historic action of consecrating three American priests as bishops to provide episcopal ministry and oversight to former Episcopalians here in the States. These congregations share our commitment to the historic Faith and Order of the Church but have decided that they can no longer remain faithful Anglicans and still remain officially associated with The Episcopal Church.
As you know, in March the House of Bishops voted down a very workable proposal for alternative primatial oversight that the primates’ Meeting had offered to provide for our expressed needs, and no other alternative plan has been suggested. This resulted in the declaration that the Standing Committee and I made on May 16th that we would now have to pursue our original appeal for APO ”“ an appeal that was supported by an overwhelming majority vote at our Diocesan Convention last year ”“ independent of the structures of The Episcopal Church. We have had some very encouraging meetings and conversations over the summer months with a number of Bishops and dioceses and primates and Provinces that share our concerns and our commitment to Christian orthodoxy. The Archbishop of Canterbury has been kept informed of these developments. More about this will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.
One of the most encouraging signs of the realignment that is under way is the first-ever Council of Bishops of the Common Cause Partners which is to meet in Pittsburgh during the last week of September. This is a gathering of all bishops exercising active ministry within the member bodies of Common Cause.* The purpose of the meeting is to explore ways in which we can work together for a biblical, missionary and united Anglicanism in North America. I will be among some 60 bishops in attendance, as will be the newly consecrated bishops serving those congregations here in the States that are under the Provinces of Uganda and Kenya.
By the end of this month, the House of Bishops will have decided the future direction of TEC, and as a result we too will have to declare our future as a diocese. I do not expect that TEC will comply with the requests of the primates in their Dar es Salaam Communiqué. In that case, we will see further fraction and division in the Communion during the months ahead. We will then have to choose in favor of the Anglican Communion majority at the expense of our historic relationship with the General Convention Church.
Pray, my brothers and sisters, for the peace and unity of the Church. Pray that the Bishops of The Episcopal Church will turn back, even at this late hour, from the course they have been pursuing, a course that has sown seeds of discord and broken fellowship far and wide. Pray too for the leadership of this diocese as the realignment continues, that we may remain faithful to the received faith and practice of historic, biblical Christianity.
–The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth
September 6, 2007
[i]our intention to continue faithfully to uphold and propagate the historic Faith and Order of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church [/i] Mr Iker wants nothing more than to create the church in his own image. Unfortunately he is leading the dio. of FW off the cliff like a bunch of lemmings.
And I suppose KJS, Beers, Bennison, Robinson, etc. DON’T want to re-create TEC in THEIR image? A case of the pot calling the kettle black?
[i]And I suppose KJS, Beers, Bennison, Robinson, etc. DON’T want to re-create TEC in THEIR image?[/i] Very good! I’m glad you realize that. KJS, etc. wish to grow the church in the image of Christ’s love.
#3, brilliant satire! Really funny stuff…
Revamundo are you sugesting that the aforementioned personages are the image of Christ’s love? That is a little over the top don’t you think?
I for one do not think the Bishop is leading his flock over a cliff – into an unknown and perilous future perhaps- but only in regards to property issues. The future for Fort Worth is a slow and lingering death inside TEC – I would rather take a chance on a better tomorrow.
#1, that’s [i]Bishop[/i] Iker.
“Our intention to continue faithfully to uphold and propagate the historic Faith and Order of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. ….. Bishop Iker wants nothing more than to create the church in his own image.”
The first part of your comment which is in italics is hardly the original thought or statement of Bishop Iker. Perhaps you know that that statement or words that are almost identical have been uttered by tens of thousands of priests, dean, canons, bishops, archbishops, etc…. over that past two thousand years. I wouldn’t even remotely connect that quote as an original +Iker statement.
I find it hard to restrain myself from commenting on the intelligence of the writer of this comment.
Revamundo, is a reap praiser. We shouldn’t expect anything better. Realignment will happen and we will be in different churches. Having cause this mess by arrogantly forging ahead they will always blame those who refused to go along. I no longer much care.
But of course KJS and DBB are showing Christ’s love. They are waging reconciliation through lawsuits, threats, demeaning comments about Christians, lies about the number of parishes that have left pecusa…
Don’t you see Christ’s love in their actions?
There must inevitably be a separation of those who follow the historical Faith once delivered from those who promote an eviscerated single-issue version of Christianity. Bishop Iker is a wise and godly shepherd and those in his charge are blessed to have his leadership.
#9:
“Reap praiser”? A typo, I presume; but for some reason I’m finding it an enchantingly evocative phrase. “As we sow, so shall we reap — and huzzah for that!”
[blockquote] [i]our intention to continue faithfully to uphold and propagate the historic Faith and Order of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church[/i] Mr Iker wants nothing more than to create the church in his own image. [/blockquote]
ohmystarz. whoa.
Thanks for making my day #1 Revamundo, that might have been the funniest thing I’ve read all week.
I, for one, look forward to seeing what is in store for the future of the FiFNA dioceses, Common Cause and the Windsor bishops/dioceses as my future is very tied up with their future. Does anyone know if any of the Camp Allen, non-Network, bishops be present for the Common Cause meeting in Pittsburgh?
MikeS :
I agree. Always GREAT to see God work through His People like Bishop Iker. How exciting to see His Spirit dividing the chaff from the wheat and giving the wheat a chance to grow strong in the Faith and finally get to reproduce a hundred fold with the Truth of the Gospel.
Can’t wait to see True Anglicanism unite over America and reach it for the gospel – you are right that it is an exciting time!
Thanks be to God! Free at last! Free at last!
#1. I’m late in considering this thread, so hope you won’t mind if I jump in.
Read my screen name and you will understand why I am concerned about my soul more than most who write here. I will, too soon, be called to account for what I have believed and acted upon. I believe explicitly in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Love is an excellent goal, but He called for all of us to use love to turn people away from sin, not as an excuse to applaud that sin. You will argue, I am sure, from what you wrote, that you believe a “man lying with another man†is not a sin. I hope I am wrong. I happen to believe it is and by not approving of such a sin, I have confidence that my soul is safe.
I am also confident that Bishop Iker acts upon love and sin like I do and I applaud him for his stand.
That’s all I will say to you for I can only speak for myself.
I think all of us Episcopalians pledged at one time to continue in the Apostles’ teaching. Since that is found in the Bible Iker is saying he is staying the course and keeping true to his vow.
At least he didn’t try to claim (again) in this letter that he was at the last House of Bishops meeting when he wasn’t!
I’m with Revamundo’s #1 comment. I have trouble listening or even respecting the opinion of anyone who believes and teaches the inferiority of women. It’s too bad Bishop Iker never got the chance to meet my mother!
#17. I am curious. When did he do that?
My mother was as forcefull as any woman I have ever known, but man o man was she against having women priests and would tell everyone.
RE: “I’m with Revamundo’s #1 comment. I have trouble listening or even respecting the opinion of anyone who believes and teaches the inferiority of women.”
He doesn’t, of course — so either MJ speaks as a blatant liar, or incredibly ignorant of the theology behind Anglo-Catholicism. Don’t know which.
Signed,
Not an Anglo-Catholic, but . . . a woman who’s capable of discerning the theology behind Bishop Iker’s views, unlike the male above.
First of all, +Iker NEVER claimed to be at the last HOB meeting when he was not there. That is pure BUNK and liberal spin. Secondly, +Iker does NOT believe &/or teach the inferiority of women. Again, pure BUNK–a red herring. I thank God for +Iker and his strong leadership of this diocese. I am also thankful that the realignment is finally moving forward….it is time to get on with the work of the Church–spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ–and quit being tied up with all the politics that have been forced upon us!
Mark Johnson:
Personally, I am SO TOTALLY into the inferiority of women. Well, let me think about that one – being a woman can I be for the inferiority of women? Of course, I also have my master’s in Science – in Wildlife Sciences, which of course, has traditionally been a man’s field – and I might add I did quite well – but since I believe (like Bishop Iker) in the traditional role of men as priests in ministry I HAVE to believe in the inferiority of women.
Right Mark? Makes total sense – or is that since – or cents?
Think about making statements like that – they really don’t hold a great deal of water in the strainer of Reality.
Mark (#17),
Given your stated appreciation for your mother, and I presume you mean the kind of strong, benevolent, and, in total effect, someone deserving of great respect, I believe your mother and Bp Iker’s mother would have greatly appreciated each other.
More to the point, you said you agree with Revamundo (#1). Which part? The first sentence, or the second? And if the second, referring to the implication of a catastrophic event, it would be very helpful in the oft-not-discussed subject of the real consequences of a diocese “removing itself” (I use quotation marks to signify that there are different phrases being used for that action) if you would (and Revamundo could chime in) share what your fears are, your deepest concerns for the diocese (meaning all the members).
Otherwise, this thread will disappear in a wash of what Rolling Eyes (#4) said (with rolling eyes).
RGEaton
+Iker implied that he was there:
http://new.kendallharmon.net/wp-content/uploads/index.php/t19/article/3415
Sorry, Mark. The end of the first line in the first paragraph (in #22)should not read “the kind of” , but instead should read “… presume you mean kind, strong, benevolent…..”
Brian from T19:
Thanks for posting the link! Now I can see for myself that the assertion that +Iker claimed to be at the HOB when he wasn’t is bunk.
I like Bishop Iker’s reference to the “Anglican Communion” and to the “General Convention Church.”
It seems that if conservatives aren’t being accused of “homophobia” then there will be an effort to divide us because some of us believe “in the inferiority of women.” As the above comments have pointed out, believing that women should not be priests has nothing to do with what secular roles they may play. I, with an MBA, do not feel “oppressed” at my parish where the priest is male.
It is true that the realigned church will have to return, at a minimum, to the “reception” phase for the innovation of women priests, which means the sincere convictions of those who are opposed will be treated as valid and the innovation as the idea which is being tried experimentally.
ECUSA broke catholic orders when it ordained the first women priest. That was done by Bishop Moore of NY. You can read all about it here: http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/gayhist.htm
The fact that the first women canonically ordained was also an out lesbian is cause for celebration in Louie Crew’s warped thinking because he is all about “Changing the Church.”
Bishop Iker is not alone in opposing the Left’s exploitation of women in this attempt to pave the way for the ordination of practicing homosexuals. Some former ECUSA women priests recognize the tactic and refuse to play the game.
“KJS, etc. wish to grow the church in the image of Christ’s love.”
You can tell this by their wristbands: WWJS = Who Would Jesus Sue?
#’s 1 & 17 are trolls. They’re just looking for attention. Don’t indulge them, life’s too short.
Seems that TEC isn’t the only denomination experiencing conflict orchestrated by the IRD.[url=http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v22n2/church_seige.html]Steeplejacking: How the Christian Right is Highjacking Mainstream Religion.[/url]
I would’ve said trying to hijack. The last numbers I saw said only 1.6% had left TEC. That’s hardly a hijack. And please people, get over this WWJS stuff. The property belongs to TEC. If you want to leave please do so with some integrity.
[blockquote]The last numbers I saw said only 1.6% had left TEC. [/blockquote]
Hardly worth your time worrying about, then, I should think.
Interesting, I saw recently that Bonnie Anderson will be [url=http://religion.beloblog.com/archives/2007/08/a_topranking_episcopalian_is_c.html]speaking in town[/url] Saturday.
[b]Re: Only 1.6% have left[/b]
This reality was recently demonstrated in our church community which split because of GC 2006. Out of a church of 120, only 85 left because of the apostasy of TEC.
Simple math PROVES that this is is only 1.6%.
All of which is to say I agree, such trivial numbers are hardily worth mentioning…
[i]We will then have to choose in favor of the Anglican Communion majority at the expense of our historic relationship with the General Convention Church.[/i]
Beautifully put, Your Grace! Or, if I may, we follow the Voice of Christ Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, or we follow “American Polity.”
Choose this day…as for me and my house… 🙂
RE #33
Ah, my sister Eclipse, we are but inferior women, remember? So inferior that we know not when someone is dissing us because he holds to Anglo-Catholic theology, right? Us poor, dumb females OBVIOUSLY have to be stood-up-fer by reappraiser type dudes who know oh-so-much better than we do.
So how could we POSSIBLY know math, girl?
MJD_NV:
LOL! I forgot – “Girls don’t like math”.
I have to go put on my little plastic shoes over the tops of my little plastic curved up toes.
Can I join you ladies on the “inferior woman” wagon? Not only am I a woman, apparently inferior, and a supporter of Bishop Iker (a truly blessed and godly man), but I’m pregnant and currently barefoot too 😉 I’d be posting this from the kitchen (read: slave quarters) but I think that’s further than the 30 ft range on my wireless keyboard. 😀