The article looks like it was first published in March 2006; but it includes in its Suggested Reading at the end a book published in Oct 2008, so it has been updated at least as recently as two years ago.
It’s odd, therefore, that there is no reference to the events of GC 2003 and 2006, or the fracturing of the Anglican Communion, particularly since there is an entire section devoted to TEC in the 21st Century.
Naturally, the article devotes a good deal of attention to how the Civil War had a profound impact on the Episcopal Church in Georgia, but there isn’t a word about the more recent “unpleasantness” that is dividing TEC again. But then, to be fair, the current controversies are still unresolved and including them in an encyclopedia article may be premature. It’s still informative, especially for those of us outside Georgia.
“Although he had led his colleagues and their congregations to form the Episcopal Church in the Confederacy, Elliott was just as active in persuading them to dissolve the organization after the war. This was accomplished formally in November 1865 at the Second General Council in Augusta, and as a result the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States welcomed the southern dioceses back.”
And who says that a diocese can’t leave?…that it can’t be done? This very much shows a different and real picture!
Perhaps a meticulous examination of church historical archives
will reveal by what mechanism the southern dioceses were able to
disentangle themselves from the national church.
The article looks like it was first published in March 2006; but it includes in its Suggested Reading at the end a book published in Oct 2008, so it has been updated at least as recently as two years ago.
It’s odd, therefore, that there is no reference to the events of GC 2003 and 2006, or the fracturing of the Anglican Communion, particularly since there is an entire section devoted to TEC in the 21st Century.
Jon, or perhaps it could be that for TEC, life really ended in 2003!
Hmmmm. The choice of date for the statistics given speaks VOLUMES me thinks.
I don’t have time / am too lazy today to look up the 2009 stats. But I imagine some more conscientious commenter will do that for me!
Yes, Jon (#1), I was struck by that omission too.
Naturally, the article devotes a good deal of attention to how the Civil War had a profound impact on the Episcopal Church in Georgia, but there isn’t a word about the more recent “unpleasantness” that is dividing TEC again. But then, to be fair, the current controversies are still unresolved and including them in an encyclopedia article may be premature. It’s still informative, especially for those of us outside Georgia.
David Handy+
The national church charts show small declines from 2000.
“Although he had led his colleagues and their congregations to form the Episcopal Church in the Confederacy, Elliott was just as active in persuading them to dissolve the organization after the war. This was accomplished formally in November 1865 at the Second General Council in Augusta, and as a result the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States welcomed the southern dioceses back.”
And who says that a diocese can’t leave?…that it can’t be done? This very much shows a different and real picture!
+(?)Schori says that a diocese can’t leave, but there’s no mention of that in TEC’s constitution.
#5 and #6,
Perhaps a meticulous examination of church historical archives
will reveal by what mechanism the southern dioceses were able to
disentangle themselves from the national church.
The Anglican Curmudgeon is doing a wonderful job of that over at his web-site!