“It seems wise that we identify some principles to guide us in dealing with the problems that will be created should one or more of our congregations attempt to alter their relationship with the diocese and The Episcopal Church,” said the Rt. Rev. Jeffrey N. Steenson, Bishop of the Rio Grande, in a letter to the diocese.
“The effect of losing the active participation of even one or two of our larger congregations would be substantial, and we looked realistically at that scenario,” Bishop Steenson wrote. “Your diocesan leadership certainly does not have its head in the sand about the steps that need to be taken should this occur.”
The fact that the annual meeting of the diocese is scheduled only two weeks after the expiration of the Sept. 30 deadline for The Episcopal Church to respond to the primates’ communiqué increased the desire for some direction among a number of diocesan leaders, according to the Rev. Colin Kelly, rector of Trinity on the Hill, Los Alamos, N.M., and president of the standing committee.
“Our goal is to keep the diocese together,” Fr. Kelly said. “We are basically a healthy diocese and we believe the primates’ recommendations are the best way forward for us. We felt we needed to let Executive Council know how we feel.”
At its meeting in March, the House of Bishops referred the primates’ pastoral council scheme to Executive Council, which is scheduled to meet June 11-14 in Parsippany, N.J., June 11-14–its only meeting prior to the Sept. 30 deadline.
Three cheers for Bishop Steenson. I really do hope that this becomes a model for other dioceses.
Bishop Steenson is one of the best men I know. His faithful, scholarly, restrained, forebearing approach is a great gift to the Church. At this hour, his caution in ensuring that any steps taken reflect a solid catholic ecclesiology, and his biblical insistance on avoiding settling matters in a secular courtroom should heap burning coals on a number of heads. I continue to pray for him daily.
Ditto and amen to that, Daniel.
Is this Fr. Colin Kelly the son of the first person Pres FDR decorated in WWII? He also got an appointment to West Point.
Yes, and ther is so much more to the story. . .
He turned down that appointment, then won it to honor his father,
All the while, he felt called to the priesthood.
After twelve years of driving around tanks, the Army sent him to seminary and five years later was assigned as a chaplain following his curacy.
Surprisingly, one of his assignments was as one of the team of chaplains at West Point. He alone made every grueling march with the plebe class. His chapels were full.
He retired as a LtC and in his first parish in Colorado Springs, he discovered that General Powell changed the pronunciation of his name as a child because of his hero father.
The Kelly’s, Nettleton’s and Guieses Revived the 3 Day Cursillo in the DRG in the late 80’s.
They did it again last year. We helped along with a company that would not be denied. We had our first weekend in three years..
The Kelly’s and the Maxwell’s were brought by God into an enduring friendship in 1990 when I arrived that October to serve as his associate. Our daughter Karen made her Cursillo Weekend seven days later at their Sponsorship.
I am so thankful to my Lord Jesus to be Colin’s friend.