For the first time since 2003, delegates to convention in the Diocese of Southwest Florida rejected a resolution which would have allowed congregations to redirect apportionment payments away from the program budget of the General Convention.
Similar resolutions had passed at the 2003-2005 conventions. Last year, a procedural error kept the resolution from being considered but diocesan council approved a mechanism to implement the procedure anyway.
Bishop Dabney Smith used his Oct. 20 convention address, his first as diocesan, to steer a new course for Southwest Florida, one with an emphasis on mission, outreach and young adults. He also elaborated on a line item in the budget providing for an assistant bishop.
Time to hit the road, folks.
My hackles raise and alarms bells go off every time I hear a bishop use the words ‘live into’.
Bishop Howe, please take note. The previous Bishop of SW Florida had [url=http://apostolicity.blogspot.com/2006/07/southwest-floridas-gc-reflections.html ]this to say[/url] about GC’06
[blockquote] Our decisions fell short of the invitations of the Windsor Report. The convention rejected a moratorium on the blessing of same-gendered unions and the consecration of another partnered gay bishop. The resolutions passed regarding Windsor did not affect any change in the direction of the Episcopal Church. Even so, The Bishop of Washington read a statement on behalf of many unnamed bishops to declare their intent to continue actions in defiance of the requests made in the Windsor Report. [/blockquote]
+Lipscomb was a conservative bishop and encouraged conservative parishes within the diocese — my aged mother’s home parish is one — but those folks are now being hung out to dry.
Our greatest risk at this time is that conservative Anglicans will simply bleed off to the Evangelical Presbyterians, the PCA, or some other quasi-liturgical-but-Bible-believing church, whilst the Anglo-Catholics drift back to Rome, where their hearts have been all along. America will then be left without a viable, Bible-believing Anglican presence.
On financial and other, ahem, matters regarding the Church’s (revised) “mission” it seems clear that every diocese (except two or three of those really nasty Christian ones) will get in line with 815. It is only a matter of time. The institutional leadership knows that.
To all — the failure of that resolution to pass is discouraging to this southwest floridian
To # 3
I can’t say that I will drift [b]back[/b] to Rome, or that my heart has been or will be there. My heart has been with ECUSA all along. It is the tradition in which I was raised, and I have a hard time imagining being a Christian in any other tradition. What passes for liturgy in the RC tradition (at least around here), leaves me cold.
That said, I think that is probably will be where I end up, because, despite all the questions I have, Rome has the best claim to being the best reflection of the true Church.
Being in the Diocese of SW Florida, I agree that this action does not bode well for the traditional minded in our diocese. Although Bp. Lipscomb was pretty much a re-asserter, there are a lot of revisionist clergy in our Diocese (there are also some strong re-asserting congregations, it will be interesting to see if there are efforts at a split some time down the road).
So what do we do? Wait, watch, pray. At some point, get our guts in line with our minds, and make a decision. Or go with our minds, and let our feelings sort themselves out later.
At some point, sticking around is an obstacle to God.
Behold the future of any diocese currently under conservative leadership. Sorry, Dr. Radner, but all parishes will be, sooner or later, under revisionist supervision.
#6: Of that I have no doubt. In every way within the Episcopal Church, and within the institutional structures of the Anglican Communion, the tide is with the revisionists. All they have to do is wait (and not for very long, either).
anglicanhopeful,
I’m with you. I cringe everytime I hear a “live into” statement. It must be in the “How to be a Bishop for Dummies” book or something. I know, its the purple shirt!
Well so much for “inclusion” and “respecting each others differences”. The “listening process” continues.
RSB
To the orthodox in SW Florida: Stay but do not pay! That will get their attention soon enough.
Fret not. Just don’t put a dime in your collection plate. I’m sorry, that may put the squeeze on your parish, but that’s the only way to send a message. Hold onto your tithes for the time you can in good conscience again pay them. But you cannot so long as any of your money goes to the national church give anything. Even if your parish permits you designate “parish only,” all you are doing is forcing other dollars to flow up to the diocese and national church. The only way to stop this is to stop giving. Period.
#11. VaAnglican. In WVa we do have a system of redirection that does not allow others dollars to replace those who have requested redirection. It has require action of the Diocesan Convention and the action of the Vestry of your congregation.
Individuals have been doing this since GC2003. It will need to be renewed following GC2009 which is never assured.
Would everyone please read this ariticle again? ” Last year, a procedural error kept the resolution from being considered but diocesan council approved a mechanism to implement the procedure anyway.”
There’s no reason to believe Diocesan Council won’t OK the same procedure for 2008, so there’s no reason to stop giving to your own parish. That would be ridiculous and un-Christian. The resolution failed because it was unnecessary. Period.
“That would be ridiculous and un-Christian.” It is ridiculous and un-Christian to fund heresy.
The policy in place in Southwest Florida allows you to fully fund your own parish and not contribute to the Episcopal Church.
Your statement makes no sense at all. Parishioners happy with the direction of the Episcopal Church will continue to give, making liberal parishes stronger. The only people who are withholding money are conservatives attending conservative parishes. Therefore, the only congregations that will suffer are the ones YOU want to see survive. How does that make any sense at all??? Give and give gladly.