The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut
June 30, 2011
Dear Colleagues in Ministry:
We are writing to remind you as sisters and brothers in ordained ministry that the new Title IV disciplinary canons go into effect this coming Friday, July 1. For the past year we as a diocese have been preparing for the new Title IV. At our diocesan convention last year we voted in members of the new committees needed to support the Title IV process. Robin Hammeal-Urban has been leading educational offerings throughout the Diocese and in Province One, helping all of us to understand the new process and intent of the canon.
Further information on the new Title IV can be found on the Diocese of Connecticut website at:
http://www.ctepiscopal.org/Content/Clergy_Disciplinary_Process_Title_IV_.asp
The goal of the new Title IV is to embrace a form of clergy discipline based on restorative justice rather than retributive justice. We have moved away from a model of discipline based on the code of military justice (on which the outgoing Title IV was based) hoping to embrace more a process of collegiality and accountability amongst peers.
The new Title IV both broadens the guidelines of what needs to be “reported” with respect to actions that contravene the doctrine and discipline of The Episcopal Church and also includes more participants in disciplinary process. It thus requires that offenses to the doctrine and discipline of The Episcopal Church be reported by clergy to the Diocesan Intake Officer when they arise. Lay people may also report offenses, but since they are not “in orders” they are not required to do so. Robin Hammeal-Urban will be serving as our Intake Officer as an extension of her role as the Diocesan Pastoral Response Coordinator for the next year as we live into this new model.
One topic which has come up at almost all of the trainings and educational offerings that Robin has lead is the question of Open Communion. Canon 1.17.7. restricts eligibility to receive Holy Communion to persons who are baptized. The new Title IV presents us with the circumstance to consider what we believe about “open communion” in light of what the doctrine and discipline of The Episcopal Church is at this time. Some deaneries and delegates in the Diocese of Connecticut are thus looking at offering a resolution to our Diocesan Convention that will ask us to engage in a diocesan-wide conversation around “Open Communion”. In the meantime, your bishops are called to uphold the canons of the church as outlined in the Constitution and Canons voted at General Convention 2009.
The implementation of the new Title IV might cause some anxiety as we learn to live with the new canons. Still, if we can stay centered, open, and as well informed as possible, we trust that in time the new Title IV will serve all of us well as we seek always to be faithful to our ordination vows.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas
The Rt. Rev. James E. Curry
The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens
“A diocesan-wide conversation,” as if the last twenty-years hasn’t taught everyone what that actually means. You will be indaba’d, talked at, and marginalized or what in a more honest time we would have called “browbeaten” until you arrive at the conclusion the progressives want. Don’t bother pointing to Scripture or tradition…that would be “unreasonable.”
Open communion will probably be the next “battleground” because the argument is going to be how it will make the church more welcoming and the church needs to grow. I don’t see much of a force on the field left to fight the newest new-thing. Then again, our God is the God of Gideon as well…and he did wonders, and still does.
I wish to make clear, as I have before, that I do not find the phraseology “open communion” as used above at all accurate or helpful. Open communion refers to something else which most Anglicans actually practice.
The practice referred to in this email is communion of the unbaptized.
In many TEC diocese, communion of the unbaptized has already become a fact on the ground. I’ve seen parishes advertise it. So despite what some individuals may think, that battle is practically over in TEC. Except perhaps for a little canon-fire in a few diocese. Sad, but if anyone had any remaining doubts about the majority of TEC having essentially become universalists who are fond of vestments, this should resolve them.
Wow, it is clear the spin regarding the new Title IV Canons is in full place. It sounds good to say they are less punitive and more relational. However, in doing so, what is being missed is that the rights of the clergy have been stripped from them. They have no rights. Likewise, the requirement to “self-report” will be used against clergy by bishops and the same thing by the Presiding Bishop who now has the authority to unseat a sitting Bishop because in her opinion they have violated the “Doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church,” while they seek to be true to Holy Scripture. Nor is there any respect for the current Canons of the Episcopal Church in the discussion about “open communion”. Communion is a sacrament and intended for believers only. The Canons expressly forbid communion to those who are not member and not baptized. Yet, today, you can intentional ignore the Canons and not be charged or required to report that you have done so.
It seems that the rule only apply to some. “All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.” The new Title IV only apply as the leadership of the EC decide they should apply.
It really does not matter what your biblical or theological position is today. If your Bishop or the Presiding Bishop decides you have violated the Canons as they understand it charges can be brought and you can be defrocked without due process.
The strategy to,
[blockquote]”engage in a diocesan-wide conversation”[/blockquote]
is to block any potential charges that curmudgeonly types might file in the first few months following the Title IV changes. No charges will proceed as long as the conversation goes on, and on, and on.
Of course no theology will be forthcoming and “feelings” will prevail. I can hear it now, “Now that I have seen ‘the face’ of this, I don’t see how we can deny the meal to anyone.”
Next step will have to be a resolution at G.C.
#5–That will happen in 2012.
The most likely outcome of the Title IV changes is that the rector of St. Paul’s Darien CT will be brought up on disciplinary charges before anyone is charged with violating the communion canons.
Dioceses likely to be practicing communion of the unbaptized are those that are liberal.
Those who are conservative have an obligation to report such instances (involving a priest) to the diocesan intake officer. Also, an obligation to report such instances involving a bishop to the intake officer for bishops.
One wonders whether the Presiding Bishop has taught or practiced communion of the unbaptized.
This is the comic line:” The new Title IV presents us with the circumstance to consider what we believe about “open communion” in light of what the doctrine and discipline of The Episcopal Church is at this time.”
The doctrine–though not the practice–is clear, and, by this revision, is actionable, indeed mandatorily so for clergy. But, alas, since this doctrine may not be “believed” by many clergy now we have instead of a difficulty, instead of widespread and intentional departure of ‘doctrine and discipline’, a chance, an opportunity for some discussion, a conversation.
Sad and, given the unlawful depostion of Duncan with the wrong canon and itself dastardly deployed, not to mention other twistings of the canon by 815, hypocritical.
#5 is right – this letter is just to make it clear that any complaints of violations of Canon 1.17.7 will be
placed in the circular fileput in a special file for futher consideration and discussion, which will undoubtedly take a very long time.Ironically, I knew some clergy who were revisionist or at least institutionalist on the past presenting issues but who were nevertheless traditionalist in opposing open communion, though they did not do much more than complain about it. Like the old joke about the pewsitters, I suppose they are now surprised to find that they constitute the “right wing” of TEC since most of the evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics have been driven out.