[Bishop] Pope was a founder and first president of the Episcopal Synod of America, now Forward in Faith/North America.
[Bishop] Iker, who said that he had lost “a valued mentor and beloved friend,” said Pope “will be remembered first as a loving pastor who cared deeply for his clergy and their families, and second as a defender of the historic faith and order of the catholic church.”
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
I mean no disrespect to the man by this, and all due condolences to his loved ones… But it was quite amusing when it was rumoured in 2008 that he was about to do yet another move between TEC and RCC, and a blogger asked if he had “poped, depoped, repoped and now depoped again”!
When I was deacon at St. Luke’s, I felt it a privilege to serve alongside bishop Pope when he celebrated the Mass. He was no doubt troubled by the direction of TEC and could not come to a place of peace there or in the RC. But to listen to him preach was to hear preaching that few could compare to. To preach before him and then listen to his critique was instructional. To serve in the liturgy with him was an honor because he loved the ceremonial of the solemn high church liturgy and understood the power of the liturgy to draw all worshippers into a deeper encounter with God. Those few years I served closely with him are very meaningful to me.