Via email from a participant:
I’m not sure where I can post this, but here are the results of the various votes at Convention today, where I was a delegate: we basically approved all the constitutional amendments put forward by the Diocese (its Committee on Constitution and Canons), by a majority of about 80% in each case. In more
details:
Article 1, Authority of Gen Con, amendment to repeal to qualification to the accession clause, was defeated by 83% of clergy, 80% of lay delegates (71 and 99 votes respectively).
Article 14, Title to Church Property, amendment to say all property is held in trust for TEC, defeated by 88% of clergy, 87% lay (75,107).
Preamble, removal of reference to TEC and geographical boundaries, adopted by 83% clergy, 79% lay (71, 97 votes).
Article 1, Anglican Identity, instead of accession to TEC, approved by 83% clergy, 77% lay (69, 95 votes).
Art. 12, Delegates to Extra-Diocesan Conventions or Synods, approved by 83% clergy, 80% lay (69, 98 votes).
Art. 18, Canons, removing “consistent with Constitution and Canons of TEC”, approved by 83% clergy, 78% lay (69, 96 votes).
We also approved by 88% clergy, 82% lay to amend our Canon 32, Controversy between rector and vestry, to add controversies between a parish and the diocese, to provide an amicable way for a parish to leave the diocese.
We also approved a resolution to express our thanks for the welcome extended by Southern Cone, and asking our Bishop and Standing Committee to create a report on the implications and means of accepting such an invitation. And a resolution thanking the Panel of Reference for its report about the permissive rather than mandatory nature of ordination of women.
Update: An ENS report is here.
Bp Iker’s keynote address is available at Anglican TV. The address is biblically founded throughout. What a great leader. Integrity clearly means to Bp Iker a total embodiment of the Christian faith not a small group of itchy ear-ed, worldly, false apostles and deceitful workers that disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.
He is everything that Katherine Jefferts Schori is not. For the revisionists to see him and then compare him to their leader who gave the video deposition who swore in court that she lied to the faces of all the primates, that must be gut wrenching deep down but few or none have the courage to admit it. The have made their bed with their leader. I give thanks that, in this time of crisis, our cause is blessed with the likes of Iker, Duncan, Guernsey,…, Akinola, Orombi, Venables, etc.
The address starts about 18:25 into it. Watch it. You will be knocked off your seats.
The laity has spoken! Long live the laity! Blessed polity has been observed! Long live polity! The priests have spoken! Long live the priests! The Diocesan Convention has spoken! Long live the Diocese! The Bishop has spoken! Long live the Bishop! Glory and blessings on the democratic principles of the Diocese! All the nay voters are invited to be in attendance at parishes where alternative oversight conditions have been set by polity! Glory to the Alternative Oversighters! Polity! Polity! Polity! (Somehow I don’t the PBess is going to like this sort of polity.)
I can envision KJS bubbling and fulminating with black smoke pouring out her ears and nostrils midst little bursts of flame as her demons hover about, all plotting the next phase of the war against the Disciples of Christ. God Bless Bp. Iker and his supporters in this watershed struggle.
The ENS report (link above) is a fair summary and concludes with the course of action (deposition and lawsuits) that Schori and her minions and/or handlers plan to take.
Once again, it shows disregard for democratic principle; even though such principle is touted to Primates when it suits 815’s desire to escape accountability. Just like, “I have no effectual power over dioceses” becomes “diocesan bishop, thou shalt sue thy parishes!”
Christ is renewing the face of His church!
Alfonso, I too was struck by the brashness of how the article lays out the “politycal” actions that will be taken. I wonder if the politycos will try to start the action now. The resolutions of the Fort Worth diocesan convention really carry no weight since they are only the first reading. Polity-wise, they can only take action after the second reading passes (not that polity really means anything to the phony hypocrites). I note that there is a mandatory two month waiting time for the bishop to recant. If proceedings occurred tomorrow and Bp Iker were to be deposed the following day, an emergency, early 2008 diocesan convention could be called in January and a second reading could pass then prior to any deposition by the full HoB.
Really what should happen is that at the passage of the second reading, Fort Worth will have failed to meet the canonical requirements for membership of the TEC and should be kicked out.
Also, the article cites this past June’s resolution of the executive council that renders “null and void” any diocesan resolution, withdrawing the accession. I wonder if Bonnie Anderson sees the contradiction: If the executive council really had any effect, then the diocese hasn’t done anything (null and void). Thus, they have no cause to bring charges against diocesan leadership. All Ms. Anderson could do is pretend and leave an empty seat at the table, much like what was done during the civil war.
And that, my friends, is hoisting Ms Anderson by her own politycal petards!
The text of Bp Iker’s address is [url=http://www.fwepiscopal.org/diocesanconvention/07convention/07address.html ]here[/url].