What is truly depressing about this document prepared for leaders in the church is that rather than dealing with the theological concerns raised by the Primates, it obsesses about legalities and focuses on trivialities. In that, it certainly represents accurately the darkness at the heart of the institution formerly known as ECUSA.
My goodness. I’m certainly glad that “with God all things are possible.” I hope God never reads the Constitution and Canons; he’ll find he can’t do anything with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church giving its permission. Will they charge God with abandonment when he moves on? Will they notice that he has moved on?
It’s quite illuminating to read, actually. I have never read any biblical or traditional support for the idea that the laity are an important factor in deciding church doctrine or dogma. When was it decided that those of us in the pews should be making those decisions? I mean that as a serious question.
Trooper [#5], one technical answer to your question is: the laity were given an important role in deciding matters of doctrine by whichever General Convention(s) adopted the procedure for revising the Book of Common Prayer, in Article X of TEC’s Constitution:
… No alteration [of the BCP] or addition thereto shall be made unless the same shall [1] be first proposed in one regular meeting of the General Convention and by a resolve thereof be sent within six months to the Secretary of the Convention of every Diocese, to be made known to the Diocesan Convention at its next meeting, and [2] be adopted by the General Convention at its next succeeding regular meeting [A] by a majority of all Bishops, excluding retired Bishops not present, of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and [B] by a vote by orders in the House of Deputies in accordance with Article I, Sec. 5, except that concurrence by the orders shall require the affirmative vote in each order by a majority of the Dioceses entitled to representation in the House of Deputies.
[blockquote]I have never read any biblical or traditional support for the idea that the laity are an important factor in deciding church doctrine or dogma.[/blockquote]
Don’t worry. The laity has no such role in the new thing that is happening in TEC. Our duty is to pay the bills, and be subservient to our betters. TEC’s wonderful polity (May Its Name Be Praised) is just a codeword for the machinations of a well-coordinated elitist bureaucracy.
The Holy Spirit is doing a new thing! What we need is a time of “reception” for the notion that the HOB can respond to DES. After all the canons say the unbaptized aren’t supposed to receive Communion, either. The canons at the time said the Philadelphia ordinations were illegal. Why is it we’re canonical fundamentalists on polity and not on doctrine. I guess doctrine isn’t as important as discipline in the ordination vows.
What is truly depressing about this document prepared for leaders in the church is that rather than dealing with the theological concerns raised by the Primates, it obsesses about legalities and focuses on trivialities. In that, it certainly represents accurately the darkness at the heart of the institution formerly known as ECUSA.
It also clearly states that nothing will change, and that The Episcopal Church will continue down the path leading away from the Anglican Communion.
My goodness. I’m certainly glad that “with God all things are possible.” I hope God never reads the Constitution and Canons; he’ll find he can’t do anything with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church giving its permission. Will they charge God with abandonment when he moves on? Will they notice that he has moved on?
oops: make that “without General Convention”
It’s quite illuminating to read, actually. I have never read any biblical or traditional support for the idea that the laity are an important factor in deciding church doctrine or dogma. When was it decided that those of us in the pews should be making those decisions? I mean that as a serious question.
Trooper [#5], one technical answer to your question is: the laity were given an important role in deciding matters of doctrine by whichever General Convention(s) adopted the procedure for revising the Book of Common Prayer, in Article X of TEC’s Constitution:
Her tap dance around litigation makes for interesting reading. Lawyers sure are clever folks.
Summary of all of the legalese: We will do what we want.
[blockquote]I have never read any biblical or traditional support for the idea that the laity are an important factor in deciding church doctrine or dogma.[/blockquote]
Don’t worry. The laity has no such role in the new thing that is happening in TEC. Our duty is to pay the bills, and be subservient to our betters. TEC’s wonderful polity (May Its Name Be Praised) is just a codeword for the machinations of a well-coordinated elitist bureaucracy.
The Holy Spirit is doing a new thing! What we need is a time of “reception” for the notion that the HOB can respond to DES. After all the canons say the unbaptized aren’t supposed to receive Communion, either. The canons at the time said the Philadelphia ordinations were illegal. Why is it we’re canonical fundamentalists on polity and not on doctrine. I guess doctrine isn’t as important as discipline in the ordination vows.