From a diocesan press release:
I am delighted with the news today from the Primate of Kenya that my good friend and colleague, Canon Bill Atwood, is to be consecrated as a missionary bishop and will be ministering to those here in the States who have been alienated from The Episcopal Church in recent years. He has the heart of an evangelist and has been the key, pivotal figure in the realignment of worldwide Anglicanism.
The rejection of the Dar es Salaam proposed pastoral scheme by the TEC House of Bishops will lead to further extraordinary efforts such as this to extend episcopal care to faithful Anglicans who believe they have no alternative but to separate from the church they have loved and served for so many years.
God bless Bishop-elect Atwood and this exciting new ministry.
The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth
Hmmm…wonder if we will see such an announcement from Stanton of Dallas…doubtful
The rejection of the Dar es Salaam proposed pastoral scheme by the TEC House of Bishops will lead to further extraordinary efforts such as this to extend episcopal care to faithful Anglicans who believe they have no alternative but to separate from the church they have loved and served for so many years.
Translation: Those of you whining about boundary crossings, you have only begun to see boundary crossings!
Bryan Hunter, one can always hope. I do know that Bishops Stanton, Iker, and Canon Atwood (along with Bishop Minns and several others) were at Christ Church, Plano yesterday for Bishop Jecko’s memorial service. Perhaps they had a chance to talk?
(What I thought I wrote was…)
Spiritually, theological, and in conscience, it seems more accurate to state that “they believe they have no alternative but to admit that they have been separated from the church they have loved and served for so many years.”
Perhaps, in this, my heart’s desire of a Church which teaches as She taught me, a Church which through founded teaching and with God’s grace, attracts the souls of those who can see that the world is the enemy and prepares each soul for the fight will reemerge and earn again the title “Church Militant.”
What my beloved Church has become was so poetically expressed on a church-lawn sign with the Episcopal Shield carved into it, captioned by the bold words, “Serving the world in the Name of Christ.” Such an error in wording, in theology, and in the understanding of Who (verses what) we are called to serve is merely scratching the surface of our error.
The person who created the motto for that parish may easily be imagined to have been a prominent vestry member, diocesan delegate, and represent that diocese at General Convention despite the words which he or she believed were a holy expression of the Church’s mission. Almost certain is that the motto or “Mission Statement” passed a committee of similarly untaught laity as well as being approved by the clergy– Probably an innocent mistake with insidious consequences. I am convinced that our current polity enabled this disenfranchisement of the faithful within the Episcopal Church to which the good Bishop refers. So, I am desperate to know: What we will do to regain and then retain the course from which we have strayed.
What polity has been (or is being) constructed of whatever corner of the Church I find myself a part when the word schism has become a legal and historical fact?
Crews Giles+
++Williams better be taking notice. Choose now or you won’t get into the line up!
Peace,
Barry