Letter of Inhibition against The Right Revd Edward H MacBurney

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Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, Episcopal Church (TEC), TEC Bishops, TEC Conflicts

50 comments on “Letter of Inhibition against The Right Revd Edward H MacBurney

  1. Peré Phil says:

    Why does it seem we as a denomination are spending so much time doing this sort of thing? The lesson from 1 Peter last Sunday was about showing mutual love for one another, and I really feel like these actions and others recently like them are tearing down the body.

    Clearly this isn’t helping us spread the good news of Jesus, nor, frankly, even accomplishing the MDGs. Doesn’t +KJS have better things to do with her time?

  2. Dallas Priest says:

    The person who occupies the PB Office will regret this one after it was requested that she delay this as Bishop MacBurney’s son was terminal and who died this past Friday. The request was denied and she pressed forward to have this served. I hope you are proud of yourself Hurricane Kate for all of your mean-spirited behavior. Did they teach Pastoral Theology while you were still at CDSP? Did you pass?

  3. Already left says:

    This is just so very, very sad. I wonder what KJS has in her body on the upper right side underneath her ribs – it certainly can’t be a heart!!!

  4. Jeffersonian says:

    Son on his deathbed and Schori, aware of the fact, picks that moment to pull the trigger. All class, that gal is.

    I wonder…what’s the big hurry to purge her enemies all of a sudden? Something brewing at Lambeth?

  5. Cennydd says:

    I don’t know about Lambeth, but don’t you all think it’s time to make sure that every primate of the Communion is briefed in full about Schori’s actions? I’m sure they already know quite a bit, but this letter and every bit of the information leading up to it and its aftermath should be immediately sent to each of them. They have to know what kind of person they’re dealing with!

    And since this only makes TEC look increasingly worse, I wonder why the laity and their leaders haven’t gotten sick of this woman’s shenanigans and demanded that she resign immediately? Surely, even they have some human decency in them, don’t they?

  6. Josip says:

    Has Bishop Spong been sent a suspension letter from Bishop Kate? Why Not?

  7. Jim of Lapeer says:

    Prayers ascending for the bishop and his family during this difficult time. It is truly sad, pathetic really, that TEC believes this scorched earth policy is somehow serving the cause of Christ.
    This is starting to look a lot like an Episcopal McCarthy proceeding.

  8. Choir Stall says:

    Schori is beyond contempt, and surely dangerous. It’s time that the Church was shed of her. Adding misery to an old man whose son was dying and whose wife was in the sundown of her years. WHAT A FAKE – A FRAUD – and A DISGRACE! Are there ANY PRIESTS or BISHOPS left in this insane Church? WHO WILL DO WHAT’S NEEDED? What would happen if a group of priests staged a protest? What would happen if a group of laity did the same? It’s time to stop playing by reappraiser rules of “face time” and get into the dirt where the filth is. Get knuckles off of the keyboard and organize a massive outcry!

  9. Br_er Rabbit says:

    I’m sorry to be so obtuse and ignorant, but the link given by Kendall leading to the link given by Ackerman don’t tell me anything (read it all? Why?) that the headline doesn’t say, other than the news of the death of the bishop’s son. Can anyone supply the background to this? Why was this bishop inhibited? No reason is given in the linked info.
    [size=1][color=red][url=http://resurrectioncommunitypersonal.blogspot.com/]The Confused Rabbit[/url][/color][color=gray].[/color][/size]

  10. Tom Hightower says:

    The presentment was issued on January 24 and given to KJS on January 30. Why the delay in inhibiting Bp. MacBurney?
    Fr. Tom Hightower

  11. DonGander says:

    Is there a catalogue being kept to keep track of all these actions by the PB?

    As the horror of a thousand murders is less than the horror of just one as “thousand” is just a number, so the acts of vandalism are becomming just a number.

  12. jayanthony says:

    As an optimist, I choose to believe that the bishops of Camp Allen fame are now in conference (and even some moderates who have not previously identified themselves with Camp Allen) devising a plan that will put a stop to this disaster; and if they do not have the numbers to stop this train wreck, that they will covenant together to speak up both publicly before the next HoB meeting and boldly within. I choose to believe that they will begin putting their collective feet down, step forward and exercise the leadership we all know is within their capabilities.

  13. Ralph says:

    #12, As an optimist, I am absolutely that God is at work stirring the souls and hearts of bishops, priests, deacons and laity. God is present. We ask for the strength, courage, energy, and perseverance to fight the battle that needs to be fought.

    #2, I’m sure that CDSP and the other seminaries teach Pastoral Theology, and that the various members of the clergy involved in this abhorrent series of events passed it. However, any intelligent person can study Pastoral Theology as an academic discipline and pass a test on it. It only comes alive in practice. THAT is where the real test is.

    The good news is that we can all learn by negative example. This has been the case throughout history, and history repeats itself. Again, again, and again. Rather than provoke the Elves by again citing a certain example from 20th century history, maybe Dives and Lazarus will work.

  14. Bill Cool says:

    #12. jayanthony
    I agree — they will exercise the very same strong leadership that they have at every opportunity since they first came together. I’m sure they are even now working on a draft of their covenanted plan of action.

  15. David+ says:

    My bishop still thinks we should be contributing to 815. If he ever asks me again why I will not give one cent to the Episcopal Organization, he will regret asking for a very long time! In fact, he just might need to get a pair of hearing aids after my answer.

  16. Cennydd says:

    And just what do you think their “covenanted plan of action” will be, or is that some deep, dark, secret?

  17. jayanthony says:

    #16, the answer to your question will be revealed when, as I said optimistically, they will step forward publicly …

  18. Larry Morse says:

    See #12 about fighting the battle that needs to be fought. A nic3e thought this, but my question t

  19. sophy0075 says:

    I’ve written it before about the PB, but she deserves it again-
    the words that were uttered against Senator Joseph McCarthy (slightly modified):

    [i]Have you no sense of decency, Ma’am? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?[/i]

  20. Larry Morse says:

    As to #3 fighting the battle tht needs to be fought. What batt le is this and who is fighting? Schori et al moves ahead with the TEC agenda. Are you going to stop them? If not you, the who? YOu cannot fight a battle in which there is only one contestant, and tht is presently the case. TEC is not on the the Anglican battlefield and therefore cannot be fought. But suppose we had a leader who would force TEC to fight? Or suppose we have an Anglican organization who spoke for all Anglicans and who read TEC out of the church in its entirety, told that it was not Christian and that it no long er wowuld be recognized in any ecumenical operations. None of these cases exist, so #13’s call to the ramparts is meaningless. Can anyone think of case where inveighing against TEC’s crimes has had any effect whatsoever? All this chatter is worthless. We would all be better off trying to find a way to force Shori at al onto the battlefield, and t he way to start is for American Anglicanism to
    find a competent leader whom the various organizations are willing to follow. Parsing the canons isn’t quite up to the task, now is it?
    WE aren’t we all demanding action from out various bishops and archbishops? Larry

  21. Islandbear says:

    Isaiah 5:

    18Ah, you who drag iniquity along with cords of falsehood,
    who drag sin along as with cart-ropes,
    19who say, ‘Let him make haste,
    let him speed his work
    that we may see it;
    let the plan of the Holy One of Israel hasten to fulfilment,
    that we may know it!’
    20Ah, you who call evil good
    and good evil,
    who put darkness for light
    and light for darkness,
    who put bitter for sweet
    and sweet for bitter!
    21Ah, you who are wise in your own eyes,
    and shrewd in your own sight!
    22Ah, you who are heroes in drinking wine
    and valiant at mixing drink,
    23who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
    and deprive the innocent of their rights!
    24Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble,
    and as dry grass sinks down in the flame,
    so their root will become rotten,
    and their blossom go up like dust;
    for they have rejected the instruction of the Lord of hosts,
    and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

  22. Anselmic says:

    No shalom?

  23. Harry Edmon says:

    Given the law orientation of every sermon of KJS that I have read, this is not surprising.

  24. vulcanhammer says:

    Pauline the Chain? (I’ll leave it to you students of the history of Roman Britain to catch the analogy.)

  25. DaveW says:

    KJS echoes Michael Corleone: “It’s not personal. Just business.”

  26. Harry Edmon says:

    DaveW – Does she make them an offer they can’t refuse?

  27. drjoan says:

    I’ve spent time on the HOB/D list serve and seen how vitriolic their comments are when we question the actions of ++KJS. But I must say, these comments are almost as bad.
    I don’t like her actions but the Rev. Jefferts Schori IS the duly elected Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
    And we ARE supposed to be Christians.

  28. Choir Stall says:

    ALL OF YOU:
    Meet me at the National Cathedral. Let’s chain ourselves to her cathedra and protest. Call the media: the papers, Christianity Today, Washington news. DO something to call attention to this unrighteousness. Or: get three people to call your bishop and in turn get them to call three more. Print up a recall list of grievances. An action letter with practical responses. Flood somebody with protests and do it NOW. Let’s stop this safe analytical exercise of cataloging the insanity and actually take it where it needs to go. Those of you who have the Internet as your tool should do this and do it quick. If each person finished this week by calling/encouraging three others to act what would you say at the end of April? What would you say if you didn’t do anything except continue to analyze?

  29. Jeffersonian says:

    [blockquote]I don’t like her actions but the Rev. Jefferts Schori IS the duly elected Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. [/blockquote]

    No one has suggested otherwise.

    [blockquote]And we ARE supposed to be Christians. [/blockquote]

    Luke 17:3

  30. farstrider+ says:

    drjoan,

    Would you be so kind as to point out which of the above comments is inaccurate and on what basis? If you are taking issue with people feeling passionate about vile un-Christian behavior within the leadership of the Church… this is actually a Christian trait. Healthy Christianity is Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his fellow members of the Confessing Church raging against the ecclesial powers that betrayed the faith; healthy Christianity is not nice for the sake of being nice.

  31. Choir Stall says:

    Re: #27-
    But drjoan:
    If there’s little to no Church left to preside over what is the sense of giving Schori a pass on her actions? Election is not divinization. Election is not sainthood. Election is not perfection. Those elected are not beyond critique. The sooner the stalwart apologists for KJS realize this the better. Or, perhaps they should get used to paying more of the bills she will create.

  32. Eclipse says:

    Interesting that the “”Usual Suspects” aren’t here to defend +Shori.

    Of her it is plain: By her fruits you shall know her… OR her actions speak a great deal louder than her Shaloms…

  33. The_Elves says:

    [i] Let’s not slide off topic, please. [/i]

    -Elf Lady

  34. drjoan says:

    I didn’t say these comments were inaccurate; I said they were nearly as vitriolic as those on the HOB/D list serve–and those are REALLY awful.
    #29: Luke 6:35
    And for those of us STILL in TEC, try Rom 13:1

  35. DaveW says:

    Harry,

    If not herself, then David Booth “Tom Hagen” Beers makes the offer on her behalf.

  36. Irenaeus says:

    Here’s a thought for one or more persons with PUBLIC RELATIONS or ADVERTISING skills:

    Why not launch a “BACK MACBURNEY” CAMPAIGN, complete with:

    — Buttons or lapel pins of the “I Like Iker” variety.

    — A leaflet (with photos) telling Bp. MacBurney’s life story, discussing his goals and achievements, and briefly describing KJS’s campaign against him.

    — A Bishop MacBurney website with similar materials plus information about how to contact your bishop (e.g., in support of MacBurney or to ask how the bishop plans to vote).

    Remember that many, perhaps most, people respond more strongly to a face and a poignant story than to a raft of trenchant statistics. Bp. MacBurney’s case well illustrates KJS’s heartlessness, vindictiveness, and abuse of power. He gives her orthodox victims a human face. And he deserves our support.

    Think about it!

    [Also posted on Stand Firm]

  37. justice1 says:

    #27 Saul was the duly anointed Israelite king. Need I say more.

  38. CharlesB says:

    This is contemptible. It is moments like these that make me realize I did the right thing by leaving TEC in 2003. I saw the leadership then as apostate, and therefore I could no longer be a member and support such an organization. How do these people sleep at night? Have they no shame?

  39. justme says:

    It sems to me that ‘things’ would move along much faster, if those who said ‘I am just waiting for…… then I will leave’ just left. Being a member of a congregation who ‘left it all behind over a year ago, I do not consider Schori to be my PB. And yes we are a thriving and happy congregations. I am sickened by the fact that she is going after a group of retired Bishops at this stage because she and her cohorts can bully them much more easily than others.

  40. CharlesB says:

    My sentiments, exactly. People who stay, no matter how well intentioned, are supporting this heresy. There is no way to keep money from going to TEC, even if you stipulate no money to the diocese, national church, etc. Funds are commingled. Even if they are not, one’s giving in one area indirectly makes it possible to cover other areas. We have dear friends and family who stayed, and we respect that it is their choice. But we wish thing would just move along. Maybe we will come back, if there is a Anglican or Episcopal church that sticks with the true faith. Unfortunately there was and still is none in our area.

  41. WestJ says:

    We are called tp pray for our enemies, and I think it is clear that KJS is the enemy of orthodox Christians.
    So from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer,
    O ALMIGHTY God, King of all kings, and Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to those who truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our enemies; abate their pride, assuage their malice, and confound their devices; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all victory; through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

  42. CanaAnglican says:

    WestJ,
    Please read how David prayed for his enemies in the Psalms.

    Dr. Joan,
    Please see how Paul told Christians to judge only those in the church, and to expel the wicked. I Cor. 5:12-13. Also, you can see in I Tim. 1:18-20 how Paul handed over to Satan, those who “shipwrecked” the faith. I think the commenters, each in his own way, are so outraged at this shipwreck of the faith that they are “handing the woman over to Satan” to be straightened out.

    If TEC is to ever have any hope of representing Christ on earth, it must take serious corrective actions and it must take them quickly. If you read urgency beyond politness in the various commentors, it is not without reason. Given proper occassion, I expect most of these people are very warm hearted and polite.

  43. Cennydd says:

    One thing and then I’ll quit for now: While Schori may have been “duly and canonically elected,” in all reality, she was chosen by +Bruno and friends, and “injected” into the list of candidates……and all the while, these bishops knew full well what would happen to the Church once she was in office.

    Yes, this woman is the worst disaster ever to befall TEC, but the real cause of that disaster is the bishops who fast-forwarded her into office. Couple this with the backing that she…..and they……got from Integrity and Claiming the Blessing, and you have the results that we’re seeing today.

    The trainwreck has already happened.

  44. the roman says:

    A father has lost his son. Nothing else matters for now. Our prayers for Bishop MacBurney and his wife. Prayers also for the PB.

  45. Brian of Maryland says:

    Perhaps there’s yet another explanation to all of this: the Spirit’s hand is against this church. Better TEC should come apart quickly than lead any more of God’s children astray.

    Brian

  46. PadreWayne says:

    #2 Dallas Priest: “The person who occupies the PB Office will regret this one after it was requested that she delay this as Bishop MacBurney’s son was terminal and who died this past Friday. ”

    This was cited on Blog of the North, as well. Prove it please (that it was requested directly to ++Katharine that a delay be implemented).

  47. DaveW says:

    #46

    And what if the proof you seek isn’t given? In that case, would you have us all believe that she is not so low that she needs to look up to look down? That she is perfectly in the right? That she has no choice but to act as she has? That she is a good, warm-hearted, tolerant, accepting, forgiving, loving person who is unfortunately misunderstood?

    Please.

  48. Cennydd says:

    You’ll have a tough time convincing ME of that!

  49. Think Again says:

    #46 Here is what The Living Church News Service is reporting.
    The timing of the disciplinary notice deeply saddened the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy, who said he had pleaded with Bishop Jefferts Schori to delay the action for a short while out of pastoral consideration for the MacBurney family. Bishop MacBurney’s son, Page, has been in hospice care and died April 4.

    “I am beside myself with grief over this unnecessary action taken against my predecessor especially at a time when he is mourning the death of his son this past Friday,” Bishop Ackerman said in a statement on the Forward in Faith website. Bishop Ackerman serves as the organization’s president.
    http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/4/9/pb-presses-efforts-to-remove-more-bishops

  50. Larry Morse says:

    Schori et al’s behavior here is inexcusable by any standard, but the important point is this, that no one, repeat no one, can or will stop her.
    The handwringing is understandable but impotent. Have all t he important bishops in the Anglican churches in America gotten together and published in all major newspapers a blistering examination of this and other like TEC actions? And if not, why not? Surely, this particular piece of bullying deserves extensive public review and condemnation.

    Will it happen? You know the answer and well as I.

    [i] Slightly edited by elf. [/i]