We, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Western Louisiana, make this statement that we do not recognize the depositions of Bishops Schofield and Cox as having had the requisite canonical votes necessary for the deposition of a bishop. We would refer the Church to the March 27, 2008 letter from the Standing Committee and Bishop of South Carolina to the Presiding Bishop, which we believe to be correct in its recitation of the applicable canons and their history.
The Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church have been held up by some church leaders as part of the way forward for our broken church, in that these governing documents provide a procedural basis for our common life together. One of the main justifications for the actions taken at General Convention 2003 regarding the consents to the Bishop of New Hampshire was that the Diocese of New Hampshire had followed the canonical process in electing a bishop. We also note that the Diocese of South Carolina was held to an exacting standard in obtaining consents for the consecration of Bishop Mark Lawrence, while such exacting standards as to form of consents have not been applied to any other Episcopal election to our knowledge.
And more targets are painted onto backs, this time in DioSWLA.
Yep, and Bishop MacPherson is in Schori’s sights right now!
I suspect that +Bruce is fully aware of the target imagery being lased onto his back now …. it will probably be followed in short order by the red dot laser target pip of a deposition without benefit of the full course of canon law being applied.
The difference between +Bruce and the other so-called Windsor biships, is that +Bruce knows who he serves and is not concerned by the pecadillos(sp?) of secularists who swim in the EO.
+Bruce and +Mark of SC, are at least willing to push back.
[i] The elves hope that the comments will be more positive toward the diocese rather than so negative of results that may ensue. [/i]
Here’s a positive one – I admire the courage and integrity of the standing committee of the Diocese of Western Louisiana and of its bishop. If more voices join theirs, then perhaps we will see a meaningful shift in the course TEC is taking. Perhaps at least we will see less haste in efforts to depose our bishops. I am thankful for the voices of the Dioceses of South Carolina and Western Louisiana.
It gives me renewed hope in the system when courageous people take a stand for what is right. I would hope that other dioceses, including some of the more liberal ones, would stand up for their church and for putting aside this obvious rail-roading by the powers-that-be. Good job!
How about this elves…Western Louisiana continues to be a bold light in an increasing dark world. I can see why Brad Drell holds Bp MacPherson in such high regard.
[i] Thank you. [/i]
If the Diocese of Western Louisiana’s action is any indicator of the future, I’d say that there’ll be more targets cropping up. The future does not bode well for Schori & Company.
May the “bold lights” increase in number and intensity.
I hope and pray that additional Standing Committees and Bishops add their voices to South Carolina, W. Louisiana and the other individual bishops (like +Howe) who continued to protest this violation of our polity.
Scott K, do you perhaps have in mind our own Standing Commitee and +Bauerschmidt? I hope to see that soon. Perhaps in this situation there may not be safety in numbers but there may be strength to make a difference for the good.
We need more standing committees like this.
Not just standing committees that agree. Not just standing committees that write letters. But standing committees that declare, “WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE!”
That helps expose the illegitimacy of ECUSA’s actions. ECUSA’s rulers dismiss complaints from the orthodox. Ditto for ineffectual protests. After all, ineffectual protests by definition allow the rulers to impose their will.
But DELEGITIMATION gets them where they live.
Just a point of information: Isn’t Bp McPherson the chairman of the PB’s Advisory Committee? If so (and I think he is), it would seem that this is would be a real political loss to her.
He might be……for now. But when she gets through with him, who knows?