[Andrew] Doyle won the bishop coadjutor seat when he defeated five others for the office, including suffragan bishop Dena Harrison, on the fourth ballot at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston.
Doyle, of Houston, said his victory election indicated that Episcopalians want the local church to reach out to minorities and young people.
“They also want us to grow our congregations,” he said.
Doyle described himself as a moderate in the church controversy over homosexuality.
The American church has been embroiled in a bitter controversy with some parishes and dioceses defecting to Asian, African and South American provinces after the national church approved the 2005 consecration of an openly homosexual bishop for New Hampshire.
“I really am a moderate and I find that I have a lot in common with people all over the spectrum,” he said.
“I think that was part of the reason I was selected .”
He said he would also not celebrate same-sex unions in the diocese.
But he also said he wants to continue “good and healthy” relationships with both the national Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
“The bishop of Texas has always been a leader in the national church and in the global church,” Doyle said.
There are no “moderates”. They are just people who hide in the mud while others fight out the important issues. A well-respected layman gave a talk at our parish this AM. He lamented that many people were at odds with the bishops and presiding bishop, but he gave us hope. This aged, well-read man just emphasized to us to hold on to the Prayer Book and let these anomalies wear out. At coffee hour I reminded him that “these anomalies” WILL be the very people who design the next Prayer Book. We can’t hide in the mud. We have to stand up and struggle.
RE: “They are just people who hide in the mud while others fight out the important issues.”
But the thing is, he didn’t “hide in the mud”. His former parish — St. Francis, College Station — is on the Integrity/Austin list as a “gay-affirming” parish and the parish was a well-known “house of flakes” back during his tenure, which he happily led and encouraged.
No — the guy is a raving revisionist, who got elected, and now will attempt to desperately hide his revisionism so that he can play “the moderate”.
I doubt very much that conservatives in Texas will buy that line, though.
Precisely Sarah.
No one should believe that Doyle IS a moderate. He’s on the front lines – siding with Susan Russell’s mentality, which in the end will fashion a wasteland legacy for those who adopt it.
Revelation 3:15-16
I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Oh Great…another Windsor Bishop no doubt. More SSB for Texas.
Intercessor
Don’t you just LOVE it how revisionists hide behind the ‘moderate’ label until they are elected? I think diocesean bishops should have an expiration date, like the Presiding Bishop — after so many years, they move on or back to office of assistant or even parish priest, and then a new person is chosen to lead the diocese.
Of course, that’s just for the ones I don’t like. The good ones should stay as long as possible! 😉
(For those who didn’t get it: That’s a joke!)
Peace
Jim Elliott <><
I knew the moment I saw his “moderate” comment that this thread would turn into a running assault on the very term. I find the attacks on the concept as tiresome as this bishop-elect’s ill use of it. As an excellent young Kentucky blogger once said “conservative and liberal are two denominations of a religion to which I do not belong”, and to that I’d add “moderate”.
Sarah, if Canon Doyle is a raving revisionist, why did Bishop Wimberly pick him to be his Canon to the Ordinary, a position that gives him great responsibility in the diocese and that would automatically put him on the short list for bishop elections in many dioceses? As a progressive Episcopalian in Texas, I hope the bishop-elect is as liberal as many of you think, but I don’t know that he is.
-Chase Danford
That Wimberly picked Andy tells you more about Wimberly, the leader of the failed Windsor Bishops, than it does about Doyle…sort of outs WIMBERLY…
RE: ” why did Bishop Wimberly pick him to be his Canon to the Ordinary, a position that gives him great responsibility in the diocese and that would automatically put him on the short list for bishop elections in many dioceses?”
What RickyBobby said. Institutionalist bishops pick raving revisionist staff all the time. I’m aware of one self-proclaimed “Windsor Bishop” whose entire diocesan staff is radically revisionist to the extent that the diocesan youth coordinator took the kids to the Integrity Eucharist at General Convention.
To those of you who wonder about your bishops and where his heart and mind really are as he or she walks the narrow path of “moderation” simply note his diocesan staff for the tip-off. It’s not a sure bet, since sometimes bishops can simply be incompetent at human resources. But it’s a great tool.
My bet is that Wimberly — unlike some other bishops — could equally point to the precise same number of “conservative” staff members to counterbalance is “revisionist” staff members, just to make certain everybody was kept guessing. He’s a quite competent politician. ; > )
A moderate is one who cannot make up his/her mind about the truth or the practice of the truth. Jesus didn’t have moderates in his early band of disciples. They were in it til death – which means that their version of the truth ran contrary to the spirit of the culture. If you are practicing the truth people will want you gone. Moderates just look to get invited to everybody’s side – but don’t stay.
I find the discussion here to be something less than productive and somewhat bordering on insulting. Fact – Andy has repeatedly stated he will not allow same-sex marriages or ordinations of persons living in a relationship outside of marriage. Fact – The Diocese of Texas utilizes a process by which any 3 delegates to council representing more than one parish or mission and including at least one clergy person may nominate someone. If they accept, the usual background check is completed and they are placed in nomination. In other words no nominating committee. Fact – The diocese has been in a process of prayer and discernment including a 4 week Christian Ed program since February. Fact – each delegate had an opportunity to meet each of the 6 nominees in person. Observation – Those that I spoke to who attended the “walk-a-bouts” were very supportive of Andy. Clearly, a great many were supportive of Bishop Harrison. Observation – most of the delegates I know would fall on the more conservative end of the spectrum. Hearsay (I can only take what they told me at face value) – they all voted for Andy. Opinion – the level of vitriol expressed here makes it almost impossible to carry on a discussion if with many of the those on this blog with which I generally agree. I prayed overnight before posting. I pray that others will do the same.
YBIC,
Jim
Jim (LayJim), well said. I think many who have sounded off on our coadjutor election forget that the vast majority of clergy and lay delegates were not seeking a bishop whose opinions they most agreed with–they were seeking a good and faithful pastor. To reduce our diocesan discernment process down to an ideological checklist is not fair, and it doesn’t honor the prayer and reflection the delegates engaged in. Those of us who are interested in the political side of church sometimes lose perspective (I include myself in this), so thank you for your words.
Peace,
Chase Danford
I agree with Jim. Andy could not have won without significant support from conservatives–all of whom presumably met him and liked what they saw. EDOT is a moderate conservative diocese, and the election demonstrated that fact. All three of the candidates with the most votes (Doyle, Harrison, and Michell) took the EXACT same positions on SSB (against), ordination of non-celibate gays (against), women’s ordination (for), leaving the Episcopal Church (against). I don’t agree with them on all of these points, but I met all three of them and I can tell you that all of them are Godly, prayerful, compassionate, smart, gifted priests–any of them would be a great diocesan bishop. This diocese is trying to be One Church and proclaim the saving grace of Jesus–the same grace that makes us able to share the table with those with whom we disagree. And, we have so far been doing a pretty good job of it. Let’s get back to work spreading the Good News, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and visiting the imprisoned, and stop attacking each other. In Christ, Jim Cowan (Houston)
Jim, #14, we cannot feed the hungry, heal the sick and vist the imprisoned when we are hungry for unity of belief, are sick with our behavior and are ourselves imprisoned by that behavior or acceptace of it, unbecoming of the Gospel of Jesus and his call to holy living. This is NO ordinary disagreement. We are NOT One Church, either in the EDOT or TEC. Far from One Church. Either we come back to our foundation or the crack in it will swollow those in the middle. There is no other position but to dismiss SSB and to leave out of ordination those who will not give up their SS behavior, a sin against self and God. If this will not be done, then there will not be One Church. Though I must say, I believe it is too late.
Our parish in the Dioceses of Texas has been a remarkable mix of very conservative and liberal, with everything in between. I have loved this church, worshipping with people who do not always agree, and sometime vehemently so, but love one another regardless and sit side-by-side in the pews to worship the same Christ.
I believe Andy was the right choice because ALL of our delegates, miraculously agreed. And there had been suspicion and heavy “politicking” going on to make sure the “right” people chose the “right” bishop. I think this election has been guided by the Holy Spirit–and now the people agree. There has been considerable prayer, and the prayers of “liberals,” “moderates,” and “conservatives” are equal to the ears of God.
Those accusing, name calling, and attacking the bishop-elect’s character, clearly have not been involved in the process nor spoken to any of the candidates. When we fear, seek to harm (in word or deed), and cannot respond with grace or charity, I am afraid we have told the world the level of our faith that God is in control.
“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”
Believe what you believe. Love your God. Love your neighbor.
#16, We call his character into question because he LIED. He told outright falsehoods. If you were there at Good Shepherd, Tomball, then you would know what he said.