A letter by Bishop Robert Duncan, moderator of the Common Cause Partnership, to Bishop Gary Lillibridge of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas has been made public. In that letter, dated August 11, Bishop Duncan put in writing concerns of the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Fort Worth, Quincy and other members of the Common Cause Partnership caused by the suggestions of the Windsor Continuation Group for dealing with divisions in the Anglican Communion. Bishop Duncan had initially shared these concerns with those present at the Lambeth Conference of Bishops.
The August 11 letter was forwarded with permission by Bishop Lillibridge to members of the Windsor Continuation Group and subsequently leaked to liberal activists and published online and via email on August 18.
“I am happy to publicly acknowledge this letter and my description of the concerns we in the Common Cause Partnership have about the proposals of the Windsor Continuation Group. Nonetheless, it is disturbing to discover that at least one member of the Windsor Continuation Group, a body that is supposed to be working for reconciliation in the Anglican Communion, so quickly leaked private correspondence in an attempt to gain some passing political advantage,” said Bishop Duncan.
Where I work we often run into the conflict between “map reality” and “field reality.” WCG delivered to Lambeth map reality, what they think or want to be out there; CC has field reality, the conditions in which they have to work.
This is a very clear letter, and should not be objectionable. It reflects reality on the ground, as #1 says.
Liberals leaking? You mean those people who never fail to remind others of their moral superiority and ethical sensitivity? God forbid!!
#3 Do you really think the Windsor Continuation Group is liberal?
I don’t know about Dan Crawford, but I don’t think they are!
The WCG is not liberal but there are leftists on the supporting staff.
Other than bad manners, what’s the big deal about leaking the letter. The contents are pretty straight forward, with no surprises.
#7 The letter reveals Duncan’s motivations, and therefore could be used by TEC to depose him before Pittsburgh votes to secede, since it is a document. That is probably its true value to activists. I would argue, however, that it is privileged communication.
#8. It is a privileged communication, but how can you expect an HOB that does not even follow its own rules for deposition to honor that privilege? It gives cover for the moderates to vote against Duncan.
#9 I think you could make a big noise when attempts were made to put it into evidence. The result: delay, by which time Pittsburgh would have left anyway.
Know what makes the Episcopal Organization Anglican, Hops? The fact that the gutless coward who currently occupies Lambeth Palace invited their mitered atheists to the last Lambeth Conference. Nothing else.
Heh — nice to see that Hopper would like Bishop Duncan to quit “making a scene” . . .
Keep it up Bishop Duncan! ; > )
Bishop Duncan has millions of fithful Anglican Christians in his corner……and I’m one of ’em! How many people do Schori & Company have in THEIR corner, Hopper?
There is little hope for any reconciliation anywhere when one bishop leaks private correspondence to the internet. I’d be glad to have had +Lillibridge act more lovingly and to have personally not known the details. Both reasserters and reappraisers have been guilty of this; I’d be galvanized against anyone who did such a thing to me if I were attempting reconciliation.
What does this due for the credibility of the newly formed Communion Partners who seem to have been the source for this letter? Have they gone to Schori…
The damage with this is to the Windsor Continuation Group. No one will trust any information to members of this group now.
Presumably someone decided to undermine them deliberately.
Ralph, what reason is there for the Common Cause partners to go to Schori? They are not seeking to be reconciled. Jesus does not call us to be reconciled with heretics and blasphemers. He calls us to preach the Gospel to them.
Chris, I misspoke. I meant Communion Partners, not Common Cause. The Communion Partners are basically a reincarnation of the various previous groupings of those who have failed to speak up, although as these groups morph the membership lists become more and more unfamiliar to us as the real warriors follow Bob Duncan out of TEO.
The Communion Partners have yet to say anything about Lambeth, like the Windsor Bishops didn’t say anything about the last HOB meeting…that is what I mean by making peace with Schori.