The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Quincy has sent a 35-page report to all members of the diocese, responding to questions and concerns over plans for the diocese to quit the Episcopal Church.
On Nov 7-8 the Quincy synod will have the second reading of a constitutional amendment that would permit the diocese to withdraw from the Episcopal Church and affiliate with another province of the Anglican Communion. While no formal resolution so far has been submitted to the synod that would seek formal separation, the president of the standing committee, the Rev James Marshall told The Living Church magazine such a move was likely.
Quincy joins the American diocese of Fort Worth and Pittsburgh in scheduling formal votes in the coming months that would permit the diocese to withdraw from the Episcopal Church. Last year the Synod of the Diocese of San Joaquin, based in Fresno, California, voted to withdraw from the Episcopal Church and was accepted into the Province of the Southern Cone of America under the archiepiscopal oversight of Bishop Gregory Venables of Argentina.
Good. Bring on the new reformation. The TEO was the fastest declining denomination last year. This year will make the 815-ers look back longingly to last year. The name brand “Episcopal” is now a liability. Quincy has struggled, but I predict that they will blossom when they shed the pejorative moniker.
Hold on to your miter Bishop Ackerman, and may God bless and keep you and the good people of your diocese.
See what happens when you fail to communicate. All is well.
Let the seperation begin, finally. Would that we could find the way to it in charity. My prayer is for 815 to reject the way of litigation and facilitate a civil, fair and amicable divorce.
It has been done (i.e. Christ Church Plano and the Diocese of Dallas) and could be done still in such a way that we might depart as friends.