Hundreds of clergy and lay leaders in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh are scheduled to vote today on whether to leave the New York-based church for a more conservative affiliation.
The voting at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Monroeville would occur about two weeks after a group of Episcopal bishops representing the U.S. church removed Bishop Robert Duncan as head of the Pittsburgh diocese for supporting efforts to split from the church.
If a majority votes to leave the Episcopal Church, the Pittsburgh diocese will become a member of the more conservative Anglican Province of the Southern Cone in Buenos Aires, Argentina, “as soon as the gavel falls,” said Deacon Peter Frank, a diocesan spokesman.
If this guy ain’t blinking at reality:
[blockquote] [b]”I don’t think the church has strayed,”[/b] Simons said. “There are places or congregations that have departed from what we teach, but our doctrine has not changed since 1979. Our teaching has remained consistent and orthodox.”[/blockquote]
and from Ann Rogers article in the Tribune:
[blockquote] The Rev. James Simons, rector of St. Michael of the Valley in Ligonier, said he will immediately appoint at least two others to join him on the continuing Standing Committee and give 30 days notice for a diocesan convention to elect new leadership. But he believes the vote to secede could fail.
[/blockquote]
The orthodox standing committee members of the diocese of San Joaquin that wanted “remain Episcopalian” were swept aside. The conservative Brian Cox+ who thought that he could be a force for reconciliation now realizes that he was being duped by Ms Schori and Mr Beers who just wanted to sue. Doesn’t this guy get it?
[blockquote] The Rev. Simons said that someone who is already a bishop will likely serve as an interim while the continuing diocese searches for a new bishop. Although he expects to ask national church leaders which retired bishops are available, [b]the interim bishop will be chosen by local people[/b], he said.[/blockquote]
Like Lamb was chosen???
[blockquote] “If they decide they are in the realignment camp now, and later change their mind, that’s no problem for us,” the Rev. Simons said. “We’ll welcome anybody back at any time.”[/blockquote]
Come on back y’all (after we have sued to the gills).
I think that Bp Sinclair of Birkenhead in England words about the Episcopal leadership applies to Rev Simons. He is a good “example of profound self deception.” I do respect a clergy’s decision to stay in the TEO and fight from within. But don’t abet the persecution.