From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Area residents will get a close-up look this month at the decades-long rift that is continuing to tear apart the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church.
About 80 representatives of the Anglican Communion Network, of which Fort Worth Bishop Jack Iker is a leading member, will meet July 30-31 in Bedford at St. Vincent’s Cathedral.
The network — formed three years ago by Episcopal members appalled by church actions such as the 2003 consecration of openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire — likely will be a sounding board for more attacks on leadership of the U.S. church.
The Rev. Ryan Reed, dean of the Bedford cathedral, said network representatives will discuss how to work more closely with other conservative Anglican groups. Archbishop Greg Venables, a conservative who leads the Anglican province that includes Venezuela and Bolivia, is the main speaker. Some sessions are not open to the public, but general gatherings are open.
The Anglican Communion Network and similar conservative groups contend that the American church no longer represents those abiding by the historic faith.
“George Komechak, president of Fort Worth Via Media, an organization supportive of the U.S. church, said the Anglican Communion Network is seeking to form its own province of the Anglican Communion and undermine the Episcopal Church.”
I believe the Episcopal Church has done an excellent job of undermining itself sans assistance from the ACN or any other organization. The facts speak for themselves.
Mr Komechak, I agree with Daniel: The Episcopal Church has done a truly admirable(?) job of undermining itself with absolutely no help from the Network. May I remind you that it was the “progressives” of the Church who set this mess in motion in the first place?
Any bishop that fails to uphold the historic faith once delivered has stepped out of apostolic succession. But the Spirit fills the leadership void with those whom He elects. That’s what is happening.
If all bishops are included in #3 statement, then I would have to include those who remain in TEC and claim to have a plan that they just cant tell anyone what it is, this to include those of the ACN and FiF etc.
I saw a statement by a fellow that said to the bishops….
Lead,Follow or Get out of The Way.
Are they waiting for for their pensions to be fully vested ? who knows but the statement made a great deal of sense.
Ron, my bishop and I were chatting recently over coffee, and the matter of “telling us what’s going on” came up. Evidently, the bishops…..of whom he’s one…..have something in the works. He said they’re giving TEC “more rope to hang themselves with,” and then they’re going to spring their plan on them……something about not telegraphing your play and letting your opponent know your plans.
Dear Cennydd
I always enjoy your posts and I pray that you will continue in your struggleand prevail.
But I must add, that for the last 7 years or so I have heard about the “plan that cannot be disclosed”. This coming primarily from FiF.
I wish you well and God Bless You
This writer has a proven track record of antipathy to Bishop Iker. This article is a bit more “newsy” than most of his screeds. However, notice who gets the last word: The so-called “Via Media”. This group, which has no connection to Elizabethan ecclesiastical “via media”…i.e. Anglicans as Reformed Catholics, neither papist nor protestants…the “golden mean” of the Caroline Divines…NOR any connnection to contemporary church political “via media”…since it is a shameless front for Louie Crew and the Integrity organization… This group has stiven to undermine Bishop Iker in Ft. Worth, and represents, maybe, 20% of FW’s laity. Many of that small % do not know the true agenda of V.M., and are led to believe that they are “protecting our dear old Episcopal Church”. In truth, Via Media is seeking to transform the last bastion of orthodoxy (as a diocese), by scaring churchmen/women into believing that their bishop is a fire-breathing Fundamentalist.
The truth about Bp. Iker is that he has remained a strong, believing Evangelical Cathlic (accent on Catholic), and a patient gentleman to those who have insulted him continuously. (I recall his consecration when 45 minutes of insulting accusations were thrown at him during the opportunity to object to his consecration).
If Bishop Iker has been reluctant to take dramatic, unilateral action to leave TEC, it is probably because his deep catholic roots tie him to the Savior’s John 17 prayer for unity. Catholics deplore the scandal of division, and work as hard as possible to maintain the bonds of affection between believers. Bp. Iker’s willingness to remain in TEC testifies to both his humility and his catholic generosity.
Mr. Smith –
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (the Startlegram) has a demonstrable antipathy to orthodox Christianity in any form. Moreover, their editorial position is pro-gay marraige. The “Via Media” of Fort Worth suits their purposes.
I understand George Komechak (FW Via Media) and Jim Jones (Startlegram) play tennis together on a regular basis. They’re buddies.
Also, Jim Jones is (or used to be) a proud member of Broadway Baptist Church, the flagship of liberal Baptistdom. He wrote a glowing article some years ago about the church having an “openly gay” man join the congregation. He may even have become a deacon, although I think I am mixing that up with the old University Baptist in Austin.
Which is just to say that Jim Jones is not lacking a dog in this hunt.