Specifically we will vote against, and we urge you all to vote against, the propositions which purport to amend our diocesan constitution and canons and the resolution regarding membership in the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. Those of us who will remain in the Episcopal Church respectfully but profoundly disagree that passage of these propositions will in fact “remove” the Diocese itself, as well as church property in the diocese, from the Episcopal Church.
.
1. The propositions are invalid because they are inconsistent with the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, such as the requirements that each diocese maintain an unqualified accession to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and for church officials to act consistently with their fiduciary duty to the Episcopal Church, including recognition of the express trust interest of the Episcopal Church in church property.
2. The propositions violate the fundamental conditions under which the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth was created from within the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas and by which the new diocese assumed the use of and control over Episcopal Church property. These conditions include conformity with the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, as our diocesan officials expressly acknowledged in the primary convention of the diocese in 1982 and as they have judicially admitted on behalf of the Diocese in the declaratory judgment entered in 1984 and again in the Holy Apostles litigation in the mid 1990s.
If Katie (and her parish) wants to leave the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and go with Kate Shori’s rump group, may God bless her and her ministry there. Everyone should be allowed to choose, freely, and fairly, which jurisdiction within which they want to serve Christ. And there should be a just and equitable division of property as part of the separation, according to how many want to change jurisdictions and how many won’t. So, according to the reported voting, what about 80% to the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and 20% to the TEC rump group? That sounds fair.
OOOoooo… I just read Katie’s screed in its entirety, in which she overtly threatens, on behalf of her Mistress at 815 as a vehicle for DBB’s ventriloquism, each and every delegate who votes for changing jurisdictions with being named in a forthcoming TEC lawsuit! As well, the statement is not much more than a litany of other threats! Shockingly unChristian, or rather, antiChristian behavior and undoubtedly an illustration of what happens to an inner life when it careens off the orthodox rails. I wasn’t sure about it when other people said it, but now I am. It REALLY is all about power and money to those people.
[blockquote]…such as the requirements that each diocese maintain an unqualified accession to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church[/blockquote]
Exactly so. Now that the diocese of Fort Worth no longer has unqualified accession, the proper course of action is to kick them out of the TEO.
Except that there is no such continuing requirement in TEC’s constitution and canons.
I have asked for the canonical/constitutional citation that says a diocese may not leave TEC. I can see where one is allowed to join, but not where it cannot leave. GC is a creature of the component dioceses, not the other way around.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
Philip [#5]: Agreed. But BeerKat will probably cite the Dennis Canon plus the absence of an explicit secession provision.
Did I understand that Bishop Iker said that there are individual members of the diocese who will bank roll any legal expense to fight of 815, or did I missunderstand?
Dee,
He actually said:
[blockquote]I am certain that in the months ahead, leaders of TEC will move to depose not only me, but every deacon and priest here present who votes for realignment at this Convention. Sad to say, some of you here in this Convention hall will cooperate with and facilitate those plans. It is my belief that such a course of action is not only unreasonable and uncharitable, but violates our ecclesiological understanding of what the Anglican Communion claims to be. If we are a worldwide Communion of Provinces who share a common faith, practice and ministry, then it does not make sense to depose clergy who move from one Province to another. No one is abandoning the Communion of the Church by realigning with another Province. The far better way to proceed would be for TEC to accept the fact that a realignment has occurred, to recognize the transfer of this Diocese to another Province of the Anglican Communion, and to wish us well in the name of the Lord. There is something deeply disturbing about a Church that would prefer to litigate and depose rather than to negotiate a peaceful, amicable separation among brothers and sisters in Christ who can no longer walk together.
I call upon the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and her colleagues to halt the litigation, to stop the depositions, and to cease the intimidation of traditional believers. Instead, let us pursue a mediated settlement, a negotiated agreement that provides for a fair and equitable solution for all parties, and let us resist taking punitive actions against our opponents. Christians are called to work out our differences with one another, not sue one another in secular courts.[/blockquote]
Dear Senior Priest,
I may agree with some of your statements but I take offense with your lack of restraint and respect due our brothers and sisters of the human race. Kendall and the elves have consistently asked for caution with wording and verbal attacks. The use of Kate Shori and Her Mistress fall into this category. I ask you to reread and consider your statements before you press the submit button. Thank you.
Dee,
You are correct. According to David Virtue, he said it at the press conference yesterday. I heard it myself firsthand at the first Remain Episcopal rally a few months ago when one of the families first made the pledge public.
monika
Be very aware that Ms. Sherrod is a promoter and apologist for abortion and homosexual relationships and she holds to an unScriptural, unChristian set of values and beliefs.
Pray for her and the others around the world who have embraced these beliefs and who have abandoned the Gospel, The Word and the Scriptural definitions of Truth, Love and Life; have dismissed and disregarded the victory, freedom and power over sin that the atonement, cross, blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ won for us; have disdained the abundant life of righteousness, peace and joy in His Kingdom.
This elf was travelling and offline and off duty for the past 48 hours. Several comments on this thread seem to be quite focused on individuals and bordering on name calling. Please focus on the words and actions of Ms. Sherrod, the Presiding Bishop and others, but refrain from the epithets. Thank you.
–elfgirl
As one of the delegates, I noted that Dr. Burke and those he represented wanted to know how I voted. They wanted all of the delegates to make thier votes public. I don’t know if this was an attempt to intimidate us, or to identify us for future lawsuits. I think it was probably both. In any case, it is a request that lacked Christian charity. I have no problem telling people how I voted and made it clear what I would do when I was elected as a delegate. Please continue to pray for all of us here in Ft. Worth as we move forward, grieving the personal loss of dear friends while looking forward to renewed focus on serving Christ and the Gospel.
The statement reads like the same old same old. Was it written, produced, and directed by 815? Nothing to see here, folks. Keep moving on.
Dumb Sheep.
The irony of the appeal to the Constitution and Canons of the ECUSA/TEC when it has revealed in its actions what it chooses to think plain English means is rich. There is sufficient irony here to last a lifetime. I doubt it can be perceived unless it be transformed into anvils to drop from heaven upon the heads that think so un-clearly.