The Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman, who resigned last month as Bishop of Quincy, will serve as an assisting bishop in the neighboring Diocese of Springfield. The Rt. Rev. Peter H. Beckwith, Bishop of Springfield, said the Presiding Bishop’s office had been notified that the new position would become effective Dec. 1.
I bet Bp Ackerman plays a mean game of Texas Hold’em.
Why isn’t anyone in common cause speaking about how curious it is that one of the lead bishops in the movement retires right before its diocese votes to leave and then takes up residence in another TEC diocese? Did he have a change of heart? I am not judging and I guess its none of my business, but I find it curious….I mean is on the common cause website….
I imagine he wants to keep his pension.
# 3, I take you have never met Bishop Ackerman. I have and that is definitely not the case
It will be interesting to see these item “flesh” out.
I too find Bishop Ackerman’s actions to be getting curiouser and curiouser — one of the more intriguing sideshows inside Anglican baseball these days. One presumes he is in Chicago today voting on the new Constitution, and he has announced he will remain in charge of FIF. Whatever is behind his actions, I don’t for a moment question his integrity or his commitment to orthodox Anglican Christianity.
My guess is with #1, [blockquote] I bet Bp Ackerman plays a mean game of Texas Hold’em. [/blockquote] Don’t assistant bishops have seat, voice and VOTE in HoB mtgs? Bill
One presumes — but is he in Chicago.
I have had the privilege to call +Keith Ackerman my friend for many many years now. While not perfect, and he would be the first to state that fact, he is far above ‘playing games’ or being disloyal to His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – personally I would never question his motives. Likewise, +Peter Beckwith is a very honorable man of God – and I am certain that his ‘calling’ of +Keith to this Office is without guile. For those who do not know it, +Peter could have retired sometime back – but has chosen to ‘remain on the field of battle’ until he is forced to do so. IF I had any doubts as to what I should be doing right now, I can not think of two men to whom I would rather turn for such guidance. May God continue to bless and guide them.
Servus Dei,
+Donald+
I hope, Jefcoparson, #9, that yours was not inspired by my #7. I your found accusations of triviality or of disloyalty, I wrote poorly. My suggestion is that +Ackerman’s new assignment may be a wise strategic move. Bill
[b]#3, The_Archer_of_the_Forest:[/b] I can assure you that Bp. Ackerman absolutely could not have been motivated by a desire to “keep,” or otherwise protect, his pension.
I know this because he was [url=http://dioceseofquincy.org/ackerman_bio.html]born in 1946 and ordained in 1974[/url]; therefore, he is 62 years old and has been working in full-time, active ministry for 34 years.
According to p. 13 of this [url=http://download.cpg.org/pensions/publications/clergy/pdf/CPGuideBeneNowFuture.pdf]Church Pension Fund “Guide to Benefits,†[/url] clergy may retire as early as age 55 and still receive their full pensions – based on years of service and not reduced for early retirement – after 30 years of service. Page 20 notes that clergy are vested after 5 years; pp. 12 & 17 explain a bit about the effect of returning to work for the Church after retirement (basically, you can add to your pension).
I have no way of knowing if his decision was affected at all by a desire to increase his pension payments; however, I would note the following: (1) Working for some entity other than the Church would not cause his pension payments to be reduced or halted (see p. 13 of the “Guideâ€). (2) It is possible that, because of the health problems he cited at his retirement (see [url=http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2008/10/30/bishop-ackerman-to-resign-Saturday]here[/url] and [url=http://dioceseofquincy.org/pdf_harvest_plain08/harvestplain1208.pdf]p. 3 here[/url]), he felt he could no longer fulfill his obligations as diocesan – but that he also felt able to continue serving in some sort of reduced (or assisting) capacity.
#2: [i]Why isn’t anyone in common cause…[/i]
+Beckwith and Springfield are also part of Common Cause, no?
Pax et bonum, Steven+
Keith simply has a funny way of stepping up to the table and being counted. It is sort of like loving the spot light, but hating the heat it gives off.
I think that Bishop Ackerman has made a brilliant and generous move. I know there are a few parishes in liberal dioceses of TEC that have Bishop Ackerman as their visitor for sacramental functions. With San Joaquin and Fort Worth gone, Bishop Ackerman is, as far as I know, the only bishop in good standing with TEC who does not ordain women and who, therefore, is an acceptable visitor for FiF-type parishes. I think he is hanging around to continue to provide a pastoral presence in orthodox parishes in liberal dioceses of TEC until such time that there is some structure in place for them to realign. God bless Bishop Ackerman for doing this.
There have been other cases where the rector, and in this case the bishop, have made clear the faults of the Episcopal Church, causing their flock to leave and then they tehmselves stay…can someone explain that to me?
I agree with #13, First Apostle – having first-hand knowledge of this in my old parish – a FIF rector in a very liberal diocese. Bishop Ackerman was able to come in and do confirmations and provide pastoral care for the parish. A generous gift to all.
archer…
since pensions and the financial security of your family obviously hold little sway in your life, perhaps you could personally offer yours to bishop ackerman…
[b]#15. Shumanbean:[/b] That wasn’t very helpful. Archer’s comment, above, may have been cynical, but generally speaking, it’s also quite realistic. (Not really in this case, though — see my post at #11.)
I had said with the exiting of Fort Worth and Quincy that Anglo-catholicism was dead in the TEO. I think that #13 brings up a good point that Bp Ackerman can minister to the remnant. He can also provide a lot better inside witness than some CP bishops (e.g., Ed Little).
The need to have an FiF bishop inside TEC for those parishes who can’t leave yet, combined with the Bishop’s health problems, make a rational explanation for this. Thanks to #13 for this.
I must admit, I am afraid for +Ackerman because the leadership of TEC will not take kindly to him being a signatory to the Constitutions and Canons of the new province. That might be a deposable offense in their eyes. His case is just one more complication nestled inside today’s events. The others include: the FiFNA parishes he oversees which are still in TEC and the ACN parishes AND dioceses, who now find their organization a founding member of the new province. Will FiFNA soon vote to pull out of TEC? Will the ACN affiliates have to choose to stay with ACN and leave TEC, or leave the ACN? These real questions remain unresolved, and might provoke legal action from 815. I hope not, but I would not be surprised if David Booth Beers is drawing up the papers right now.
[blockquote]13. First Apostle wrote:
I think that Bishop Ackerman has made a brilliant and generous move. I know there are a few parishes in liberal dioceses of TEC that have Bishop Ackerman as their visitor for sacramental functions. With San Joaquin and Fort Worth gone, Bishop Ackerman is, as far as I know, the only bishop in good standing with TEC who does not ordain women and who, therefore, is an acceptable visitor for FiF-type parishes. I think he is hanging around to continue to provide a pastoral presence in orthodox parishes in liberal dioceses of TEC until such time that there is some structure in place for them to realign. God bless Bishop Ackerman for doing this. [/blockquote]
Knowing Bishop Ackerman I am certain that Bp. Beckwith has brought him in to serve parishes in the Diocese of Springfield who remain orthodox. As far as retirement, he was eligible the day he retired and TEC can do NOTHING to touch his retirement. He is God’s servant and always will be. You know, people who are suspicious of others’ motivations are usually those who judge others by what they know of their own motivations. Don’t be cynical, be faithful. No one need worry about FiF.
P.S. Please go to http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=9465 to read exactly what Bp. Ackerman will be doing for Springfield.