We have now had opportunity to review the Constitution and Canons of the Province of the Southern Cone; an English-language edition of those documents is being edited and will be released shortly. Based on our review, we have concluded that the structure and polity of the Province of the Southern Cone would afford our diocese greater self-determination than we currently have under the General Convention of The Episcopal Church. This autonomy would be evident most specifically in the areas of property ownership, liturgy, holy orders, and missionary focus.
While nothing will change in the day-to-day operations of the churches in the Diocese of Fort Worth, we expect a significant change in attitude and focus of the clergy and people of the diocese. Becoming a member Diocese of the Province of the Southern Cone would allow the Diocese of Fort Worth the opportunity and freedom to continue to practice the “Faith once delivered to all the saints” without being constantly distracted by the controversies and divisions caused by innovations hostile to traditional Christian norms. Instead, it would allow the Diocese to concentrate on the call of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel and make new disciples, while at the same time assuring our continued place in the mainstream of Anglicanism, an assurance The Episcopal Church is unable to give.
[blockquote]
While nothing will change in the day-to-day operations of the churches in the Diocese of Fort Worth, we expect a significant change in attitude and focus of the clergy and people of the diocese. Becoming a member Diocese of the Province of the Southern Cone would allow the Diocese of Fort Worth the opportunity and freedom to continue to practice the “Faith once delivered to all the saints†without being constantly distracted by the controversies and divisions caused by innovations hostile to traditional Christian norms. Instead, it would allow the Diocese to concentrate on the call of Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel and make new disciples, while at the same time assuring our continued place in the mainstream of Anglicanism, an assurance The Episcopal Church is unable to give. [/blockquote]
Someone, [b] please[/b] write/print this large on a signboard and post it right near the foot traffic of 815.
#1, I think the selected quotation is b.s., as is most of the justification given in the entire statement.
Now why would you say that Bob? Being from NC I am sure you guys pray over the MDGs alot.
No, Bob, I don’t think the selected quotation (#1) is b.s. In fact, it’s right on the mark. TEC abrogated its right to legitimately claim loyal membership in the Communion when they refused to agree to the opinions of the majority at the Dar es Salaam Conference, and when they turned their backs on the rest of the Communion during their meeting with Rowan Cantuar in New Orleans.
#1, I agree.
#2, thanks for you very thought out and helpful comment. I am sure “b.s.” will be very constructive to the overall conversation. For Pete’s sake!
Hmm, Bob, your liberal colleague, Anglican Scotist, doesn’t think that the controversy is distracting. See his essay at his site which contains the quote:
[blockquote]When there’s a shouting match in front of the store, people will be disinclined to come in. They won’t have the time or energy to figure it all out and to see what is going on–they’ll move away from the margins to somewhere else: not in all cases, but in enough cases that we should be worried.
[/blockquote]
The Episcopal Church is becoming or has become synonymous with controversy and the “gay church” in the eyes of the secular world. If KJS/DBB are foolish enough to pursue their threats against the dioceses of SJ and FW, it will certainly afix those impressions in stone.
Should read “also thinks the controversy is distracting”. Also, D.C. Toedt has a very interesting essay on his site, The Questioning Christian (see link in the side column), which also asks suppositional questions that arise from the controversy. I plan to peruse his many essays more carefully.
Fort Worth is doing what all orthodox Anglicans in the west should be doing, disassociating from the anglicans revisionists NEW THING religion, the newest cult in the west.
Godspeed to Ft. Worth; they are doing the right thing.
re: Comment #2: b.s. must mean “basically sound” – that’s the only way it makes sense,
I’m flattered by robroy’s citation [#7] of one of my blog postings; here’s a link to the specific piece.
In our diocese, our grand-children will not have to spend their time arguing for the “nth” time: “what are we going to do about the…..(fill in the blank: GC, next GC, last GC, PB, lawyers, etc)?” Instead, please God, may they spend their time winning souls (beginning with their own) and spreading the Good News about Jesus Christ Our Lord!
As Bishop Iker said in his splendid episcopal address in November: (paraphrased):” I dream of such a day…and such a Church!”