The Episcopal Church (USA) is no exception to the Law. I submit that all of the outward signs point to a draining from it of people and energy which at the moment is very much greater than what it is managing to attract to itself.<\/p>\n
There is no glee to be had here, no Schadenfreude. I am an Episcopalian — a member of a Church that is in free fall, and whose current leadership is a disgrace, as they say, to the profession. Consider the fifty-year trend in its numbers, as vividly portrayed by Bishop FitzSimmons Allison in this brilliant analysis of what that leadership has done wrong — and continues to do wrong, as borne out by the latest figures. Consider the huge drain on its reserves caused by that leadership’s decisions to go to court wherever and whenever they think another parish (or diocese) must be sued for its property.<\/p>\n
And last, but by no means least, consider the self-inflicted wounds caused by the Church’s deposition of more than 200 of its clergy in just the last eight years — every one of them unnecessary when simple letters dimissory would have sufficed. Add to this, now, the arrogant and lawless leadership of the Chief Kaitiff (for so I must call her when she acts in this way) — whose respect for the Church’s Canons is as non-existent as is her understanding of them.<\/p>\n