By request making this sticky. Look below for new blog entries. Also please note: Kendall has posted two updates to the original blog entry. See the end of the post.<\/b>
I believe very strongly that one of the many tragic aspects of this whole Episcopal Church debacle in the last five years is that not only was the decision in 2003 wrong (and the way it was made wrong) but that nearly every major decision made by the TEC leadership since then has made it worse. The hard part about this is that when you keep failing to offer a sufficiently radical solution to a problem, the next time you face it it requires an even more radical solution.<\/p>\n
I certainly wish to salute what the Presiding Bishop said in New Orleans: none of us is without blame in this mess. I have been trying to insist on this since General Convention 2003 and then my first address at Plano one: ALL of us are under judgment.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, like me, you are wondering about Archbishop Rowan Williams’ calling for ‘room to maneuver’ and if there is any way forward now which is in the direction of a real, serious solution.<\/p>\n
For myself, I will consider those in New Orleans serious when they consider offering the Anglican Communion something like this statement:<\/p>\n
We realize we have caused huge damage to the whole Anglican Communion and therefore, we, as a body, voluntarily withdraw from coming to Lambeth 2008.<\/b><\/p>\n
Now please note this means ALL the TEC Bishops. No exceptions. It would allow Dr. Williams to get nearly all (perhaps actually all?) the rest of the Communion to Lambeth, and it would show a sense of corporate responsibility for the wrong.<\/p>\n
Yes, I know it is not perfect. I also know that it would only be PART of a solution and that there are many other questions which would have to be addressed. I also know it would only happen by divine intervention.<\/p>\n
But only things LIKE THIS will really get us anywhere given the degree of damage, alienation, confusion and struggle.<\/p>\n
I am praying for something along these lines because it will be a real tragedy if the third largest Christian family in the world falls into further disarray.<\/p>\n
I see a lot of despair, anger, frustation and bewilderment out there. What I would like to see more of is constructive proposals for actually moving us forward. If you do not like my idea, then what is yours? Please make sure to propose something sufficiently radical which also might be achievable given the constraints. It is not easy, but it is important–KSH.<\/p>\n
Update<\/b>: FatherJake has taken the time to respond<\/a> and Christopher Wells<\/a> has some thoughts as well.<\/p>\n Another update:<\/b> Marshall Scott<\/a> had a lot of thoughts about this earlier of which (apologies, Marshall) I was unaware.<\/p>\n Update 3 [this one by the elves]<\/b>: More discussion of Kendall’s proposal: By request making this sticky. Look below for new blog entries. Also please note: Kendall has posted two updates to the original blog entry. See the end of the post.I believe very strongly that one of the many tragic aspects…<\/span><\/p>\n
\nMatt Kennedy at Stand Firm<\/a>
\nGiles Goddard at Inclusive Church<\/a>
\nJody Howard at Quo Vadis<\/a>
\nFr. Greg Jones at Anglican Centrist<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"