Dear Mike+
Absolutely it would have a huge effect on his decision! What I'm 
concerned about is that our polity is being confused (not by you) by 
some folks on these blogs with TEC polity. The most basic authority in 
TEC is the National Convention. Our most basic authority is the Bible, 
but we believe our Presiding Bishop, by the grace of God, will lead us 
through the narrow way that leads to life. In some cases the synod is 
his instrument, not the other way around. Synodical authority in 
designated areas has teeth, but even then it is largely negative. For 
example, the Standing Committee per our canons must interview 
candidates for ordination and either pass on them or not. But even if 
the SC just loves a candidate to death it cannot compel the Bishop or 
ordain him if he chooses not to. If the Bishop wants to ordain someone 
then he gets the SC consent. I think the same is true of ecclesiastical 
relations between jurisdictions. Ultimately regardless of votes and 
polls the onus is upon our Apostolic Man and really I can't see 
anywhere in the canons or tradition where he needs anyone's permission 
to effect such relationships. Now it may not be prudent to actually use 
one's authority at any given time and all Bishops have had their 
methods of consulting with their clergy and sometimes laity (and more 
often not laity). Several people writing on these blogs seem to assume 
that our Bishop is an instrument of the synod. Even if the synod voted 
100% for membership in an institution it would not be effected until 
the Bishop effected it sacramentally with the intention of effecting 
it. And there may be very good reasons for him to defy a synod and he 
would be exercising his godly authority legally if that's what he did. 
(One can imagine a real life situation during the 5os and 60s when 
godly Bishops would ignore an overwhelming majority on the issue of 
race.) But no decisions come with "get out of jail free" cards for any 
of us, including our Bishops. The exercise of authority always has a 
personal cost. My point, and I'm sure we are in agreement on this, is 
that the Bishop is not an instrument of any committee or any synod.
Glenn+


-----Original Message-----
From: Michael L. Ward <mward@...>
To: faithandlife@...
Sent: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 2:20 pm
Subject: RE: [FaithandLife] APA & CCP






Glenn+

That's not quite what I was getting at.  The bishop does it, but if 
(say)
70% of the clergy and laity at Provincial Synod say they'd really like 
to do
it, wouldn’t that have some effect on his decision?

MLW+

-----Original Message-----
From: gmspencer@... [mailto:gmspencer@...]
Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 12:28 PM
To: faithandlife@...
Subject: Re: [FaithandLife] APA & CCP

Dear Michael+
I have searched our canons and I cannot find a canon that actually
authorizes a synod to effect such a relationship. Historically it has 
been
the authority of the bishops to effect new ecclesiastical 
relationships. Of
course I could be missing something.
Glenn+


-----Original Message-----
From: Michael L. Ward <mward@...>
To: faithandlife@...
Sent: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:02 am
Subject: RE: [FaithandLife] APA & CCP













Here's the title of the article on Virtue. Unfortunate inasmuch as we
haven't voted on this one way or the other.

Anglican Province of America Pulls out of Common Cause Partnership
MLW+
 



From: John S. Longcamp
[mailto:jlongcamp@...]
Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:44
AM
To: faithandlife@...
Subject: [FaithandLife]
APA & CCP



Brothers+
 
For several days I have been seeing discussion on Virtue on Line about
Bishop Grundorf's letter to his clergy.  I have not received a copy 
from the
diocese nor have I seen mention of it on FaithandLife.  What is going 
on? 
The question of our (APA's) participation in CCP previously has caused
considerable discussion.
 
Did this letter ever go out?
 
If not, how did David Virtue+ get a
copy?
 
What is the significance of the silence on FaithandLife?
 
John+
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