> Frater: This latest 'position' is a far cry from the position of their
Excellencies in 1970/1976 when they broke canon law (process) and
abandoned Catholic & Apostolic Order(dogma) and decided to force
priestesses and bishopettes down the throats of the reluctant ECUSA.
That over 300 clergy ultimately left for the Continuum, Constantinople
or the Vatican did not matter. "...the Spirit is moving us..." said the
then dean of CDSP and one of the Orthodox clerics at a 'dialogue' at UC
in Berkeley asked "... what is the spirit's name?...' The dean left the
meeting and we all knew the answer. Obey-or else. It was worthy of
Stalin himself. The powers that be were determined and that was that. No
Pastoral oversight, no PEV's. Nothing. Conform, shut up, or we will axe
you-which they did.                                                     
                            I personally know of at least 17 priests &
deacons who were 'bounced' w/o trial, pension or anything for
'abandoning the Communion...' When we asked ,the then President of the
IX Province (Rivera of San Joaquin) for help, even though he opposed the
innovation he would do nothing. I think he has answered to Almighty God
for that sin already.                                                   
                           It is significant that as the money dries up
(you can get bounced for financial bungling-witness the Bishop of
Honolulu) or embezzlement (witness the National Treasurer who did
several years in a Federal prison where Martha Stewart may soon reside)
but for betraying your ecclesiastical vows/preaching and aiding heresy?
Well...thats 'we are not agreed...' so shut up, swallow hard and hold
your nose.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,It
will be,interesting to see what the final fallout,over +Nova
Hamshiriensis is but I suspect Protestantism (everyone his own God just
don't rock the boat) will win again. Happily there is Easter but Holy
Week seems very long some years! Blessings. GDVW+                       
                                                                        
                                                          proverbial
"poop" just keeps piling up around these guys!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Clavier+" <anglican@...>
> To: <faithandlife@...>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 8:49 AM
> Subject: [FaithandLife] Fw: ACNS3805 Caring for all the Churches
>
>
>> Here is the pitiful response of the Ecusa HoB to the current situation:
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@...>
>> To: <anglican@...>
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 8:19 AM
>> Subject: ACNS3805 Caring for all the Churches
>>
>>
>> > ACNS 3805     |     USA     |     24 MARCH 2004
>> >
>> > Caring for all the Churches
>> >
>> > A response of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church
>> > to an expressed need of the Church
>> >
>> > The church is the Body of Christ. Our life in this Body is a
>> continuing
>> action of God's grace among us, by whose power alone we are "joined
>> together" in Christ and grow "into a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph.
>> 2:21).
>> Through the church's common life in Christ, God intends to signify to
>> the
>> world the beginning of a new and reconciled creation.
>> >
>> > We know the unity with God that Christ has won for humanity, he won
>> through the victory of his passion. We are mindful of the suffering of
> Jesus
>> who, on the Cross and through his resurrection, reaches into every
>> corner
> of
>> alienated human life, reconciling and restoring to the household of God
> all
>> who come to him in faith. By God's grace the church is continually
>> called,
>> in repentance and hope, to be a trustworthy sign to the world of this
> costly
>> reconciling power of God. We understand that, in obedience to Christ and
>> putting our whole trust in him, we may share in his unity with the
>> Father
>> through the Holy Spirit. Communion in the Trinity is the salvation of
>> the
>> world. The church, thus, exists for the sake of the world. Therefore,
>> for
>> the sake of the world, we have been called "to serve before God day and
>> night in the ministry of reconciliation", (BCP, p.521) which is to be
>> carried out "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing
>> one
>> another in love, making ever!
>> > y effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
> (Eph.
>> 4:2-3)
>> >
>> > We as bishops are not of a common mind about issues concerning human
>> sexuality. Different points of view on these matters also exist within
>> our
>> dioceses and congregations. In some instances there are significant
>> differences between congregation(s) and the bishop and few of our
>> congregations are themselves of one mind. As we exercise pastoral
> leadership
>> in our dioceses, we pledge ourselves to work always towards the fullest
>> relationship, seeking, as the Archbishop of Canterbury has said, "the
>> highest degree of communion." We are grateful for his leadership and
>> share
>> the pastoral concerns expressed by the Primates of the Anglican
>> Communion
> in
>> their statement of October 2003, "for those who in all conscience feel
> bound
>> to dissent from the teaching and practice of their province in such
>> matters." We have committed ourselves to living through this time of
>> disagreement in love and charity and with sensitivity to the pastoral
> needs
>> of all members of our church.
>> >
>> > In the circumstance of disagreement regarding the actions of the 74th
>> General Convention on issues of human sexuality, we commit ourselves to
>> providing and to making provision for pastoral care for dissenting
>> congregations, and we recognize that there may be a need for a bishop to
>> delegate some pastoral oversight. Oversight means the Episcopal acts
>> performed as part of a diocesan bishop's ministry either by the diocesan
>> bishop or by another bishop to whom such responsibility has been
>> delegated
>> by the diocesan bishop. In other Anglican Provinces, the term "pastoral
>> oversight" signifies what we mean by "pastoral care." In our Episcopal
>> Church polity, "oversight" does not confer "jurisdiction." We are aware
>> of
>> current examples of the delegation of pastoral oversight in the gracious
>> accommodations which have occurred in some dioceses.
>> >
>> > As we together commit to a process for Delegated Episcopal Pastoral
>> Oversight, we also recognize the constitutional and canonical authority
>> of
>> bishops and the integrity of diocesan boundaries. We are in accord with
> the
>> statement of the primates: "Whilst we affirm the teaching of successive
>> Lambeth Conferences that bishops must respect the autonomy and
>> territorial
>> integrity of dioceses and provinces other than their own, we call on the
>> provinces concerned to make adequate provision for Episcopal oversight
>> of
>> dissenting minorities within their own area of pastoral care in
> consultation
>> with the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates."
>> >
>> > Sensitive pastoral care does not presuppose like-mindedness. Bishops
>> and
>> congregations have frequently disagreed about particular articulations
>> and
>> interpretations of scripture and the Creeds while being able to
>> transcend
>> their differences through common prayer and celebration of the
>> sacraments
> of
>> the new covenant. The notion that the bishop's views must be in accord
> with
>> those of a particular rector or congregation for the bishop to be
>> received
>> as chief pastor opens the way to undermining the bishop's pastoral
> ministry,
>> which must embrace all and "support all baptized people in their gifts
>> and
>> ministries." Our theology and practice hold that ordination and
> consecration
>> provide the gifts and grace necessary for the sacramental acts of a
>> bishop
>> to be effectual. (See article XXVI of the Articles of Religion: Of the
>> Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of the
>> Sacraments.)
>> >
>> > As bishops we share a ministry of episcopé as stewards of the mystery
>> of
>> faith that none of us possesses alone. We believe it is our particular
>> charge to nourish, guard and represent in the church this "unity of the
>> Spirit in the bond of peace." We understand this to be for the sake of
>> the
>> world and in fidelity to our Lord who gave his life to restore all to
> unity
>> with God. We recognize and repent of our failures of charity towards one
>> another in this shared ministry of episcopé, and we pledge ourselves to
>> a
>> sacrificial ministry with one another, valuing in each the presence of
>> the
>> Crucified and Risen Christ. While our unity may be strained, we continue
> to
>> strive for godly union and concord. Our task requires humility, charity,
>> mutual respect and a willingness to make every effort to maintain the
> unity
>> of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
>> >
>> > In March of 2002 the House of Bishops adopted the following covenant:
>> >
>> > We believe that the present Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal
>> Church are sufficient for dealing with questions of Episcopal oversight,
>> supplemental Episcopal pastoral care, and disputes that may arise
>> between
>> the bishop and a congregation. We encourage that their provisions be
>> used
>> wisely and in the spirit of charity.
>> >
>> > The provision of supplemental Episcopal pastoral care shall be under
>> the
>> direction of the bishop of the diocese, who shall invite the visitor and
>> remain in pastoral contact with the congregation. This is to be
>> understood
>> as a temporary arrangement, the ultimate goal of which is the full
>> restoration of the relationship between the congregation and their
>> bishop.
>> >
>> > Expanding on this previous agreement, and working always towards "the
>> highest degree of communion," we offer the following recommendations in
>> order to provide Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight. We expect that
> the
>> first priority in a relationship between a diocesan bishop and
> congregation
>> is a striving for unity. As such, it is incumbent upon both the bishop
>> and
>> the rector/congregation to meet together, with a consultant, if needed,
>> to
>> find ways to work together. If for serious cause in the light of our
> current
>> disagreements on issues of human sexuality, the bishop and
>> rector/congregation cannot work together, we propose the following
>> process
>> for Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight.
>> >
>> > 1) In the spirit of openness, the rector and vestry, or the
>> canonically
>> designated lay leadership shall meet with the bishop to seek
> reconciliation.
>> After such a meeting, it is our hope that in most instances a mutually
>> agreeable way forward will be found.
>> >
>> > 2) If reconciliation does not occur, then the rector and two-thirds of
> the
>> vestry, or in the absence of a rector, two-thirds of the canonically
>> designated lay leadership, after fully engaging the congregation, may
>> seek
>> from their diocesan bishop, (or the diocesan bishop may suggest) a
>> conference regarding the appropriateness and conditions for Delegated
>> Episcopal Pastoral Oversight.
>> >
>> > 3) After such a conference the bishop may appoint another bishop to
>> provide pastoral oversight.
>> >
>> > 4) If no reconciliation is achieved, there may then be an appeal to
>> the
>> bishop who is president or vice-president of the ECUSA province in which
> the
>> congregation is geographically located, for help in seeking a
>> resolution.
>> Those making such an appeal must inform the other party of their
>> decision
> to
>> appeal.
>> >
>> > 5) When such an appeal has been made, the provincial bishop may
>> request
>> two other bishops, representative of the divergent views in this church,
> to
>> join with the provincial bishop to review the situation, to consider the
>> appeal, and to make recommendations to all parties. If an Episcopal
> visitor
>> is to be invited, that bishop shall be a member in good standing in this
>> Church.
>> >
>> > 6) When an agreement is reached with respect to a plan, it shall be
>> for
>> the purpose of reconciliation. The plan shall include expectations of
>> all
>> parties, especially mutual accountability. The plan shall be for a
>> stated
>> period of time with regular reviews.
>> >
>> > The provincial bishop shall periodically inform the Presiding Bishop,
> the
>> Presiding Bishop's Council of Advice, and the House of Bishops at its
>> regular meetings of the progress and results of this process.
>> >
>> > As bishops of this church, we pledge ourselves to pray and work for
>> patience and the generosity of spirit that can enable a pastoral
> resolution
>> as we live with our differences. As well, we will strive for Godly union
> and
>> concord as together we seek to be led by the Spirit of truth who, as
>> Jesus
>> tells us, "will guide us into all the truth." (John 16:13)
>> >
>> > ______________________
>> > The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church
>> > 23 March 2004
>> >
>> > ___________________________________________________________________
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