When it comes to the new bishopress of the Episcopal Church, Old Dominion Tory is quite the prophet. Yesterday he wrote here at Patum Peperium:
So, Catholics and Mormons have "theological reasons" for their higher birthrates. So, then, is the Bishopress saying that Episcopalian idea of "stewardship" has no theological underpinnings? If this is the case with some of the more outlandish actions of the Episcopal Church, then, the Bishopress should declare it will no longer maintain any pretense to being a religion. It will, instead, rename itself the "Stewards of the Earth," and register as a 501(c)(3) organization. The new organization could make bazillions selling off its properities--Think of how much the National Cathedral would go for!--and put itself on a firm footing as a lobbying/educational organization in the style of NARAL and the Sierra Club.
It has come to my attention that while Old Dominion was noodling away his thoughts here, the Presiding Bishopress was noodling her thoughts on the top floor of 815. The Bishopress needed to write an epistle to the San Joaquinians. The errant bishop of San Joaquin is a man - you know the sex she has told the MSM she is so terrific at handling? Well this errant and male bishop is old school which means he, for theological reasons that have existed for the, oh, last 2000 years or so, does not believe in female bishops. So now, he and his entire diocese of San Joaquin have quite the theological quandry as his church is run by a woman, Her Grace. So they are in the process of trying to decide how to handle this difficulty. This was the serious pastoral concern Her Grace's letter was addressing:
My dear brother:
I have seen reports of your letter to parishes in the Diocese of San Joaquin, which apparently urges delegates to your upcoming Diocesan Convention to take action to leave the Episcopal Church. I would ask you to confirm the accuracy of those reports. If true, you must be aware that such action would likely be seen as a violation of your ordination vows to “uphold the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this Church has received them.” I must strongly urge you to consider the consequences of such action, not only for yourself but especially for all of the Episcopalians under your pastoral charge and care.
I certainly understand that you personally disagree with decisions by General Conventions over the past 30 and more years. You have, however, taken vows three times over that period to uphold the “doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church.” If you now feel that you can no longer do so, the more honorable course would be to renounce your orders in this Church and seek a home elsewhere. Your public assertion that your duty is to violate those vows puts many, many people at hazard of profound spiritual violence. I urge you, as a pastor, to consider that hazard with the utmost gravity.
As you contemplate this action I would also remind you of the trust which you and I both hold for those who have come before and those who will come after us. None of us has received the property held by the Church today to use as we will. We have received it as stewards, for those who enjoy it today and those who will be blessed by the ministry its use will permit in the future. Our forebears did not build churches or give memorials with the intent that they be removed from the Episcopal Church. Nor did our forebears give liberally to fund endowments with the intent that they be consumed by litigation.
The Church will endure whatever decision you make in San Joaquin. The people who are its members, however, will suffer in the midst of this conflict, and probably suffer unnecessarily. Jesus calls us to take up our crosses daily, but not in the service of division and antagonism. He calls us to take up our crosses in his service of reconciling the world to God. Would that you might lead the people of San Joaquin toward decisions that build up the Body, that bring abundant life to those within and beyond our Church, that restore us to oneness.
I stand ready for conversation and reconciliation. May God bless your deliberation.
I remain
Your servant in Christ,
+Katharine
Blessed are the educated. The rest of us can go you-know-where... By the by, the elevator does not go all the top floors in Her Grace's enormous brain. When she noodled the line If true, you must be aware that such action would likely be seen as a violation of your ordination vows to “uphold the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this Church has received them.” she sawed off the limb she and her fellow girlfriends of the cloth have been sitting on. Also, she just made the most effective case for bringing back the 1662 prayerbook that has been made by an American Primate since the late 1800's.
Art Class after lunch.
Mrs. P
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