Jonathan Grieser: Why I Despair of the Future of the Episcopal Church
The Rev. Jonathan Grieser, formerly one of the more vocal revisionist priests in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, is now rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, Wisconsin.
He also has a blog, and recently he wrote this:
In 2003, we were completely unprepared for the impact of General Convention, understandably so, because of the date of Bishop Robinson’s election. In 2012, we know what is coming. We know that there will be media scrutiny and intense discussion in the Anglican blogosphere, From what I can tell of the materials produced by the SCLM, and from what I can tell of what I’ve read, they seem both somewhat superficial and often incomprehensible.
For me, the important question is this: How is General Convention preparing us in local parishes deal with the controversy? And I don’t primarily mean the conversations over the shape liturgies might take. What materials are they providing local clergy to deal with the phone call from the local newspaper reporter who is writing an article on the topic and interviewing conservative Christian leaders as well?
Once again, my guess is that General Convention is going to leave us to our own devices, ill-prepared and ill-equipped to deal with the local consequences of its actions and increasingly curious why so many of us in the church want to have nothing to do with it.
That’s why I despair of the future of the Episcopal Church. I’ve been active in the Episcopal Church for two decades, I’ve been involved in parish leadership for a decade, and every General Convention in that time has contributed to conflict in the parish and led to diversion of precious resources of time, energy, and passion. I’m looking forward to GC 2012 with fear and trembling.
Now, this last part strikes me as a little humorous, because when I first read it, I thought, “You and me both, brother… you and—-”
... but then I realized: I’m not looking toward General Convention 2012 with fear and trembling at all. I looked toward GC06 that way, and GC09, but now I look toward General Convention 2012 only with a knowing smile, and an odd but strangely comfortable sense of satisfaction.
And here is why:
Because I know what will happen in Indianapolis. I know who will gather there… and who will not.
I know what they will do, and what they will not do.
I don’t look at GC12 and wonder, “What will become of my parish?”, or “What will become of my diocese?”, and certainly not “What will become of the Episcopal Church.”
I know what will happen: The Episcopal Church will continue its free-fall into irrelevancy and incoherency. Around my diocese and my parish, there will be a few families who leave, but most of them will shake their heads for a moment at the shame of it all, cluck their tongues, then say, “At least our bishop won’t be allowing any of that nonsense down here. Nosirree…”
All the while, blissfully ignorant that he has no choice in the matter. Oh, he won’t have to cave to the gay cabal any time soon, and perhaps won’t ever have to. If he doesn’t retire in a few years, he’ll be left alone by 815 to serve out his episcopacy in relative peace. But if he succeeds in holding the line, he will, without a doubt, be the last bishop of his diocese to do so. If he or any aspiring candidate thinks his successor will be able to keep from authorizing gay blessings in his churches, he is sadly mistaken. Compliance to the New Order will shortly be a requirement for all incoming bishops.
No, the Episcopal Church’s fate is sealed, and knowing that gives me a kind of solace and circumspection Fr. Geiser can only dream of. Some say its fate was sealed when Gene Robinson was consecrated as Bishop of New Hampshire. Some say it was sealed when Bishop Righter was acquitted of heresy charges. Some say it was sealed when the Philadelphia Eleven were illegally ordained. Some say it was sealed when John Spong was allowed, with impunity, to go on a gay-ordination spree. Some say it was sealed when Bishop Pike was allowed to keep his mitre after denying the Trinity.
It doesn’t matter, ultimately, exactly when the Episcopal Church’s fate was sealed, or even if it can be pinned down to one incident or period in its history. All that matters is that it’s done, and nothing that happens in Indianapolis this summer can change that.
Fr. Grieser is right to worry about what will happen to parishes like his following GC12. He is right to fret that he and rectors like him will be left to fend for themselves when the TV stations and newspapers come calling. He is right to be frustrated that the “resources” provided to him by the national church are laughably inadequate.
He is right, but he has no one to blame but himself, and those like him.
He and his compatriots threw in with this agenda, figuring they had found their generation’s civil rights movement, and that all the warm social-justice fuzzy which accrued to that movement 50 years ago would accrue to theirs as well. They figured they would be heroes. They figured far more people would applaud them for their courage, and reward with them their presence and contributions, than would ever be alienated and driven off by the depravity and hollowness of their cause.
They figured wrong.
The decline in membership, attendance, giving, and legitimacy in the Episcopal Church has coincided with many things, but make no mistake: There is one and only one thing that has caused it, and that’s an abandonment of the core doctrines of the faith in favor of new-age spiritualism, and a celebration of sexual deviancy practiced by perhaps two percent of the country’s population.
They ignored the warnings of the orthodox over the past several decades. They derided us as fundamentalists, Bible-thumpers, backwards, bigoted, ignorant… they poured all manner of bile on us as we told them: You will regret this. You will regret giving carte blanche to the likes of Katherine Schori, David Booth Beers, Stacy Sauls, Susan Russell, Louie Crew, and a thousand other charlatans and crackpots. You do not understand where this will lead.
They went starry-eyed as the church welcomed all sorts of strange doctrines, and winked at old heresies dressed up in new threads.
They cheered as 815 filed lawsuit after lawsuit against departing parishes and dioceses. They applauded as good people were run out of their houses of worship - houses they built with their own money and sweat, where they buried their parents and children.
And they applauded as godly men were charged with ecclesial transgressions, and run out of the church they had so faithfully served for years, often decades.
No doubt they pumped many a fist as those who dared not toe the revisionist line were shown the door, after a display of strong-armed tactics for which the current presiding bishop and her staff have become so famous.
What Fr. Grieser and his allies are seeing now, though, is that all the shows of force - little and big, hasty and well-planned - weren’t just for the orthodox. They were also - perhaps especially - for the liberals.
Because now, you have no levers to pull. You have no one to whom to appeal. The presiding bishop doesn’t care if you’re unhappy. The executive council doesn’t care if you’re afraid. And if you’ve ever been to General Convention, you’ll know that not a single one of the assembled kooks cares if you’re not down with The Plan.
You gave the powers that be a blank check, and you demanded of them no accountability. Just keep bringing back the scalps. Now you wring your hands that they have gone too far, too fast, that they aren’t listening to you, and that there’s no one looking out for you and your flock.
You are all alone, together.
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30 comments
They reap what they sow.
[1] Posted by JustOneVoice on 2-5-2012 at 11:23 PM · [top]
Brilliant article, Greg. Very well written, and oh so true.
Charlatans and crackpots, that’s indeed what they are. But its the fools who have supported them over the years who will be the next to suffer.
At some point the Lord may raise up a Jehoiada or Jehosheba to rescue TEC (2 Kings 11). But until that happens, its doom appears to be writ.
[2] Posted by MichaelA on 2-6-2012 at 12:28 AM · [top]
The GC will have to work even harder to produce any real effects or controversy this time around. Many of those who cared about defending the faith are gone and the rest are inured to the quest for extremism that is the GC.
Also, I don’t think the press is as impressed with the Episcopal Church as in olden days.
[3] Posted by Matthew A (formerly mousestalker) on 2-6-2012 at 04:53 AM · [top]
Isn’t he on the diocesan mailing list for the talking points to be released immediately after the votes? If for some reason his diocese doesn’t get those distributed on time, I am sure he could get on the email list of any of several dioceses in the Midwest. How much more preparation does he need if he has been on the revisionist bandwagon all these years, he must know how to do this by now- he has had to do it after every GC.
I am with Greg, I doubt there is anything TEC can do at the convention that will startle me. Given the slates of delegates I have seen, it will be full speed ahead.
Was watching a Canadian documentary on the recent Italian cruise ship disaster. Right now, the SS TEC is scraping the rocks and water is starting to come in. GC will rip a 150 gash in the side. Too much momentum to stop. The talking points out after GC will be announcements to the people in the pews that there is a minor electrical problem that the EC is working on, and that the list is nothing serious.
[4] Posted by tjmcmahon on 2-6-2012 at 07:10 AM · [top]
I have a hard time believing a rector from Madison, Wisconsin isn’t 110% “down with the struggle.”
I think he keeps wondering why his pews keep gradually emptying out year after year so his salary can be maintained.
Don’t evangelize, don’t reproduce. Tell folks they can believe in anything strange thing and do anything to find one of the “many paths” to salvation.
I think Matthew A is correct. The outcomes of GC12 will be met with muted applause and a yawn by the press and the “smart set” they wish to impress.
[5] Posted by Bill2 on 2-6-2012 at 07:25 AM · [top]
Excellently done, Greg. The same mentality is at play in Central Florida in spite of all the “Gee, it won’t happen here”.
I think a lot of us orthodox are at the point of just letting the train wreck happen. Get it over with so we can really move on. We’ve tried hard to sound the trumpet to no avail. In this I understand why some orthodox priests voted for Shcori rather than a slower death through one of the other candidates.
[6] Posted by The Lakeland Two on 2-6-2012 at 07:47 AM · [top]
I agree, the rector is worried for no good reason. I doubt that there will be a whimper in his parish about anything GC or SCLM puts out in 2012.
Maybe he should stop whining and try to figure out why he is so ill equipped to handle controversy if it were to arise.
He can’t deal with controversy because revisionism has no foundation, no scriptural resources, and he is not yet comfortable enough to make it up on his own. He needs talking points from the revisionist rogues gallery. He should not worry. He will probably be able to find plenty of Episcobabble at ENS when the time comes.
[7] Posted by Undergroundpewster on 2-6-2012 at 09:19 AM · [top]
If I were this rector, I’d be having some very serious doubts about my remaining in TEC.
[8] Posted by cennydd13 on 2-6-2012 at 09:44 AM · [top]
I actually had a life-long Episcopalian call me last night to tell me there was a “rumor” that his bishop was telling people, sub rosa, that GC 2012 “might” pass something about same sex blessings. He was shocked and surprised. He wants to know if we can start a letter writing campaign to stop this. He is sure if we could get the word the day can be saved. When I told him it was a done deal, and no “secret” at all he got mad at me.
[9] Posted by David Keller on 2-6-2012 at 10:08 AM · [top]
Interestingly, the “core doctrines of the faith” remain for all of us to see in the Book of Common Prayer. Even though the 1979 US BCP has some noteworthy shortcomings, it has doctrinal clarity about most aspects of the faith, including the nature of Christian marriage.
How clergy and laity can ignore clearly-articulated doctrine is a mystery of Anglicanism, but we do it so well.
I’d assume that the SSB material developed by the SCLM would be in nearly final form - no doubt, a subtle adaptation of the marriage liturgy. But, I cannot find it online. How such an abomination could be put to a simple majority vote in the absence of consensus (and in direct conflict with the written doctrine of the Church) is beyond my comprehension.
But, Fr. Grieser and many others are going to have to come up with some sort of spin job once General Convention has done the deed. Anglicans, especially Episcopalians, are usually pretty good at that.
[10] Posted by Ralph on 2-6-2012 at 10:22 AM · [top]
Really the old canard about the EcUSA discussing this for 30+ years will be trotted out -again- and facts like this ignored:
“The bishop was no longer parked in Park City by the time the film won that award. He heard about the award from director Macky Alston while Love Free or Die was unspooling in the less glitzy climes of Pasadena’s biggest church basement. The screening at All Saints Church was the centerpiece of a weekend of events under the umbrella “20 Years of Blessing,” tied to the anniversary of the famously politically active parish initiating pastoral blessings for same-sex couples.”
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2012/2/3/coming-to-an-aunt-betty-near-you
There are none so blind as those who will not to see.
[11] Posted by dwstroudmd+ on 2-6-2012 at 10:45 AM · [top]
Does anyone else see the irony in his whine about healthcare considering the left’s demand of social justice? Surely, he did not believe the crap that only the peasants would be impacted? History is surely littered with pleas from accomplices as they were marched to the guillotine.
[12] Posted by Jackie on 2-6-2012 at 10:52 AM · [top]
Great job, Greg. This guy doesn’t need to worry about pew potatoes in Madison, the Berkeley of the upper Midwest. But it sounds like some in TEc are discovering that people eventually lose interest in freak shows. No amount of oddball behavior is going to get the positive media attention the leadership so desperately craves. The press has moved on. Right now they’re much more interested in how the Catholic Church is “just saying ‘no’.” What delicious irony.
[13] Posted by polycarp on 2-6-2012 at 10:52 AM · [top]
Somewhere, Pastor Niemoller is nodding…
[14] Posted by David Fischler on 2-6-2012 at 12:13 PM · [top]
So what is the essense of his ‘existential crisis?’ Let’s see. Typical questions that indicate an existential crisis might be “Why do we exist?” or “What do we belivee?” Instead we get ...
... quickly followed by ...
There is a crisis alright, but it isn’t an existential crisis. It’s a crisis of viability. The money is running out. The parishes are dying off. Fear has come to fly-over country, and that fear has many names: ‘unemployment, downward mobility, no health insurance.’
TEC is structured to shovel money upwards. After all, that is where the really important actions of TEC occur -upwards. The parishes exist to support the dioceses. The Dioceses exist to support the national Church. The National Church exists to be the moral conscience of the nation. It is supposed to inhabit the corridors of power and provide counsel to the powerful. Or at least that’s how 815 sees things.
But this vision might not seem so bright to a parish in Madison Wisconsin. It reduces the vicar to tenant-farmer responsible for finding managable serfs. His purpose is to extract rent from the serfs for distribution upwards. The vicar who has no serfs becomes as expendable as the serfs he is to manage. He has the not-so-very existential crisis and not his church. It reduces to “How much longer is TEC going to provide me with a viable career?” That’s a scarey thought for someone in his mid-fourties. Young men still have the flexibility to change. Old men can retire. But what of a man with 20 years still to work? What does he do if the whole thing goes Tango Uniform ten years hence when he is in his mid fifties?
These are first tremors of many such future shocks as vicars at the lower level come to terms with the demographic decline. 815 has been ripping wood out of the hull for years to build itself a fine superstructure up on deck. Now the people in the lower decks are starting to notice the rising level of water in the hold. They wondering if the ship will sink. They wonder if there will be any room in the life boat if they can even make it to the boat deck before the ship capsizes with them inside.
Existential crisis indeed. Not to worry. KJS will have a fine life boat with a cushioned seat, and a really good health plan. Perhaps our vicar can take comfort in that thought - as he watches the water creep up around his ankles.
carl
[15] Posted by carl on 2-6-2012 at 12:25 PM · [top]
Ralph,
“How such an abomination could be put to a simple majority vote in the absence of consensus “
Ralph, consensus does not mean universal acceptance by every last person in a group of 2 million. Last GC 70% of the delegates voted to do what they are doing. The standing committees of the dioceses backed them up. Most bishops just lied about the intent- pretending they were just studying the matter, but allowing at least SSBs to go forward. 1/4 of the people who disagreed LEFT since the vote in 2009 (150,000 total per the figures, would be 1/4 of the 600,000 represented by dissenting votes)- so that means that only about 20% of TEC disagree. Many of the bishops who opposed gay marriage retired since GC09, and with only a couple exceptions were replaced by bishops who are vowed to “move forward.” While there are orthodox pockets and a several hold out dioceses, they have achieved “consensus” within TEC. The people who would object have all left in the last 40 years. Tom Briedenthal is now looked at a conservative by his fellow bishops. KJS is the CENTER of the theological spectrum.
Personally, I think the idea that there is some mass of unheard conservative pew potatoes in TEC is very naive. They are gone. They left when women were ordained, or when the first women bishops came in, or when their parish hired a gay rector or when Robinson was consecrated, or when the bishop allowed gay blessings or when GC decided to overthrow its own constitution and push the doctrine of gay marriage through “on a trial basis” in 09. There aren’t enough of them left to deny that there is consensus in TEC.
The problem revisionist rectors are facing is that they have been telling people for 40 years that they don’t need to go to church to attain salvation- salvation is automatic because God is such a nice guy. So, the people who leave (conservatives, orthodox, whatever we choose to call ourselves) are those who actually show up for services and put money in the plate. It is just now dawning on them that they did not convince anyone of the rightness of their cause, just forced those who disagreed to leave. What they now face is that the people leaving are the ones paying the bills, and as anyone who ever sat on a vestry can attest, when someone who is part of the ASA leaves, there is a much bigger whole in next year’s budget than when one of the “Christmas Christians” who stops in for weddings and funerals departs. And if their own numbers are to be believed, the former are leaving, and the latter are staying in droves (note that ASA has consistently dropped faster than membership).
[16] Posted by tjmcmahon on 2-6-2012 at 12:35 PM · [top]
So much to unpack in this post.
1. I think that a huge number of TEC clergy are still in complete denial about how advanced TEC’s implosion is. They seem to think “well, yes, things are bad right around here, but TEC is so much stronger in those places I used to be ten years ago. If only I just returned there I am sure things would seem much better.” TEC has always tended towards smaller congregations. The viability margin of these smaller churches can tip with the loss of 10-20% of the people. And, following tjmcmahon’s nautical analogy, we are seeing the ship begin to list, as water pours in the hole, which will cause the ship to list even more. Smaller parishes are losing the ability to keep full time clergy. I heard recently at a diocesan event here about parishes which formerly had FT clergy, but which can no longer afford them. Welcome to the future.
2. TEC’s “business model” is for the norm to be highly educated full-time clergy who are handsomely rewarded. In all but the most wealthy parishes, this model is becoming increasingly less viable for a growing number of parishes - and this is only the beginning of the trend. How will TEC respond? It has two choices - using retired clergy or raising up a new crop of tent-making priests. The default position will be retired clergy. Think on that and how it might impact TEC’s future. Does anyone think you can grow the church with retired liberal clergy? But, if TEC does embrace tent-maker priests, doesn’t it seem likely that the persons most committed to such a time-consuming low-prestige position will tend to be COMMITTED Christians (i.e. more orthodox)?
(On a side note, I got a liberal Presby friend upset some time ago, when I responded to a blog post of his lauding the PCUSA’s acceptance of the homosexual agenda, whilst also proclaiming his support for women clergy. I pointed out to him that his support for the former, will lead to fewer viable clergy positions, which will hurt the most vulnerable clergy. I pointed out that the most vulnerable clergy were women, and then asked what HE, as a male liberal ensconced in a well-paying FT position was prepared to do to assist the more vulnerable clergy when their pay would be cut as a result of his liberal advocacy).
3. What many revisionists and their enablers didn’t or don’t realize is that they have been “useful idiots” in the wider picture. Yes, secular liberals were very eager to get a Fifth Column in a venerable church in order to strike a blow against the Church’s disapproval of homosexual behavior. Yes, secular liberals were very willing to pat these people on the head when they accomplished their activist victories. But these secular liberals had NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER of actually ever attending TEC once the revisionists won out. Churches don’t matter to the secular liberals - they were just a tool in their overall fight. They have already received what they needed from TEC revisionists, and now they just don’t care anymore. Thus to see people like Grieser whine about being shunted aside is truly pathetic, and Greg nails this part very well in his comments.
4. In time, as the money and prestige leave TEC, I am guessing that liberals and revisionists will leave also. I suppose the real question is what will be left.
[17] Posted by jamesw on 2-6-2012 at 01:23 PM · [top]
When the “movers and shakers” managed to broker in female clergy and produce the 1979 Book of Occasional Services, then the writing was on the wall for those who had eyes to see.
But it was never just one thing that led to TEC’s demise. It was a series of things; all of which tended to push TEC further and further into liberal moral relativism and theology of the Zeitgeist.
Why should the Press be interested in what TEC does any more? Look how they ignore the other liberal denominations that have sunk into irrelevance. The battle has been won, so what’s to cover any more?
“Useful idiots” is a very apt descriptive for these nitwits.
[18] Posted by Allen Lewis on 2-6-2012 at 03:49 PM · [top]
Apologies for off-topic, although there is a connection: The same liberal tactics that led TEC and Father Griesler to their current predicament are now being followed in the Church of England:
Tomorrow, General Synod of the CofE will consider an amendment to the Women Bishops measure. As it currently stands, this measure makes no provision for those who cannot accept the ministry of women bishops (there are quite a lot of them, anglo-catholic, evangelical and others). The amendment would require that such dissenters be given alternative Episcopal oversight. The amendment will also have the incidental effect of delaying a final vote on the measure.
Pray for the members of General Synod tomorrow that they will be guided in their decision by the Holy Spirit.
[19] Posted by MichaelA on 2-6-2012 at 05:01 PM · [top]
I’ve lived on the edge of the Mississippi Delta for 13 yr. Many of the Afro-American clergy did not attend an accredited seminary; most of them are tent-makers.
I’ve been impressed by many of them. They know their Bible. They can preach, and they sure can pray. I’m most impressed by their prayers, and I have learned a lot about praying with passion from them.
[20] Posted by Jill Woodliff on 2-6-2012 at 05:35 PM · [top]
Many of your new church planters are tent makers. Trust me.
[21] Posted by Capt. Father Warren on 2-6-2012 at 06:13 PM · [top]
Michael A,
The unfortunate truth is that the amendment before Synod is not remotely adequate- it is weaker than the “flying bishop” provisions, and no more permanent. Nothing, actually, to keep Williams from giving the new flying bishop role to one of his revisionist affirming catholic cronies. In any case, it will be void, for all intents and purposes, as soon as Williams retires, unless he is replaced by an actual conservative, a very remote possibility. Or Synod could vote it out at will. For that matter, there is every reason to believe that we will see, within our lifetimes, a woman on the see of Canterbury, and I would bet sooner rather than later, at which point the remaining 500 Anglo Catholics (or whatever number survive the current pogrom) will have to turn out the lights.
[22] Posted by tjmcmahon on 2-6-2012 at 06:47 PM · [top]
I think that Fr. G naively believes that there is some reasonable explanation to offer people who object to ssb’s that will make them stop and say “Oh! I hadn’t thought of that. Of course ssb’s are a perfectly orthodox expression of Christianity.” And he thinks it’s 815’s or The Convention’s or Somebody’s responsibility to provide him with this explanation. It’s sort of like expecting PP’s “counseling” to make abortion morally acceptable.
[23] Posted by Judith L on 2-6-2012 at 08:30 PM · [top]
It is hard to believe that anyone who has been active in TEC for two decades can be ignorant of what is happening and has been happening for decades. Come on…..... my parents were “tuned in” to the mess of TEC back in the 1970s. Even as a teen, I had some idea of what was happening. I agree Lakeland Two that many orthodox are just waiting for the “train wreck” to happen so we can move forward. This rector needs to get real and smell the “kool-aid” that is being offered by the left. I say lets get this over with so we can move forward. TEC or no TEC ....does not matter to me.
[24] Posted by SC blu cat lady on 2-6-2012 at 09:46 PM · [top]
It used to be Scripture, Tradition and Reason. Now it’s After-the-fact Justification, Public Relations and Cultural Relevance. Thus the Existential crisis is answering the question, “Are we still a Christian Church”? Social activism is not evangelism and blessing sin is not sanctification. The lamp stand has been removed from the church and Elvis has left the building. I do not believe this “church” could pass the Nicene Creed test and it too might wind up in the historical documents section of the new BCP.
[25] Posted by Fr. Dale on 2-6-2012 at 09:48 PM · [top]
Maybe it is time for Sarah to crank out another KJS fearless Dear Leader Pravda pieces in order to ease Fr.Grieser’s discomfort before the anesthesia takes effect. I liked the one where the children gave wreaths of flowers to the Chairwoman…
Intercessor
[26] Posted by Intercessor on 2-7-2012 at 12:22 AM · [top]
This fellow should be careful about being too vocal; Title IV could apply.
[27] Posted by pendennis88 on 2-7-2012 at 08:11 AM · [top]
[comment urging departure from TEC to Rome deleted; this is a violation of long-standing commenting protocol and I see that JPC was issued a warning some years before; this is a final warning—no further warnings will be given at SF]
[28] Posted by JPC on 2-8-2012 at 07:43 AM · [top]
I read the comments on this piece at Geiser’s blog. I had to almost laugh. Die hard liberals saying they don’t want a vote on same sex blessings because it will divide us.
[29] Posted by Brad Drell on 2-8-2012 at 12:45 PM · [top]
Perfect. Exactly. Wundebar. On the Mark. Right-o!
This is EXACTLY what I observed among the leftist illumaniti, with a healthy dose of “I know what justice is” arrogance and a dollop of “obviously justice=salvation”.
And for the record, Spong holding his mitre after denying the Trinity might not have started the slide if any of the Bishops, even in private, had derailed him at that point. But they didn’t, there was general “What a visionary!” and golf-claps all around.
TEC is already dead, the body is hooked to the 815 Reserve Fund cash machine but the brainwaves flatlined years ago.
KTF!...mrb
[30] Posted by Mike Bertaut on 2-15-2012 at 02:36 PM · [top]
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