In the early days of Stand Firm I used to get fan mail like this. Occasionally I still do, but I think all the people who hate me have just decided that insulting me only encourages me.
Anyway, here’s what showed up in Bishop Iker’s email box today (via email, but check out the comments at CJ’s):
From: “Semes Robert”
Date: November 13, 2007 7:55:47 PM CST
To: [+Iker’s email address]
Subject: Presiding Bishop Jefferts-Schori’s letter to youDear Mr. Iker:
I hope that Presiding Bishop Jefferts-Schori takes you out behind the woodpile and beats the sh*t out of you…you pompous asshole. Your arrogance is beyond the pale and a disgrace to what’s left of the Christian Church. Why don’t you give the Episcopal Church a gift this holiday season and get the f*ck out of it.
- A pissed off and disgusted gay Episcopal priest…who you can’t touch because I don’t live in your fascist diocese.
Nice. Forget for a moment the notion of Katharine Schori bowing up on Jack Iker. Let’s turn our attention to The Rev. Robert Semes, whose email address is “highchurchatheist@gmail.com”:
He runs some outfit called “The Jefferson Center,” which proclaims its mission:
To promote critical analysis and reflection on religious and secular worldviews
To support the absolute separation of religion and government in order to foster religious liberty, including the freedom to be non-religious
To advocate for the rights and dignity of every person regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, social class, or religion
The good Rev. Semes bestowed some of his unique pastoral gifts on David Usher, who used the foul email as an opportunity to… well, to nail the m.o. of gay Episcopal activists:
These words exemplify the methodology of same-sex marriage advocates when they noisily invade churches: They call everyone who does not agree with them horrendous names, such as “patriarchal,” “gay hater,” “woman hater,” or “bigot.” In the feminist tradition, they are “in your face” and all over you. Most nice churchgoers do not know how to handle these hardball political street tactics within the realm of church decorum. To keep the peace, they sit by meekly while radicals take their church over one board seat at a time, and finally appoint a revisionist Minister or Reverend feminist-advocate.
It will come as no surprise that Semes is a big fan of John Shelby Spong:
I have no quarrel with Jack Spong. He is probably one of the sanest people in the crumbling Anglican empire. He tells it like it is. I support him. He at least does not demonize and oppress people, e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons, to seek power and control in a church where keeping up appearances is rife. Too bad the right wing crowd that is so self-assured that they are right, swathed in the flag and the Bible don’t just do us all a favor and do their “realignment” bit and get out of our hair. Perhaps they should look into some sort of ecumenical marriage with the Southern Baptists where I am sure they would find commonality and soul mates!
The sad, but hardly surprising, thing about The Rev. Semes is that, with each passing day it seems, he represents not the lunatic fringe of the Episcopal Church, but its leftist mainstream. And I’m not talking about the foul language and bad attitude - I’m talking about the fact that he’s not a man of God at all, and certainly not a Christian. I run across people all the time who are truly baffled as to why people like The Rev. Semes would devote so much of their lives to a faith and a church they hold in utter contempt. And all the time, I tell them the answer: Because they did not come to embrace it or to be transformed by it, but to destroy it; and in the case of the Episcopal Church, it appears they may finally have their way.
Attention Father Semes: Walmart is recalling the Doctor of Divinity degree they claim to have issued you - they say you are ruining their reputation as a reputable, upstanding font of religious training. Please leave your clerics at the door. You will find a billowy white Buddist monk outfit there which will suit you much better. You will also find a bar of Irish Spring with which to wash your mouth, so that you may kiss your mother at a later date. That is all.
Oh my . . . such sophisticated language, revealing true intellectual depth and substantive analysis.
I may be belaboring the obvious, but the email as posted at mcj does not contain the asterisks so delicately inserted by Greg(?).
This guy’s a priest? I guess so…a little googling reveals that he was restored as a priest in 2005 by Bishop William Swing of CA. One wonders what he was restored from…
What I can’t understand is why any Christian would want to be in commnion with such a character as well as the Spongs, Pikes, Richters, etc. which you are by virtue of membership in the Episcopal church, unless you don’t really believe in a connectional church.
Good to see that there’s still a few Titus 1:16 types kicking around.
Perhaps they should look into some sort of ecumenical marriage with the Southern Baptists where I am sure they would find commonality and soul mates!
Yes. It’s called “koinonia.” Very different from “friendship with the world.”
This guy is a real crackpot. I had to ban him about a year ago for his ugly rhetoric over at Jake’s. Then he showed up recently under another alias, and I had to ban him again, which resulted in him sending me a similar lovely email.
Just wanted to make it clear that some of us “on the left” do consider him part of the “lunatic fringe,” and as a result have also been recipients of his hate mail.
A priest you asked? Why yes. He is a member of the clergy of The General Convention Church a/ka/ TEC, canonically resident in Oregon. Really. You can see for yourself here.
Mr. Semes claims, among other things, to be a freethinker.
A person who forms opinions about religion on the basis of reason, independently of tradition, authority, or established belief. Freethinkers include atheists, agnostics and rataionalists.
No one can be a freethinker who demands conformity to a bible, creed, or messiah. To the freethinker, revelation and faith are invalid, and orthodoxy is no guarantee of truth.”
Why on God’s green earth did this man seek out a collar? Good grief. I need a shower.
Priests of Satan (a Scriptural way to refer to such, and the one to whom such “priests” ultimately lead their unsuspecting flocks) like Semes”+” infect Christian churches to draw a paycheck from the very institution they hate and wish to destroy from within. One fairly well-known evangelical radio Bible teacher related with chagrin what a classmate of his in seminary told him. He said immdiately after graduating that he had lied about every question on articles of faith, that he didn’t believe a word of Christian doctrine. When asked why he went through with it, he replied, “Because there’s big bucks in the God business.” James says let not many in Israel become teachers because theirs is a stricter judgment.
A person who forms opinions about religion on the basis of reason, independently of tradition, authority, or established belief.
This is, of course, an impossibility, as the “reasoner” already bases his reasoning upon a tradition, authority, and established belief. But “freethinkers” never let logic get in the way of their free-thinking.
If he’s foul at Fr. Jake’s, too, this is indeed a really messed-up individual. People with empty minds have to fill them with nasty words to make it seem like they have something to say.
Why on God’s green earth did this man seek out a collar?
Middle-class income as a social activist. Not many places you can get paid to be an agitator. The more important question is “Why was TEC so hospitable to him that he could be ordained?” But we already know that answer.
carl
This man calls himself “highchurchatheist.” That is an oxymoron. I could say that he, of course, is simply a moron, but that would be approaching his level. I say “approaching” because it’s nowhere near as low as he goes in his use of language and in his vituperative attitutde toward those who disagree with his Satan-inspired agenda. What a sham! Why indeed do these people become priests, or even belong to a church? That he would publish such garbage is shocking.
Let’s see how fast KJS inhibits or deposes this jerk. I am happy to know that he is an equal opportunity nut. Seriously, a man this disturbed ought to be deposed. He should not be allowed to continue representing himself to an unsuspecting public as an Episcopal priest.
When one receives mail like this, the most courteous and charitable reaction is simply to assume that the sender was drunk at the time.
Fr Semes must have quite a problem with the stuff, judging from the frequency of his uncontrolled outbursts…
Where the hell did the Episcopal church find so-many socio-paths to fill the ranks of the clergy? What a loser, I would inhibit this creep, he has about as much business being a priest as the crazy Episco-Muslim a few months back. I think the Episcopal church is a total tear-down job. Again the longer I am Episcopal the more stunned I am by the incredible pathos and low quality of so many of our ordained people. Is the priesthood in the Episcopal church a vocational garbage dump for mal-adjusted losers, who can’t do anything else? Some times I just got to wonder.
And as for Bishop Iker he is the best.
You know the devil is in the machine when +Iker can be threatened with presentment for “abandoning communion” while Mr. Semes ( I CAN NOT call that man Rev.) remains in office?
I would caution against calling this man’s sanity into question - the demon possessed have bigger issues.
Seriously, a man this disturbed ought to be deposed. He should not be allowed to continue representing himself to an unsuspecting public as an Episcopal priest.
Could this be the same person as the Robert L Semes listed under the section on Renunciation of the Ministry by the Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, Bishop of California, April 12, 2004 as shown in the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas Episcopal Concurrences 2004? Perhaps he has done the honorable thing.
And I keep remembering Jesus’ admonition: But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:44.
I obviously misinterpreted the information from the Diocese of West Texas. The following, from the Winter 2005 publication from Episcopal Divinity School, indicates he was restored by Bishop Swing:
Robert L. Semes ’76 was restored as a priest
of the Episcopal Church by Bishop William
Swing of California in April 2004. Now living
in Ashland, Oregon, he is Executive Director
of The Jefferson Center for Religion and
Philosophy, a nonprofit educational organization
dedicated to “Promoting Enlightened
Religious Thinking.” The Center may be found
at http://www.thejeffcenter.org. Bob and his partner,
Harvey H. Ray ’75 recently celebrated their
30th anniversary together.
I’ll pray for Harvey as well.
Jake, you say that:
This guy is a real crackpot.
However, the letter from the retired Bishop Barbara Harris’s email was not that different in either tone and the number of expletives, while smaller, was not that different either. What does this imply about her?.
Ease up on Fr. Jake. Poor man, his world is largely populated with Semesians and clones thereof. Whatever else they are, they are usually unpleasant potty mouths. Like Mrs. Harris. How would you like to have to be nice to people like her and Semes just because you share some concepts? Boggles.
Why don’t you give the Episcopal Church a gift this holiday season and get the f*ck out of it.
Apparently, ‘Fr.’ Semes did not read enough of Bishop Iker’s letter to know that this is just what he is trying to do! He and his Diocese, that is.
I already gave this gift to The Episcopal Church, back in October. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
This is from his website:
ANOTHER HOT BOOK BY CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS to raise Cain, stimulate discussion, critical thinking and intellectual honesty, read hot off the press -
THE PORTABLE ATHEIST: ESSENTIAL READINGS FOR THE NONBELIEVER (paperback) - DeCapo Press, Nov. 2007
See also…Christopher Hitchens’ Recommended Reading List on Christopher Hitchens: an Online Directory
An Episcopal priest who cusses like a sailor and promotes atheism. How sweet. I have forwarded this information to the the bishop of Oregon, the Rt Rev. Johncy Itty whose email is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
By the way, the diocesan website gives the email address of Mr. Semmes as .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Bishop Harris had been having a trying day; for this man there is no excuse and it sounds as if there is something not quite right as Fr Jake says.
More worrying and saddening is how polarised things are becoming and it seems to be spreading.
I do not know Mr Semes exact motive for wanting to remain an Episcopal priest, but I have observed others in similar situations (where the priest is demonstrably not a Christian). Typically, the desire to remain a priest despite one’s unbelief stems from the respect that other non-Christians give.
Episcopalians are well aware of how many heretic and apostate Episcopal clergy there are and meeting one is not especially noteworthy. Non-Episcopalians typically assume the Episcopal Church is Christian and therefore think that the apostate priest they just met is brave for thinking and speaking the way that they do.
So the apostate cleric gains two benefits from remaining a member of the clergy. First he gets a certain respect from non-Episcopalians because they believe that he is being courageous. Second, he gets to keep a comfortable job, secure in the knowledge that in his unbelief, he is not alone.
It’s really rather sad. Someone who is not brave gets commended for the courage that he lacks.
That is the real reason why I will likely never respect Bishops Righter, Spong, Griswold, Andrus, Harris, Schori and Chane. If they actually had the courage of their convictions, they would not be clergy at all.
Ever since 1981, I have prayed for repentance of the Episcopal Church hierarchy. Matthew 23:13-15 remains constant in my thoughts in that regard.
He runs some outfit called “The Jefferson Center,”
I looked at the site. He has less understanding of Jefferson than I do of string theory.
Yes, the letter as posted at MCJ does not contain the asterisks I inserted into those words, but here at SF we have a filter in place that replaces the entire word with pound signs (#). I inserted the asterisks in order to defeat the filter, because as we all know, when it comes to revisionist rhetoric, nuance is the key, and I wanted to lose as little as possible.
Jake - that’s at once distressing and heartening to read what you wrote. Distressing to hear that the guy is that far gone, but heartening to hear that you don’t put up with it. Plus, the idea that FrJake and Jack Iker are both getting hate mail from the same guy is pretty funny.
teddy mak - I read your comment yesterday about bashing Rowan Williams (posted at Anne Coletta’s blog) and was nodding my head in agreement. Let’s try and give Jake a little more elbow room.
(That should be, “Let’s ALL try and give Jake a little elbow room.” Not picking on teddy mak).
Sorry I can’t resist asking, Fr. Jake - while I appreciate your comment above - I understand there are a number of regular SF posters that you have also banned from your site. Do you categorize people like Snarkster the same way you do +Semmes?
More from this very loving, caring minister of the faith for TEC…
I have just finished reading your hateful article “How to Stop Homosexual Activism in the Episcopal Church.” As an out gay Episcopal priest partnered for over thirty years with another gay Episcopal priest, I found your article offensive and oppressive. You and those who hold the asinine views you hold about GLBT persons are the ones the homosexual community can proudly say “We will bury you!” Bigotry has a terminus ad quem beyond which civilized people in this world will not go, and you and your f [deleted] up colleagues will find that point sooner than later. I suppose that white fascist bigots in the 19th and 20th century South felt the same way about the “colored people” ramming civil rights and freedom down their throats” as you allude to the GLBT community doing. Shame on you and your ilk. Why don’t you grow up?
The Rev. Robert Semes
Diocese of Oregon
TEC
http://www.newswithviews.com/Usher/david28.htm
I agree with Greg about Father Jake. We have finally discovered a small point about which we can agree. Let’s not spoil this moment of unity.
; > )
Cathy_Lou,
Snarkster’s not exactly a good example. 
Let’s not pile on Jake.
Just FYI,
+Itty of Oregon, asked for the election of a Diocesan at the recent convention. He’s only 40 (the youngest diocesan in ECUSA) and has only been bishop for 4 years.
No reason was given for his leaving, and so far no news on it either.
Grannie Gloria
Conoscenzo,
Thank you for posting that! I love how he quotes Nikita Khrushchev’s famous line. Because we all know how prophetic that turned out to be!
It’s always nice when those who consider themselves to be our enemies can offer words of hope and encouragement.
LOL at the Krushchev reference.
The guy is a crackpot, but what is depressing is that Bishop Harris’s email was about the same level of maturity.
Speaking of Bishop Iker: It seems he has graciously offered refuge to a Nashotah grad who has been black-balled in Los Angeles. I’m sure you people are on the story found at Drell:
http://descant.classicalanglican.net/?p=3196
Not a very good spokeman for his cause, I’m thinking. Geez. A priest. Could there be any better example of what we are all carrying on about?
Adding…. I am greatly relieved to see Fr. Jake sees this person as a card short of a full deck. I don’t like to think of the worthy opposition as mired in such muck.
I agree that this is over the line - but not TOO far over.
A long time ago in a diocese not far away I had a similar experience when I emailed the lead delegate about the 2003 Convention and disagreed with his approval of Gene Robinson.
The anger and hatred I received in the letter I got back from that ‘priest’ was really similar to this - only w/o the swear words.
My only comment is Lewis’ comment -
On the other hand, surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.
Sorry, but the reality I’ve seen is this - even under stress on this blog, people might get upset and seldom use poor language - in most of the non-orthodox sites I’ve seen that is the NORM rather than the exception.
The problem is that when we choose to believe Jesus only sanctifies our sin in stead of redeeming it, we become even less redeemable than we were when we began. The rats not only fester, but multiply - no matter the pretty door cover you put on the basement.
Seriously, a man this disturbed ought to be deposed. He should not be allowed to continue representing himself to an unsuspecting public as an Episcopal priest.
As I posted over at CJ’s, I think Rev. Semes may have a brighter future in TEC:
Perhaps the Rev. Semes (ref. Bp. Iker’s entry above) will be made a suffragan and appointed as an episcopal visitor. He is very eloquent in espousing the official stance of TEC.
This guy wouldn’t happen to be canonically resident in Rhode Island, would he? (I’m think I am safe to assume he is not canonically resident in Quincy, San Joaquin or Pittsburgh)
From his welcome letter on his website called The Jefferson Center:
“a society in which the dignity of every human being is affirmed, and individual liberty and opportunity congruent with social and global responsibility is supported; and where respect and integrity is the norm”
I guess his e-mail was an example of some of that dignity and respect he speaks of on his website.
Sad excuse of a human, no less a Christian or priest.
Snarkster’s not exactly a good example. Let’s not pile on Jake.
Pardon? Oh well, to be fair to Jake, he did let me make a few posts last week. The final (and best) post mysteriously went away but I can’t say for sure that it wasn’t the fault of the HaloScan program.
the snarkster
The Clergy Finder shows Semes to be canonically resident in Oregon.
Well, Snarkster, I’d have to agree with Greg. Your posts are whimsical and show a level of sophistication in your jabs & tweaks, where Rev. Robert Semes is at the level of a foul mouth third grader. There is just no comparason 
Robert Semes was ordained in 1976 by the Diocese of Western North Carolina by Bishop Weinhauer. He is canonically resident in Oregon.
Jake has banned me too. But again, I would also like to know why, because I have posted that homosexual activity is a sin and that God hates sin, this places me in the same catergory as this Mr. Semes?
Please, Jake, do tell. I wonder why you are not willing to let a FREE flow of ideas that are much older than you or me be exchanged on your site. Does not the “Listening Process” go both ways?
Several comments have mentioned Barbara Harris’s letter to Bishop Iker. Can anyone provide a link? Thanks.
So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12
Let’s not take too much delight in the unseemly outburst of poor Mr Semes!
Sadly, I would not be surprised to find that Katharine Jefferts Schori has received equally insulting, inappropriate and vituperative communications from some who would claim to represent the conservative side of the current Episcopal Church debates.
Instead, may Semes and his ilk be a warning to us to “speak the truth in love” and to conduct ourselves according to the verses quoted at the bottom of this page.
Thank you, notworthyofthename.
Well said.
He at least does not demonize and oppress people, e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons, to seek power and control in a church where keeping up appearances is rife.
This is so ironic coming from someone with the email address of “highchurchatheist.” Talk about keeping up appearances.
Semes is a classic example of that strange new entity, the anti-Christian Christian. These people are in the Church, but not of it. They hate it and all it stands for with a passion, they deny every one of its core beliefs—and yet they will not leave it, either. Why is that?
All I can think is that they have decided they can do the Church far more harm by staying in it than by abandoning it. Like a multiplying virus, they seek to infiltrate the Body of Christ and destroy it from within. The tragedy is, their strategy seems to be working.
Dear Mr. Iker:
I hope that Presiding Bishop Jefferts-Schori takes you out behind the woodpile and beats the sh*t out of you…you pompous asshole. Your arrogance is beyond the pale and a disgrace to what’s left of the Christian Church. Why don’t you give the Episcopal Church a gift this holiday season and get the f*ck out of it.
- A pissed off and disgusted gay Episcopal priest…who you can’t touch because I don’t live in your fascist diocese.
Oh my goodness. That’s a priest?
I don’t understand why +Iker would ever publish an email of this sub-human quality. It isn’t his style and I don’t believe he published this email at all. The source seems to have been a bishop Iker on MCJ and one or two people MCJ commented on whether it really was +Iker’s comment at all. I’m sure that he gets mail like this from nutcases though.
Bill C,
I received the email directly from Bishop Iker himself.
I wrote to Bishop Iker immediately after I saw the posting on MCJ. He confirmed that it was from him.
People can be just as hateful without profanity. In fact, the cuss words just argue for dumb. Real venom can hide in polite, multisyllabic prose and be even more destructive and unchristian.
That’s true. It is sometimes much more deadly to be nuanced and artful with venom.
As always, however, I appreciate clarity. And using the “F” word in a missive to a bishop helped me cut right to the chase in figuring out how seriously to take this person.
Anyone who sends a letter like that should not be surprised to find it published. He has showcased a juvenile petulance. And since it appears that the bishop is maneuvering to leave with his diocese, what is the point of sending a silly message to demand that he do so? Are we sure this priest is out of high school?
If I were Semes’ bishop, I would have him in my office today for a chat he would never forget.
Hope writes,
People can be just as hateful without profanity. In fact, the cuss words just argue for dumb. Real venom can hide in polite, multisyllabic prose and be even more destructive and unchristian.
I agree totally. Your middle sentence reminds me of something Chesterton once wrote:
“He knew not what to say; therefore he swore.”
Jake said:
This guy is a real crackpot. I had to ban him about a year ago for his ugly rhetoric over at Jake’s. Then he showed up recently under another alias, and I had to ban him again, which resulted in him sending me a similar lovely email.
Just wanted to make it clear that some of us “on the left” do consider him part of the “lunatic fringe,” and as a result have also been recipients of his hate mail.
I am truly gratified that there is at something that even Jake can’t stomach. The unfortunate fact remains that this maroon is still a licensed priest and that is the problem with TECusaCorp today-the tolerance of priests that preach the kind of garbage this yoyo does. Jake asked a question on his site a few weeks ago that went like this: Where do people outside of TECusaCorp get all these crazy ideas about TECusaCorp? The answer is quite obvious. They get them from wackos like Semes.
the snarkster
In the early summer of 2006, I was blessed to find a radio program called Truth for Life during my morning drive to work. It is solid biblical preaching my a Scottish minister named Alistair Begg and many SFers, including Matt Kennedy are enriched by his teaching. Over the past couple of weeks he has been teaching on Hebrews, and the past few days he has been on Chapter 10 and going over the “apostacy passages”. He has been going over who might be the type of person that applies to, and also that we should always examine our lives to discern if we are falling into apostacy.
Hebrews 10:26-31 really describes Mr. Semes, as well as less vitrolic heretics such as Spong, Righter, Chane and Schori. “How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?” While some may urge charity, I urged discernment so that one may know when praying for one’s enemy has crossed the line into casting one’s pearls before swine.
Where are PadreWayne and TBWSantaFe? I would have expected them to rush here saying that Jack Iker is a properly elected bishop according to the polity of TEC and as such the man and his office deserve more respect.
You know someone is a wacko when they could be banned by both Jake and the Commenatrix. I feel sure just one such type post here would result in an automatic banning rather than a warning.
This excuse for a priest should be inhibited today. I am sure that his style and rhetoric are well known by his bishop, so he must approve of it. Too bad he isn’t a resident in a real diocese (RI comes to mind).
Re: ” Why on God’s green earth did this man seek out a collar? “
Why on God’s green earth was this man GIVEN a collar? The fact that he was says much about the current dysfunctional state of the U.S. Episcopal Church. This man is not even remotely qualified to be a priest in God’s Holy Church, because he fails the most crucial test of all. He’s not a Christian. What he is…....oh I better quit now…........
This man is not even remotely qualified to be a priest in God’s Holy Church, because he fails the most crucial test of all. He’s not a Christian.
Isn’t he in the same diocese as the Islamopalian Priestess?
It’s mystery to me why any faithful Christian would remain in the ECUSA. All you’re doing is feeding these creeps. Literally and figuratively.
Snarkster, this one qualifies as an ultra maroon, don’t you think?
Thank you Fr. Jake and God’s peace be with you.
Snarkster, this one qualifies as an ultra maroon, don’t you think?
And an imbessill to boot. Heh heh….....
commandante snarko
For what it’s worth, I found one source that indicates that the Rev. Semes is retired:
http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0805/life/stories/12life.htm
I hope this is correct because I’d hate to see any church, ECUSA included, saddled with this kind of hothead.
Wolverine
refers to him being “restored” as a priest by Bishop Swing. I’ve never heard that expression before. I would sure have guessed from his letter to Bishop Iker that he was about 18 at most.
John Spong’s retired, too. That doesn’t keep them out of mischief.
Robert L. Semes ’76 was restored as a priest of the Episcopal Church by Bishop William Swing of California in April 2004. Now living in Ashland, Oregon, he is Executive Director of The Jefferson Center for Religion and Philosophy, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to “Promoting Enlightened Religious Thinking.” The Center may be found at http://www.thejeffcenter.org. Bob and his partner, Harvey H. Ray ’75 recently celebrated their 30th anniversary together.
Nope—much older than 18.
Can you “unrestore” a priest? Just wondering…
What does it mean to “restore” a priest?
I have a pretty good collection of clerical directories but not at hand. I note that Semes was ordained in 1976 by Bishop Weinhauer of Western NC where I am canonically resident. I served in Shelby in that diocese 1980-89 but don’t have any memory of him. He is not listed in the 1999 Clerical Directory. If any have easy access to other clerical directories I’d be grateful for any information contained therein.
I don’t know of any partnered gay priests in Western NC though we have a few partnered lesbian deacons.
Tom Rightmyer in Asheville, NC
oscewicee,
The process involves a fair amount of touch up paint, some spackle, and occasionally a new frame.
LOL, mousestalker! I think this one needed more spackling.
Excuse my ignorance. Does having been restored mean that he had been inhibited or deposed?
I concur with greg and st. Anonymous: people like this hate the church and are choosing to work from within it in order to destroy it.
I run across people all the time who are truly baffled as to why people like The Rev. Semes would devote so much of their lives to a faith and a church they hold in utter contempt. And all the time, I tell them the answer: Because they did not come to embrace it or to be transformed by it, but to destroy it; and in the case of the Episcopal Church, it appears they may finally have their way.
Greg
These people are in the Church, but not of it. They hate it and all it stands for with a passion, they deny every one of its core beliefs—and yet they will not leave it, either. Why is that? All I can think is that they have decided they can do the Church far more harm by staying in it than by abandoning it. Like a multiplying virus, they seek to infiltrate the Body of Christ and destroy it from within. The tragedy is, their strategy seems to be working.
st. anonymous
“I don’t understand why +Iker would ever publish an email of this sub-human quality”
To educate the rest of us. Not least, to educate us about how much you can get away with in ECUSA if you’re a revisionist. This the church (denomination? pseudo-ecclesial community?) where bishops like Schofield, Duncan, and Iker get threatened and where clergy like Spong and Semes carry out with impunity their ministry of micturition.
ministry of micturition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urolagnia
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=golden+shower
Good to see that there’s still a few Titus 1:16 types kicking around.
Not to mention Jude 1:4 (and following verses)!
AAAACCCKK Deja Vu—a little warning next time, please!!
Can I throw a flag on the drafting of Jefferson into his cause?
Sasha,
Actually, I’d remind everyone that The Rev. Semes is a child of God, just like everyone else here.