In spite of the sham deposition of Bishop Robert Duncan by the TEC House of Bishops, he remains the formidable leader of traditional Episcopalians and loyal Anglicans in North America. Both in his role as Moderator of the Anglican Communion Network and as the lead Bishop in the Common Cause Partnership, Bishop Duncan continues to have the respect of a majority of the Primates and bishops of the entire Anglican Communion, including the Archbishop of Canterbury. In an effort to silence him, this action has only given him greater credibility as the leader of the realignment movement.

The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth

Via email from San Joaquin:

On this day when Bishop Duncan was allegedly deposed by the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church, Bishop John-David Schofield joined in welcoming Bishop Duncan as a Brother into full membership of the House of Bishops of the Southern Cone. Bishop Duncan's own continuing status as a bishop in The Anglican Communion has been secured by the Province of the Southern Cone.

"As was resolved by resolution made at the Provincial Synod in Valparaiso last November 2007, we are happy to welcome Bishop Duncan into the Province of the Southern Cone as a member of our House of Bishops, effective immediately. Neither the Presiding Bishop nor the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church has any further jurisdiction over his ministry. We pray for all Anglicans in Pittsburgh as they consider their own relationship with The Episcopal Church in the coming weeks," said Archbishop Gregory Venables.

Bishop John-David also affirms the statement of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh regarding the deposition of their Bishop, Robert Duncan, Jr., by the House of Bishops:

“We are profoundly disappointed by this action, and view it as yet another tragic rejection of the historic faith of our diocese and the majority consensus of the Anglican Communion. We continue to believe that the House of Bishops has clearly misapplied and misinterpreted the canons as we stated to the Presiding Bishop in our letter of May 28.

In light of this unfair and improper action to “depose” our bishop, we now assume our responsibility under the canons to be the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. Bishop Duncan will continue to support the work of our diocese under the terms of his administrative employment agreement and within the bounds of his
deposition, providing many of the services that he previously performed for the diocese. Our diocesan convention of October 4 will go forward as planned, at which the canonically required re-alignment vote will be taken.

We understand that Bishop Duncan has been received as a member in good standing of the House of Bishops of the Province of the Southern Cone. We rejoice at this news.

The Standing Committee asks that the clergy and people of Pittsburgh pray for the Duncans, the diocesan staff and the elected leadership of the diocese in the days ahead. We stand firmly on the promise of Holy Scripture found in Romans 8:28. ‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose.’"

"What interests me is that this well planned ambush of Bishop Duncan by the leadership of The Episcopal Church failed to take into account something pretty important …. Bishop Duncan is now even more respected across the world, remains in office, and just went up another notch as a respected leader in the Anglican Communion," said David Bena, Suffragan Bishop of CANA.

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Comments:

The more I watch this (and I’ve watched it for some while, indeed been part of it), the more I think this appeal to majority argument (i.e. “the majority of the Communion”) argument is just NOT going to fly long term.

There needs to be something more, and appealing to Scripture alone won’t cut it, either, because that has already proven to be another incarnation of the appeal to majority.

My sincerest prayers are with the diocese of Pittsburgh, their true Bishop and Father in God, Bob, and TEC.

MGD

[1] Posted by Michael Daley on 09-19-2008 at 08:08 AM • top

And also, let us thank God that Jesus has more compassion upon those who brought this upon +Bob, than you or I.

[2] Posted by Michael Daley on 09-19-2008 at 08:10 AM • top

Yes, Michael, I believe you’re exactly right. What’s needed is a willingness to submit to the Church’s teaching of the ages, not the god of the belly. Unfortunately, ECUSA is mad with the worship of that god, and, as we’ve learned in the past, once one goes down that path, the chances of finding one’s way out are small.

[3] Posted by Phil on 09-19-2008 at 08:20 AM • top

This purported “deposition” is about to backfire BIG TIME on Schori and Company…..DEPEND on it! Bishop Duncan is very highly regarded around the Anglican world, but “Bishop” Schori ISN’T. Nor are the bishops who support her.

[4] Posted by Cennydd on 09-19-2008 at 10:05 AM • top

<blockquote>“We continue to believe that the House of Bishops has clearly misapplied and misinterpreted the canons as we stated to the Presiding Bishop…”<blockquote>

The PBess shifts in her saddle to fix a steely stare on Pittsburgh, loosens her gun in its holster and sneers,
“Canons? We ain’t got no Canons. We don’t need no Canons. I don’t have to show you any stinking Canons.”

[5] Posted by The Pilgrim on 09-19-2008 at 10:18 AM • top

[4] Cennydd:

This purported “deposition” is about to backfire BIG TIME on Schori and Company…..DEPEND on it!

What form do you expect the backfire to take?
TEO is apparently perfectly happy to move out on its own and create a new communion of high church deversities. Wish I had your faith that any of it will be made right in this world.

[6] Posted by off2 on 09-19-2008 at 10:35 AM • top

So, isn’t the next step for TEC put in a “puppet” Bishop and then fire the Standing Committee so they can’t go forward with the vote to separate from the TEC? Isn’t that the plan? Or am I missing something? Sorry if I am stating the obvious…

[7] Posted by B. Hunter on 09-19-2008 at 02:11 PM • top

#7 B Hunter, I think it must be obvious. I’ve mentioned a couple of times. Or we must both be missing something. I’d guess that the new standing committee members are already lined up as well as the next bishop appointee. I know, bishops are elected. So then the next official slate. This deposition business could all be just practice for the next one and two which makes it the warm-up for getting rid of about 30 or so more bishops….I am not so accustomed to be pessimistic though….

[8] Posted by southernvirginia1 on 09-19-2008 at 08:50 PM • top

“Bishop Duncan continues to have the respect of a majority of the Primates and bishops of the entire Anglican Communion, including the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

You have to wonder what the Bishop of Dallas may know about Canterbury.

[9] Posted by Seen-Too-Much on 09-22-2008 at 09:46 AM • top

(Sorry, I meant the “Bishop of Ft. Worth” instead of BoDallas in post #9.)

[10] Posted by Seen-Too-Much on 09-22-2008 at 09:49 AM • top

I believe that this purported “deposition” will eventually result in TEC’s being shunned by most of the Communion as though they don’t exist. I doubt, though, that Schori and Company care, since they have effectively separated themselves from us.

I think that one of the most important things for Episcopalians is the sense of being part of the Anglican Communion and being associated with the Archbishop of Canterbury; the sense of this being somehow “special,” and the sense of being elitist and socially prominent….even to the smallest parish or mission….that they are somehow special and above all others in the scheme of things. “The Frozen Chosen” is appropriate here. Somehow unique among all others.

[11] Posted by Cennydd on 09-22-2008 at 10:41 AM • top

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