The ABC Responds (briefly)

Dear +++RW
How do you discuss and and clarify the fact that TECusaCorp just shot you and the AC the bird?

Sincerely,
the snarkster

This initial response of the House of Bishops is discouraging and indicates the need for further discussion and clarification.

Who are you kidding Rowen, they gave you the middle finger and told you to sod off to boot.  Take off your sandles and shake the dust from your soles.

RSB

“And besides, I occasionally enjoy a large amount of TEC saliva in my evening lager.”

What part of the word “no” don’t the British understand?

I had a girlfriend like this once.

Absolutely amazing.  Why can’t he simply accept the fact that the ball game is over, thank the HOB for its forthright response and announce that the rest of the AC will move forward with the mission of the Church without TEC?  At some point even the ABC has got to confront reality and realize that TEC has crossed the Rubicon and isn’t coming back.  It’s not like TEC has concealed its intentions. Wasting further time and resources catering to the most arrogant and errant province of the AC is a disservice to the rest of the provinces.  I don’t care if TEC does contribute one third of the AC’s budget, it isn’t worth the price.  TEC is history, it’s gone.  Let it go.

Jet back here a bit. You have to understand the British proclivity for understatement. Sounded to me as if the ABC is honked.

Why can’t he simply accept the fact that the ball game is over

Because William he and the primates gave them until Sept. 30 to answer.

He needs their money?  That’s the only thing I can think of that wold justify his response.

I’m sure this blindsided him, as it did here, but he had to release some sort of statement. No doubt meetings are being called and folks from around the Communion are being summoned to Lambeth.

Because William he and the primates gave them until Sept. 30 to answer.

And there are plenty of tantrums to throw before then.

Perhaps.  There are some things that do need to be figured out.  For instance, how badly orthodox parishes will be treated, how quickly orthodox bishops will be removed…

Wolverine
(feeling a little snarky myself)

I’m sure this blindsided him, as it did here, but he had to release some sort of statement. No doubt meetings are being called and folks from around the Communion are being summoned to Lambeth.

Can’t wait for the fireworks. If there are any, could be the forecast will be rain on the TEC parade.

Speaking of orthodox bishops being removed, Kendall’s got a post about presentment charges against Bishop Cox.

Here’s the link to the version posted on the backup blog since the main blog is down so often

http://t19backup.blogspot.com/2007/03/retired-bishop-william-cox-to-be-tried.html

It does require further discussion: which bishops voted for it, what do the Primates think, how did +KJS vote, etc.

That said, I’m waiting for a response from +KJS; did she back this fully or is she still going to try and keep to the letter (but not the spirit) of the DES comunique [SIC?]

“This [initial] response of the [House of Bishops] is discouraging and indicates the need for further discussion and clarification. Some important questions have still to be addressed and no one is underestimating the challenges ahead.”

Williams+++ should simply make a recording of this remark so that it can be replayed on October 1st and then again in the following months, years and decades.  Only the words “initial” and “House of Bishops” would have to be changed to something like “most recent” and “The Episcopal Church”.

Understand that “discouraging” is strong language for ++Rowan.

Dear Elf-girl, thanks for the update, even though I really hate the news. 

I can’t believe that they are going through with the trial of Bishop Cox, one of the holiest men I have ever encountered in my life.  My early Christian walk was profoundly affected by this man, he was a true shepherd to me in the first couple of years when I returned to the church after a long period of apostacy.

He’s 86 years old!  I just can’t believe these people.

The best description I have heard about Bill Cox is that he is like standing near a warm stove.  The light of our Lord, literally shines through his countenance.  It’s not a very far step to this being a re-trail of our Lord by the Sanhedrin.

Typical of Rowan “Wobbly” Williams.  Talk, talk, and more talk.  If he had been listening to Jesus in Biblical times, he probably would have asked the Lord for more clarification and discussion. The Sermon on the Mount would have gone from three chapters to thirty.  I guess it’s too much to expect the ABC and Primates to take decisive action now that HOB has responded..  They will stretch it out to Sept. 30th and beyond.  It would be wonderful if we could get rid of Williams and TEC all at once.

James Manley, that has to be the comment of the day.  Very funny.

Cut RW some slack, people.  I am sure that RW, like most people, was not expecting this rather startling rejection of both himself and the AC.  Remember that RW is an English Anglican and you need to interpret his words in that light.  There ARE a lot of questions that must be answered and clarifications received prior to any further concrete plans.

RW was hoping to save a majority of institutionalist dioceses from out of TEC.  I am convinced that he had expected (as did I) that a slight majority of institutionalists would have opted to remain Anglican.  They didn’t.  RW needs to decide what he will do now.  He needs to know where the CA/W bishops stand, where KJS stands now, what the HoB vote was, and what the primates’ reactions are.

I would suspect that TEC just might be trying his patience a little!

All kidding aside, James W. has a point.  This latest statement is a very important one, but it’s not the end of this controversy.  If we are going to have a new province in North America, the first step will be to figure out exactly who is on what side, and that is going to take some time.

Wolverine

The response needs to be quick but allow everyone time to contemplate the consequences of the decision. Did the HOB run a flag up the pole to see if ++Williams salutes? My guess is that this is not a bluff but lets not move past the point of no return too quickly. I would say that it is on 9/30/07. As indicated on other threads we also want to clarify that any decision is from the liberals and do all we can to improve our legal position if necessary.

I suspect that the time is fast coming when those of us who have remained in TEC will have to decide whom we will serve. Mrs Schori believes we are a small dissident minority that is causing more problems for the small number that we are. That may be because we are scattered between CANA AMiA, various global south bishops who have graciously taken in congregations who were under extreme pressure. The network, FIFNA, Windsor compliant, etc. We look small because we are scattered, but the total is significant. And then add in the lay people using results from a survey conducted by The Foundation right after GC2003 and before GC2006 and the numbers call for attention.

If the ABC and the primates are going to risk the current structure of the Communion in order to protect the orthodox minority in TEC, it better be worth it. We need to stand up tall and be recognized and we need to support +++Rowan to the hilt.

Gary

+Rowan does not rattle sabres.  He speaks softly, but the stick he carries is big.  He cares about the unity of the Communion and believes that TEC has a much better chance of repenting if they are part of the Communion than if they are cast out.

He did that with +Katharine.  By keeping her at the table at Dar es Salaam, she was part of the unanimous Communique.  She is really caught between a rock and a hard place.  Her bishops have essentially rejected her recommendation.  She said that she could live with the requirements of the Communique; they said that they will not.  I wonder whether some of these bishops are actually thinking that she got snookered by the primates.

I would not be too distressed by an initial press release.  +Rowan has the support of the primates as well as of his own Synod. 

I echo Gary’s call that we need to stand up tall to support +Rowan.  Conservatives have a penchant for shooting their own who are not as obviously conservative and orthodox as they are.

I support Rowan Williams and feel for his plight.  He is in an untenable position—attempting to receive honor and truth from those who deny truth and have no understanding of honor.  I believe in his heart he wants what is best for the Church and will do the right thing, and has done many right things, even at his own expense.

This business from the House of Bishops that a primatal vicar will undue the American Revolution and reinivite colonialism has destroyed any credibility that the revisionist wing had left.  Is this the best they have?  After all of the bad arguments they make are exposed, they resort to nonsense of the greatest magnitude.  No bishop is taking jurisdiction through the plan, only asking that some jurisdiction be temporarily ceded for the greater good.  Has TEC ever intervened in another bishop’s diocese?  Did this destroy Anglicanism?

Yes, Rick.  ++Rowan is trying to save TEC from itself.  And I agree, he believes the best way to do so is to maintain a connection between the Communion and TEC.  I admire his commitment, resolve and ability but I fear his best efforts may fail in the face of such arrogant factionalism.

++Rowan knows what is going on and I doubt if he is really all that surprised. I respect his patient, methodical approach and his other recent statements show that he will not endure forever. Dropping the axe now would really leave the church in the U.S. in a mess and the HoB would yell and scream (even more than they are doing now) and say, “See, we were right all along - it IS all about power.” I couldn’t bear that.

Credo.

The HOB statement is an afront to ++Rowan and the Primates’ leadership and the notion that there is any authority at all vested in the Anglican Communion.  It is now time for him to act, and <a hreft=“http://drlake.blogspot.com/2007/03/whats-next.html”>as I see it</a> his only real option, at the end of the day, will be to declare himself not in communion with progressives in TEC.  He has that option, loathe though he may be to use it.

Keep in mind that three (3) bombs were sent TEC’s HoB’s way by the Primates. TEC HoB only responded to one, which was a recommendation as opposed to the two other requirements. And the one they turned down was a lousy deal for us Orthodox as well, requiring us to kick out all the offshore Bishops who have come to protect us. More to come, folks.

Has there been any word yet about dissenting bishops, how many signed onto this statement, etc.?

Williams will just procrastinate.  He’s too tied to Trinity Wall Street dollars. Don’t expect much from him or the Primates.  It’s time for the ACN and its allies to act quickly (forget 9/30/07) and just tell the Primates “this is what we are going to do with our without your support.”

Williams is desperate to avoid a split, partially because of the implications for the Church of England!

Williams is desperate to avoid a split, partially because of the implications for the Church of England!

‘Partially’ might understate things a bit.  TEC has put paid to the Church of England by forcing the choice.  I don’t see how the CoE can survive this.  The leaderships tacks left. The laity increasingly wants to go right. Meanwhile the calls for dis-establishment get louder.  What will all those thoroughly modern liberal bishops do when all those who would follow are gone?

carl