Wednesday, April 7, 2010

PRESIDING BISHOP JEFFORTS SCHORI'S LETTER TO THE PRIMATES

March 2010

My dear brothers in Christ:

I write you because of developments in The Episcopal Church, about which you will soon hear and read. As you all know, the Diocese of Los Angeles elected two suffragan bishops in December, and the consent process for those bishops has been ongoing since then. One of those bishops-elect is a woman in a partnered same-sex relationship.

At this point, she has received consent from a majority of the bishops with jurisdiction, and a majority of the standing committees of this Church. According to our canons, I must now take order for her consecration. I will do so, and anticipate that both bishops-elect will be consecrated at the same service on 15 May. It has been my practice, since I took office, to preside at the consecration of new bishops, and I intend to do so in this case as well.

It may help you to know that our House of Bishops will continue to discuss these issues at our meeting later this month. The papers we discuss will be available publicly following that meeting, and we will endeavor to see that you receive copies. I would encourage you to engage in conversation any bishops whom you know in this Church, particularly those you came to know at Lambeth, whether in Bible study or Indaba groups.

Know that this is not the decision of one person, or a small group of people. It represents the mind of a majority of elected leaders in The Episcopal Church, lay, clergy, and bishops, who have carefully considered the opinions and feelings of other members of the Anglican Communion as well as the decades-long conversations within this Church. It represents a prayerful and thoughtful decision, made in good faith that this Church is ‘working out its salvation in fear and trembling, believing that God is at work in us’ (Philippians 2:12-13).

I ask your prayers for this Church, for the Diocese of Los Angeles, and for the members of the Anglican Communion. This part of the Body of Christ has abundant work to do, and God’s mission needs us all.

If you have questions about this decision or process, I would encourage you to contact me. I would be glad to talk with you.

I pray that your ministry may continue to be a transformative blessing to many. I remain

Your servant in Christ,

Katharine Jefferts Schori

There it is, fellows. A good letter, yes?

I smiled at the PB's "My dear brothers in Christ" greeting. No need for sisters to be included in the greeting, because PB Katharine is unique in the whole of the Anglican Communion. Perhaps one day, in the not-too-distant future, just as Bishop Gene Robinson will no longer be the sole bishop in TEC in an open, same-sex relationship after Bishop-elect Mary Glasspool is consecrated, Bishop Katharine will not be the sole female Primate in the AC.

H/T to Diocese of East Tennessee via John Chilton at The Lead.

8 comments:

  1. Nice. Yes, clear, direct, transparent...a simple statement of fact (and one so unlike the deceivers will scramble to cloud up with deception and lies).

    Why does being CLEAN and OPEN feel so good?

    Silly question.

    Thanks for this,
    Leonardo

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  2. Leo, yes! Clean and open is good! After reading the words of certain nameless folk, plain speaking can come to seem a miracle.

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  3. "According to our canons, I must now take order for her consecration. I will do so. . ."

    She might have said, "Following our canons, I have taken order . . ." and not have sounded as if she was forced to do something distasteful.

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  4. MM, I wondered about the "must" at first, but then, on second thought, perhaps the PB chose the word deliberately, because a good many of the primates, including the ABC, have shown that they do not understand the polity of the Episcopal Church. With that thought in mind, she could simply be speaking plainly for the other primates to understand that she has no choice but to move ahead and consecrate Mary Glasspool.

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  5. Agreed, Mimi. I thought "must take order" was actually a GOOD phrase, canonically.

    An outstanding letter.

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  6. Seems our Presiding Bishop could give Cantaur an English lesson! Great letter.

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  7. BRAVO! to our Primate and beloved PB Katharine! She has been one of my heroes since I read her book "A Wing And A Prayer". If the ABC were made of the same stuff she is, our Communion would not be in the condition it is in at present. I am not amused in the least by the "anti-christ" antics of the Central African or Southern Cone Bishops who are rooted in the heresy of hatred and schism, they may as well shout out "Crucify Him" "Crucify Him"! At least they would look somewhat less ignorant than they do pretending they come in the Name of our Lord. Thanks Mimi for posting the PB's letter. Love in Christ, Joshua

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  8. The letter is informative, courteous, and firm, all that it should be. The mention of the passage from Philippians adds a touch of humility, an admission that we don't necessarily have all the answers and that we want and need the prayers of the other members of the Communion.

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