Drell’s Descants is one of the several blogs I check out from time to time. I find his posts thoughtful and knowledgeable. He hasn’t been blogging much lately. I hope that is just a temporary lull.
However, I have found him in the past perhaps a bit too wedded toward working within the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. So I find his latest (written) post very interesting. In his own words, his patience with the Anglican Communion and TEC is wearing “utterly thin.” He even avers, “I’ve often thought over the past years that some of the folks that left [the Episcopal Church] perhaps did so prematurely. I don’t think that anymore.”
Brad Drell has been the epitome of patience since 2003. So for him to say this is . . . saying something. It certainly shows that those orthodox who still insist on staying in the Episcopal Church may soon find themselves very very lonely.
He cuts to the core of the problem that is exhausting even his capacity for longsuffering:
Moreover, what everyone seems to be missing is that some sort of structural relief is necessary to provide conservatives some sort of safe haven within the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. TEC was asked to provide this a number of times. They have not. The only thing that can be done is to excommunicate TEC from the Anglican Communion and recognize someone else.
Strong words. But ++Rowan and Company are not only unwilling to discipline the Episcopal Church, they don’t even lift a finger to provide that sorely needed relief for North American orthodox.
A church that shows it cares so little about the faith and the faithful is not worthy of allegiance. And the days that many orthodox – including even Brad Drell? – will remain aligned to said church are numbered.
Brad is, and I say with with deepest respect, part of one of those multi-generation families who pass on their places on the vestry and Standing Committee from generation to generation. Additionally, he is truly dedicated to the Kairos Ministry. For these genuinely honorable reasons he has a loyalty, not to TEC, but the things he can do only while remaining within TEC locally. It says much that the situation is bad enough that giving up this is becoming thinkable. The fact that many of us have come to this conclusion already does not reduce Brad's inner conflict. Pray for him.
ReplyDelete"A church that shows it cares so little about the faith and the faithful is not worthy of allegiance. And the days that many orthodox – including even Brad Drell? – will remain aligned to said church are numbered."
ReplyDeleteWell said.
Orthodox bishops of TEC, please note: the ship is sinking and by your inaction you are committing those in your charge to drowning. Act NOW or drown and take others with you! Do you all really want to have that as your legacy???
Thanks for the kind comments.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can only imagine how difficult this all is for those faithful who have been in the Episcopal Church for generations. Thanks for the reminder. I will indeed pray for Brad and all in similar situations.
And, if I may add, good people like Brad Drell reluctantly coming to difficult conclusions about TEC should give those leading TEC pause.
Of course, it doesn't . . . which says volumes about them.
wannabe
My heart is saddened for those orthodox within TEC who have strong emotional connections to a home parish that will never depart from the national denomination. The parish I worshipped at in Chicago had almost no members who approved of what the national church is doing, but few of the parishioners can even imagine worshipping anywhere else. The bishop will never let the building go, and they will never leave their beautiful building. It is only a matter of time before a new bishop forces a female priest on Chicago's Ascension, or makes them fall into line on some other egregious left-wing drivel.
ReplyDeleteThe days when one can muddle along inside TEC as personally orthodox in a more-or-less sound parish are short indeed. In November, Fort Worth, Quincy and Pittsburgh will depart TEC, following San Joaquin's example. I am sure of it. Perhaps that mass exodus will cause the scales to fall off their eyes and prompt these well-meaning traditionalists to realize the day has come to act, even if it means great sacrifice. No bishop who remains wedded to TEC (no matter how orthodox they may be personally on theological matters) will ever provide them with the help they want. We are now at the point where fidelity to the institutions of TEC precludes continued doctrinal orthodoxy everywhere in the US. Sad, but true. We must come apart, and no more touch the unclean thing. And that will hurt, I'm afraid.