Excellent Analysis of the Bishop of Exeter’s Speech to the House of Bishops

Andrew Goddard has written an excellent analysis of the Bishop of Exeter’s speech to the ECUSA House of Bishops. Goddard’s piece is quite helpful to me. I commend it to you and may say more in due time.

The usual titusonenine commentarama may be found here.

More reflections on the House of Bishops Meeting from +Steenson, David+ Roseberry, and others

The orthodox ECUSA Bishop of the Rio Grande, +Jeffrey Steenson has now written his thoughts on the recent House of Bishops meeting. And he is cautiously positive about it. My favorite evangelical Episcopal rector David+ Roseberry is too, as you can see in the ensuing comments. And there are a number of other thoughtful comments as well.

It now seems that the General Convention this summer may not thumb its nose at the rest of the Anglican Communion as I expected. It may not even try to get by with that famous Anglican fudge.

Although theological repentance is out of the question, it appears there may be some repentance forthcoming in the area of submitting to the discipline of the communion via real steps toward submission to the Windsor Report. If so, that would be cause for rejoicing.

But it would make the way forward for the orthodox in ECUSA less clear-cut. As Fr. Roseberry notes, a longer battle taking many more years and much more strength than simply waiting for General Convention ‘06 or for Lambeth ’08 may be what God is calling them to. I can almost feel the groans from orthodox Episcopalians who are already weary.

You may have noticed that I’ve used a lot of mays in this post. That’s because General Convention is not just the bishops. And we have yet to hear from the hardline left in ECUSA, from the Louie Crews and Susan Russells et al. But I think I hear their screams of anger in the wind. And you can be sure they will do their best to thwart any real submission to the Windsor Report in the House of Deputies. (The General Convention consists of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies.)

Then there is the issue of whether what the House of Bishops is proposing is adequate. For one thing, promising “caution” in appointing gay bishops is no moratorium. Giving the bishops’ track record, who is willing to trust them when they say, “We’ll be careful”? And the Bishop of Exeter seems to have told the bishops more is needed.

In any case, the story of the Episcopal Church USA is indeed becoming that much more interesting – and not in the manner I and many others expected.

More San Francisco Silliness

San Francisco condemns the Roman Catholic Church.

Somehow I sense a Pythonesque lampoon could be made of this.

Speech of Bishop of Exeter to ECUSA HOB

Another remarkable aspect of the ECUSA House of Bishops meeting this past weekend was a speech to the bishops by the Bishop of Exeter.

He made it quite clear that he was speaking at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury. And he also made it clear (by Anglican standards at least) that General Convention fudge won’t do in keeping the Anglican Communion together. Both the Bishop of Exeter and the Archbishop of Canterbury are to be commended for saying so to ECUSA’s bishops.

Some think he was saying the HOB resolutions noted in my previous post are insufficient. I’m not so sure that was his intent, but it may well be so.

Here’s a text of the speech.

And here’s the usual titusonenine commentarama.

ECUSA House of Bishops Meeting with a Difference

Well, the ECUSA House of Bishops meeting over the weekend surprised me and other orthodox Anglicans by serving up more that the usual blah blah listen blah blah study blah dialogue blah blah resolutions.

They actually took what at least appears to be real steps toward complying with the Windsor Report. They will submit a number of resolutions to General Convention that actually include the word “repent” and admit DEPO is inadequate to meet the needs of dissenting orthodox parishes. In addition, it appears there might be a hold forthcoming on same-sex blessings and further partnered gay bishops.

I don’t know quite what to think of this. And the orthodox are far from one mind on this development as you can see from the comments over at titusonenine.

Many orthodox in ECUSA were assuming, as I was, that General Convention would at best be a fudgefest or, if not, a libfest. But now, it appears very possible neither will be the case. And that would make choices for many orthodox much less clear and more difficult.

Of course, it would be a wonderful thing if this is part of a beginning of ECUSA’s return to orthodoxy. But one would have to be optimistic indeed to think that.

Like I said, I’m at a loss what to think. I do know I'm surprised.

I made a point to pray for the faithful orthodox in ECUSA this morning.

San Francisco Bigots

I am not a fan of Ron Luce or Teen Mania. But a rally they had sure exposed the bigotry of San Francisco.

The sign that says “I moved here to get away from people like you” speaks volumes.

(Hattip to titusonenine.)

And Now, the Episcopal Church Presents - - Condom Communion!

I am not kidding.