Realignment
The Fort Worth diocese of the Episcopal Church voted to secede from the Episcopal Church and rejoin the Anglical Communion under the Southern Cone. Now will come the legal wrangling over property and individual congregations determining if they are going to stay or go as well. This includes my mother, who is a recent convert to the Episcopal Church. It is unfortunate that her initiation into the church comes with a baptism by schism.
It’s pretty clear that the Fort Worth Bishop was behind the idea and that it proceded with his blessing. Part and parcel to his laundry list of complaints is the idea that the larger church would “force” him to obey their rulings. Excuse me, but isn’t that dictated by church hierarchy anyway? The only reason it’s a problem for him is that he knows that acknowledging the superiority of the larger church would put him at a disadvantage. His statement that the ordination of women is no part of the issue contradicts his previous statements:
Those tempted to do so in this case, with reference to those who uphold an all male priesthood, must remember that this is the historic practice of the catholic church dating back to Jesus and the Apostles. They started it, not I, and still today the catholic church as a whole does not recognize the orders of women priests and bishops. I remain unconvinced by the arguments that have been put forward to support such ordinations and regard them as a fundamental break with apostolic faith and order.
I have no doubt that the straw that broke his back was, as he claims, the ordination of a homosexual bishop who is living faithfully in a union with his partner. But it is incorrect, and dishonest, to pretend as if that is the sum total of the argument for breaking ranks. It is also dishonest to say that “they” are “coming after us” by insisting that constitutions be changed to reflect ownership of property being with the diocese. It has historically been so:
Prior to this time the property had been held in the name of the Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas or his successor in office. This was traditional in most dioceses of the Episcopal Church and had served well for literally decades.
snip
The title to all real estate acquired for the use of the Church in this Diocese, including the real property of all Parishes and Missions, as well as Diocesan Institutions, shall be held subject to control of the Church in The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth acting by and through a corporation known as “Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.” All such property as well as all property hereafter acquired for the use of the Church in the Diocese, including Parishes and Missions, shall be vested in Corporation of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.
That last is from an actual court decision. So where is the beef? The Bishop is simply worried that he will suddenly have a churchless diocese. Of course, he must blame that on someone – anyone – other than himself. Why? Because he’s worried that the future bishop might not agree with him?
Talk about a power trip.
I’m actually in favor of the split. Let those who don’t want to be in communion go and let them be happy with themselves for doing so. The legal wrangling is beyond the concern of most congregants. But those who agree and those who disagree are going to have to stand up and be counted. Now is when the counting counts, so to speak.
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