Tuesday, September 25, 2007

The Bishops Speak During Their September Meeting

September 25 - Evening

The bishops have spoken. It seems that the self-names "reasserters" are already expressing disappointment. I am sure this will amplify over the next few days. It also remains to be seen what will happen over the next couple of days at the so called Common Cause Council of Bishops meeting in Pittsburgh.

When I post this tonight, it will be the last time I add to or edit this post. Any further tracking will be of bishops' statements and reports to their dioceses, which I will do in a new post.

I will probably post a response of my own once I've had some time to reread and digest the collective statement the bishops issued at the end of their meeting.

Peace,
Jeffri

September 25 - Afternoon

All quiet on the southern front. I have added and updated some links, but for the most part there is nothing concrete to report. The usual suspects have thoughts on what to expect from the bishops later today, but at this point, it is all speculation.

In the meantime, the folks at Stand Firm seem to be digging up every instance of diocesan approval for same-sex blessings they can find and as many instances of actual blessings as they can. I know what they are trying to prove, and I am not sure that I disagree with them--for different reasons, but they do have a point. It's the tone of the commentors that I find increasingly over the top. I wish they would just post these and close them for comments.

I figure the proverbial ----- will hit the fan while I am at my Education for Ministry seminar listening to spiritual autobiographies.

Peace,
Jeffri

September 24 - Evening

As I suspected, all you-know-what seemed to break forth in the blogosphere while I was gone today. And this surprises me how?

The primary reason for all the "fuss" is a draft statement the bishops are working with. Repeat: DRAFT STATEMENT. Here is the article from ENS posted on Episcopal Life Online. Here is Episcopal Cafe's report on the ENS story, which they posted before ENS released it. Over at Stand Firm, Matt Kennedy has transcribed the draft from notes taken during an open session of the bishops' meeting. Here is John Clinton Bradley's report on Walking with Integrity. Matt has also posted a "Draft Copy of Notes from an informal meeting of 57 Bishops listing agreements and disagreements."

Let me say once again how much in awe I am of the work the folks over at Stand Firm do covering these meetings, etc. While I do not agree with their point of view, the "reporting" part of what they post is usually pretty reliable. Just steer clear of reading the comments on the posts!!!

Bishop Steenson's resignation and move the the Roman Catholic Church was noted in this article on Clerical Whispers, the blog of an Irish Roman Catholic priest. From everything I have read or heard about Bishop Steenson, he was well respected, and the people of his diocese--of whatever "persuasion"--will miss him. This is a loss for the Episcopal Church, but I respect Bishop Steenson's integrity and his decision. Remember him in your prayers.

Peace,
Jeffri

P.S. FWIW: On this day in 1867, 76 from Anglican churches around the world met at the first Lambeth Conference.

September 24 - Morning

Obivously, nothing much is going on yet, as it is still relatively early in the day. I've added links to a couple of interviews and sermons. The only other thing of note that seems to be piquing people's interest is the story in the UK Guardian about some bishops working on a possible compromise.

I have the day off and will be out running errands, etc. I am sure there will be all manner of news, opinions, moaning and groaning, etc. when I get back this evening.

Peace,
Jeffri

September 23

The bishops spent the day yesterday helping the reconstruction effort in New Orleans. You can read the ENS story here. For a notable development, take a look at Jeffrey Steenson's letter to his clergy.

Other than that, not much happened today. Well, except for the various proposals for all or part of the Episcopal Church to withdraw from Lambeth or even the Communion itself (and become "associate" members) being discussed on various blogs.

I have updated some links and added a few others. Mostly I spent the day away from any computers--a refreshing thing to do once in a while.

Oh, and David Virtue is declaring "THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION IS FINISHED." Remember, this is David...

Peace,
Jeffri

September 22

This will probably be--and thankfully--a slow news day in terms of the bishops' meeting as they are out in the city "getting their hands dirty" doing some work to assist the rebuilding of New Orleans.

The primary purpose of this post, which I will keep updated and moved to the top until their meeting ends, is to track what the bishops themselves have to say. If you are interested in seeing accounts of the meeting from mainstream media sources, check epiScope (9/20, 9/21) and Walking with Integrity (9/21). Both these sites have links to those stories. If you are interested in seeing what is being said in the blogospere (and just about everywhere else!), check out TitusOneNine ( 9/21-1). T19 also has a post with links to blogs/sites of people who are "on the ground" in New Orleans.

Peace,
Jeffri

September 21 - Updated

It seems some of the bishops have already started letting their folks know what has been going on in New Orleans. Here is an email from Tom Shaw of Massachusetts posted on Kendall Harmon's Titusonenine. I am absolutely in awe of how quickly Kendall and the folks over at Stand Firm (take a look at their postings of proposed resolutions from various bishops, although you might want to avoid the comments, as some of the threads look to already be devolving into nastiness) get a hold of emails, documents, etc. almost as soon as they are released--and sometimes before they are released!

And throughout the day we have been seeing copies of statements made during the meeting--often released by the bishop who made the statement--and news reports of others'.

At this point, I feel no need to comment. You can read enough commentary in the usual places.

Peace,
Jeffri

Statements, Sermons and Addresses:

Reports from Bishops

News Media/Blog Reports of Statements:

  • The UK Telegraph reports "witnesses said" Gene Robinson told the Archbishop of Canterbury...

Other News Reports:
As usual, ENS/Episcopal Life Online seems a bit slower than other outlets.

Accounts of the Meeting from Mainstream Media Sources

September 20 Press Conference with Bishops Robert O'Neill of Colorado and John Rabb of Maryland

September 21 Press Conference with the Archbishop of Canterbury

Episcopal Life Online photo by Matthew Davies

September 24 Press Conference

Conservative Bishops Leave the Meeting

  • David Virtue's story. I do not usually look at David's site, but during meetings like this I check it because he seems to be "in" with bishops like Robert Duncan of Pittsburg and Kieth Ackerman of Quincy. However, always take David's "news reports" with a grain of salt. I was particularly struck by this quote: "We came out of respect for Dr. Williams" two orthodox bishops told VOL. "It is clear to us, however, that there will be no change of direction for the HOB and the Episcopal Church and there is no reason for us to stay." An interesting view, since from the beginning, these bishops planned to leave as soon as Archbishop Williams left.
  • Mark Harris' post on his Preludium talks about bishops' schedules posted on various diocesan and Communion web sites, including a meeting of the Common Cause Council of Bishops in Pittsburgh September 25-28.
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