Somehow I just KNEW that the parish would be located in Colorado Springs!

Let it never be said that the Episcopal Church is boring.

Radner: "i. These groups may or may not seek to join with one another into a common alternative Anglican church, which may or may not be recognized by the larger Communion as a whole. The challenges to this are enormous, especially beyond the short-term, as existing theological and disciplinary differences among conservatives emerge. The ecclesiological outlooks among several of the existing separated groups are vastly different, and to this point the differences have been obscured by the sense of struggling with a common adversary.

ii. the Communion as a whole will have a hard time recognizing such an alternative Anglican group “in the place of” TEC, unless the Communion leadership itself coheres more readily around a common vision, such as the Covenant. Hence, any recognition of a completely new Anglican church in America will probably have to wait several years."

That's a little worrying. It casts some doubt on Dr Radner's commitment to the Episcopal Church. It also could be read as being in line with the IRD's agenda.

Readers outside the Beltway may need the Smithsonian mode of Institute explaining...

This has to be a bit of an embarrassment for Rowan Williams since these are the people he's been playing footsy with. However, since he seems to be increasingly swallowing his own spin, he may not have to endure the pain of realizing it.

Well I went to the Grace Church and Saint Stephen's Parish website and had a really good laugh reading their 'A Declaration of Anglican Fidelity' document. That is until I spilt my coffee, then it wasn't funny anymore.

cheers

This development seems rather conveniently timed to preempt announcement of the results of the diocese's financial investigation of Fr. Armstrong and Grace-St. Stephen's, which Rocky Mountain news says was "due to conclude this week."

The rejection of the Primates PV Scheme effectively cosed the door on any plan that entails TEC being divided into two churches -regardless if the authority over the second church is provided by outside primates or by a second PB of some sort.

Unless the AC kicks TEC out and sets up a new province in the U.S. replacing TEC, reasserter parishes who can not bear to be under TEC polity may only find some relief in a CANA type set up.

As Radner has stated, this relief may be all they get for several years to come, and may be all the relief that they ever have.

In this particular case, Rev. Armstrong may know what is coming down the pike for him if he stays in TEC, so such relief, though precarious, may be better than the alternative.

Bishop O'Neill has tried very hard to keep parishes from leaving. Fr. Armstrong was quoted in the Rocky Mountain News yesterday as saying that conservatives were no longer welcome in TEC, but in fact the Bishop has bent over backwards to focus on finding common ground. Here's the Bishop's pastoral letter:

Dear Friends,

As you can imagine, I was deeply saddened to learn this morning that the vestry of Grace and Saint Stephen's Church voted to affiliate themselves with the Province of Nigeria under the auspices of CANA, and I want to share with you what information I can at this time.

You will undoubtedly read various accounts of this decision in the morning's papers and on various websites. Such a decision in the best of circumstances has many significant ramifications--canonically, legally, financially, pastorally, and personally--both for members of the vestry and for members of the congregation. In the current situation at Grace and Saint Stephen's--one in which serious allegations of possible long-term and significant financial defalcation have been made against Father Armstrong--the implications are not only more complicated but potentially more injurious to all involved. In spite of the claims that they have made publicly, my office has provided the vestry with as much information as possible regarding the allegations against Father Armstrong given the canonical restrictions calling for confidentiality while an investigation is ongoing. The vestry of Grace and Saint Stephen's Church is well informed about those allegations. That they have chosen in consultation with Father Armstrong to "leave" The Episcopal Church knowing that on the same day that our Standing Committee, acting as the Diocesan Review Committee, received the report of the Church Attorney containing the results of the investigation, only calls into question the motivation of the vestry and Father Armstrong in making such a decision.

Having received the report of the Church Attorney today, I have been informed that the Standing Committee, acting as the Diocesan Review Committee, has voted unanimously to issue a Presentment containing six counts of wrongdoing against Father Armstrong. You can expect to hear more from me regarding the details of this Presentment just as soon it has been formally conveyed to Father Armstrong.

Regarding the decision made by the vestry, I can only say that the decision has no canonical or constitutional grounding or effect. I take the position that people may leave The Episcopal Church but parishes cannot. Grace and Saint Stephen's Church remains a parish of The Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and will continue to be so for any and all who desire to be members of it. To that end, I have removed the members of the vestry and all officers from office under the provisions of our Canons--not the least of which is Title I, Canon 17.8 which states that "any person accepting any office in this Church shall well and faithfully perform the duties of that office in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of this Church and of the Diocese in which the office is being exercised." As such, the vestry is now declared vacant.

As I have said to many today, my primary pastoral concern is for all those who remain loyal to Grace and Saint Stephen's. Certainly I will be working with them to make provisions for Sunday worship and for new pastoral leadership for the parish in the short-term and until such time as the parish is restored to its property. I will communicate as much of that as I can just as soon as those details are worked out.

Be assured that I will keep you informed as events unfold. For now, I ask as always that you keep the people of Grace and Saint Stephen's Church, Father Armstrong and his family, and our Diocese in your prayers. As always, be assured of mine.

God's peace and blessing be with you. Faithfully,

Bishop O'Neill

Just one more quick comment on Bishop O'Neill's letter. Members of Grace and St. Stephen's have made statements in the papers trying to depict this investigation as a witch hunt against conservatives. So it is significant that the Standing Committee of the diocese voted unanimously to issue a presentment against Fr. Armstrong. Although the Standing Committee members are both "liberal" and "conservative," several of them are quite sympathetic to Armstrong's conservative views.

How very interesting that the "40 days of discernment" was scheduled only *after* the decision of rector and vestry, and not before. Were there no concerns about the rector, that would still be striking. If the decision has been made, just what is there to discern?