Episcopal Cafe 2012: Fourth quarter highlights

The story of two bishops dominated the Episcopal Café in October.

The Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, Bishop of California, offered a reflection on his new Roman Catholic counterpart, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. For his troubles he was denied a seat at the new archbishop's installation, and then had to set straight archdiocesan spinners trying to pin the blame for their rudeness on him.

Meanwhile, Bishop Mark Lawrence and the majority of the clergy and lay people of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina were in the midst of the long and bizarre process of separating themselves from the Episcopal Church while arguing that they were doing nothing of the kind, when a disciplinary board "certified" that Lawrence had abandoned the communion of the church. This led to various well-read attempts to figure out just who was most responsible for the mess we had once again gotten ourselves into.

In November, South Carolina went ahead and voted to leave the church but keep the name and the property, and the rest of the church, of course, was not pleased about that. In her pastoral letter on the situation, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori reached out to member of the diocese who had remained loyal to the church and promised assistance and support.

Our other top story in November focused on Bishop Scott Benhase of Georgia, who authorized a rite for blessing same-sex relationships, but did so in a way that it alienated people predisposed to think well of him.

The publication of a certain book was not among our most read stories in November, but you should buy dozens of copies any way.

Justin Welby was named to succeed Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury, but the news leaked out over the course of a few weeks, and so didn't produce a top item. However, the Church of England's profoundly embarrassing inability to pass legislation authorizing the ordination of women as bishops did.

In December the Presiding Bishop announced that she was accepting Bishop Lawrence's renunciation of ordained ministry, a renunciation he said he had not made.

An item on whether the church does a good job discerning priestly vocations and another on why people don't go to church, helped focus attention on matters more pressing to the future of the church.

Then, in fairly short order, the Newtown massacre focused all of our attention on the issues of gun violence, and inspired this well-read sermon by Bishop Marianne Edgar Budde of Washington.

On Christmas Day came the sad news that Bishop Jane Dixon, the second woman to serve as bishop in the Episcopal Church had died in her sleep.


Posted by Jim Naughton on December 31, 2012 7:21 PM | |
Comments (2)

The two bishops mentioned in the first two paragraphs are polar opposites. They represented the best and the worst of the Episcopal Church in 2012. Until he adopted the new motto "We've moved on," Lawrence preferred attacking TEC through his favorite phrase "indiscriminate inclusivity." Andrus represented the very best of indiscriminate inclusivity, advocating for human rights. TEC in general did the same. Lawrence meanwhile championed discriminate exclusivity, especially on matters of gender; and losing the fight in TEC, took his cause back to SC and out of TEC. He held that it was better to leave TEC than to accept indiscriminate inclusivity. He was wrong.

One small correction. The writer states a "majority of the clergy" supported leaving TEC. This is uncertain as only 80 of the 216 SC clergy publicly endorsed Lawrence. And the 80 included many retirees and deacons. Actually, most clergy in SC are either supporting TEC or are undecided about whether to follow Lawrence or stay with TEC.

Altogether 2012 was a sad year for SC. Parishes split up, old friends parted, extended families dissolved, and the mutual recriminations continued. No one rejoiced. Those churchpeople following Lawrence are in for a very uncertain future. Asked repeatedly where he was taking them, he has yet to give a coherent answer. Those churchpeople staying with TEC are picking up the pieces, reorganizing, and although battered and bruised are planning ahead for rebuilding. One thing for certain is that they all face years of expensive, contentious and un-Christian lawsuits. One wonders whether years from now the two sides will look back in sorrow for what might have been.

Nevertheless, 2013 will be an eventful year for the secessionists and the loyalists in SC. It is starting off with a bang as each side claims to be the only legal, legitimate diocese.

Posted by Ronald Caldwell [TypeKey Profile Page] | January 1, 2013 9:41 AM

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