The San Joaquin precedent
Ann Rogers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes: Although much about San Joaquin's experience is unique, its story is instructive about the problems that may lie ahead for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, which will vote Saturday on whether to join San Joaquin in seceding.
A taste:
For those who remain part of the U.S. church, hard work lies ahead to ensure that the new leadership never becomes as lopsided toward one point of view as the old was, Ms. [Nancy] Key said."Those of us who have been in this from the beginning have been a little bit like cowboys exploring the wild West. We are used to taking charge and being a little bit counter-establishment. Now we are the establishment," she said.
"We have families that are divided. You have close friends in parishes where one thought the Episcopal Church was correct and others thought the bishop was correct. They were forced to choose sides, so it is painful. We have had a lot of fun rebuilding, but there is a lot of healing that needs to go on."
Ms. Rogers has a keen and appropriate sense of the inherent dangers of ascendency to the preferred position holds for those who have spent time on the margins. Given the speaking of the reality on the front end, it sounds to me as though a reconstituted Diocese of Pittsburgh has a chance to model for the rest of us who wrestle over tough issues (whatever they may be) a healthy engagement that can be a blessing in much the same way as Jacob was blessed at Peniel through his wrestling with the Angel of God. Prayers for all in this situation.
Peace....
Warren Hicks
Posted by PadreWarren![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 29, 2008 8:06 AM