By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
1/16/2008
A war of words has erupted between the Bishop of the Diocese of Ft. Worth, Jack Leo Iker, and Mrs. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
The Bishop of Ft. Worth blasted Mrs. Jefferts Schori over ecclesiastical charges she brought against the Bishop of Pittsburgh, the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan.
"I find it tragic and deeply disturbing that the Presiding Bishop would seek to take canonical action against the Bishop of Pittsburgh prior to any final decision by his diocesan convention concerning separation from The Episcopal Church. The fact that Bishop Duncan and the Diocese of Pittsburgh are still a part of The Episcopal Church was clearly affirmed by the refusal of the three senior diocesan bishops to consent to his being inhibited for this alleged offense. The Episcopal Church continually gives lip service to the need for ongoing conversation and dialogue to heal our divisions while at the same time closing off any possibility of continuing conversations by aggressive, punitive actions such as this," he wrote.
"Bishop Duncan was officially charged with abandonment of the communion of the church on this very same day! Though the Review Committee endorsed the charges brought by the PB, the three senior diocesan bishops would not consent to his being inhibited from functioning as a bishop, as they had done in the same charges brought against Bishop John-David Schofield of the Diocese of San Joaquin just last week.
"The essential difference in the two cases is that San Joaquin approved measures to separate from The Episcopal Church with a second, ratifying vote on December 8th, whereas the Pittsburgh Convention approved of their measures at the preliminary, first reading vote in November, an action which will need to be ratified at the 2008 Convention. Fort Worth is in the same position as Pittsburgh.
"Today I have received a second threatening letter from the Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori. Interestingly enough, it arrived on the same day as the meeting convened by Bishop Hulsey." (Hulsey, the retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas, hosted an organizational meeting at his home in Fort Worth for all clergy of this Diocese who are opposed to the decisions made by the Diocesan Convention in November and who are committed to keeping this Diocese in The Episcopal Church, no matter what. I understand that only two or three rectors attended and that the rest were a handful of retired priests and a couple of deacons. Of the 14 clergy who voted against the constitutional changes in November, it is believed that half are retired or non-parochial.)
"As you will recall, in a much-publicized letter in November the PB had threatened me with disciplinary charges of "abandonment of the communion of this church" if I permitted the Diocesan Convention to vote on the proposed constitutional revisions that were put before us.
"This time she threatens me with charges of a violation of my ordination vows if I continue "any encouragement of such a belief" that parishes and dioceses can leave The Episcopal Church. Well, so much for an invitation to dialogue and conversation! It's all about threats of dire consequences if you don't comply with the party line."
In her letter, Mrs. Jefferts Schori wrote that Bishop Iker had misinterpreted her previous letter. "I gave no "acknowledgement that dioceses can and do leave The Episcopal Church. On the contrary, I continue to aver that individuals may leave, but congregations and dioceses do not. I continue to urge you to withdraw from any encouragement of such a belief, or action toward departure, as I believe it to be a violation of the vows we have both taken to 'conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship' of The Episcopal Church.
"I lament your belief that clergy and laity with your theological position are being systematically eliminated from positions of leadership and influence. If they are disappearing, it is by their own decision and at their own hands. I note how carefully the current and former Presidents of the House of Deputies have been to ensure broad representation in appointment to various church bodies, and know that my predecessors and I have also sought to include all theological positions in appointments within our purview.
"You state your concern about those who stand by their convictions being threatened with depositions and lawsuits. I would also note that depositions and lawsuits have no substance if there has been no violation. Fear of same is probably not rational if there is no basis for same," she concluded.
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