Posts Tagged ‘bishops’

Do English Traditionalists Have a Point?

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Some of the few ultra-conservative Evangelicals who voted against the General Synod legislation that would have permitted female bishops have pointed to the example of the Episcopal Church in the United States.

They have noted that Episcopalians who opposed the ordination of women in the 1970′s and later were repeatedly assured that their minority view would be honored. After all, male ordination had been the view of the entire church for almost 2,000 years. 

In subsequent years, however, those same traditionalists have seemed to be less and less free to express their beliefs. In some cases, they have felt hounded out of the church; they have certainly disappeared in the councils of our church. Even the large committees and commissions no longer have any dissenting members.

English conservatives may well have felt they couldn’t trust a progressive majority that was allowed to get its way. –J. Douglas Ousley

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PHOD–II

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

In response to my last post, someone asked me if the President of the House of Deputies was involved in some kind of power struggle. That is, indeed, the rumor and the concern.

The President now has her own web site (interestingly, the Episcopal Church web site doesn’t link to this site, at least as far as I can tell.) And in a recent post, Bonnie Anderson referred to herself as reigning at the top of the church hierarchy from her office in Michigan, along with the Presiding Bishop at her office at 815 Second Avenue, New York City.

Now, 815 Second Avenue has been recognized as the “National Church” headquarters for quite some time; not so, “Christ Church, Michigan.” As a pyramid only has one true highest point, we might wish that our hierarchy retain its traditional single shepherd, The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.–J. Douglas Ousley

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Only in England

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

Here is a quote from the 99th Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, commenting in the 1960′s on a possible choice to succeed him:

“Dr. Ramsey is a theologian, a scholar, and a man of prayer. Therefore he is entirely unsuitable.”

Michael Ramsey nevertheless was appointed the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury, and he went on to become perhaps the most popular English bishop of the 20th century. That he was a scholar and a man of prayer turned out not to be disadvantageous. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Bishops v. Priests/laity

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

I recently heard a speech by a prominent observer of the Episcopal Church about the upcoming General Convention. He feared that a major issue at that convention would be a political battle between the two “Houses:” the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. The former consists of all bishops of the church who have shown up, including retirees; the latter consists of clergy and lay delegates elected by each diocese.

There are many perennial disagreements between the two groups. For example, the Bishops have been trying for years to reduce the size of each diocesan delegation from 8 members. (Often 8 alternates are also flown to the meeting; this is the case for New York, for example.) Delegates, fearing they may not get re-elected balk at this reform.

Apparently the biggest current issue, however, is the wish of the President of the House of Deputies to be able to speak on equal footing with the Presiding Bishop. For some, this is a matter of “justice”–giving equal weight especially to the laity. 

I have often expressed my exasperation with the current President of the House of the Deputies. But even without such feelings, I am amazed that anyone in an “episcopal” (= “having bishops”) church would feel the need to counter the weight of the primate of the whole church. No doubt this issue will need to be considered again. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Finally, the End of the Beginning?

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

The weather forecast is clement and the postponed election for a Bishop-Coadjutor for the Diocese of New York seems set to happen this Saturday.

While many clergy and laity continue to mull over the qualities of the various candidates and rumors circulate, the mood in Manhattan seems more subdued than it was three weeks ago. Perhaps, “resigned” is a better word. We will not be offered the candidates of our dreams so we shall have to choose from among the ones set before us.

That said, I don’t think nominations from the floor can be ruled out, and it is at least possible that the convention will be deadlocked. Perhaps these prospects are contributing to the subdued consciousness. But they at least give us additional reasons to pray for the Diocese of New York. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Shepherd of a Dwindling Flock

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Since the convention last Saturday to elect a new Bishop of New York was postponed due to the snowstorm, we have three extra weeks to brood about the election.

In the meantime, the Episcopal Church has released figures on 2010 that indicate yet more decline. Down 16% in membership in the past ten years, the annual decline last year increased from 2% to 3%. Median attendance has gone from 72 in 2006 to 65 in 2010.

The 2012 proposed budget for the Diocese of New York also appeared recently, and it projects one-third of diocesan expenditure devoted to the numerous parishes which are not self-supporting.

Happily, every candidate for bishop has talked about the need for congregational growth and development. Yet the extreme spiritual and financial challenges of our church at this time may have been the major reasons why so many able candidates from within our diocese declined to stand for election. –J. Douglas Ousley

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Quarter Million Dollar Bishop

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

At the annual Convention of the Diocese of New York on November 13, the Bishop of New York announced that he was calling for his successor of “co-adjutor” to be elected at a special convention on October 29, 2011. The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk has served in New York since 1998, he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 72 in 2014.

Subsequent to this announcement, the delegates voted that an extra $250,000 be added to the budget to pay for this election. It was not clear to me why so much money was needed; I assume it is to cover travel costs for the search committee to visit candidates and to pay for videos of final nominees and their travel to New York.

Popular election of bishops is an important part of the American system and, I believe, there is much to be said for it. Our leaders are often drawn from a much wider pool of candidates than those of other Anglican churches and laypeople and clergy are more attached to them because they have been involved in their selection. (For example, our Annual Meeting in January will elect Incarnation’s delegates to the Convention that chooses the new Bishop of New York. So all of us can have a part in the process.)

On the other hand, the quarter-million dollar expense is indicative of the increasing complication of the selection process. If less money were available, nominees would have to come from nearer New York City–thus making things simpler while still allowing for thousands of candidates to be available. It is not clear that the price is right. –J. Douglas Ousley

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