VirtueOnline reports: Episcopalians pass compromise resolution calling for restraint by Hans Zeiger, VirtueOnline Correspondent

COLUMBUS, OHIO (6/21/06)-The 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church today passed a resolution calling for the church to restrain from consent to bishops “whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.” Following as it does a rejection of the same thing on Tuesday, the passage of the resolution was, in the words of one deputy, approached “the height of hypocrisy.”

Resolution A161, effecting a moratorium on the ordination of homosexual bishops and the blessing of homosexual unions, failed in the House of Deputies on Tuesday, threatening alienation of the Episcopal Church from the worldwide Anglican Communion. In a last ditch effort to save Episcopalian-Anglican relations, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold convened a Special Legislative session on Wednesday morning, calling on Bishops and Deputies to consider an emergency resolution, number B033, that would express what the convention “actually” believed.

“This is the final day of General Convention,” Griswold said. “What I believe we actually yearn for has not been adequately reflected through the workings of our legislative processes…We must now act with generosity and imagination so that our actions are a clearer reflection of the willingness of the majority of us to relinquish something in order to serve a larger purpose.”

After Griswold’s speech, Bishops held a heated session in which Griswold became insistent from the chair’s seat on the need to quickly pass Resolution B033. When Bishops attempted to amend the resolution to loosen language in favor of homosexuals, Griswold reacted sharply: “We are trying to deal with something that does not fit easily into a legislative process. I hope we can find a way in which to maneuver through this that doesn’t make us victims of the legislative process…If we aren’t clear by lunchtime then we might as well forget the whole thing…If we don’t have something substantial, we might have a very difficult time getting the Archbishop to invite the Episcopal Church to the Lambeth Conference.”

It looks like the outgoing Presiding Bishop cares most about invitations.

Additional pressure on the House of Bishops came from Presiding Bishop-elect Katherine Jefferts Schori, who compared the divisions of the Anglican Communion to conjoined twins that cannot be separated until both are able to survive independently. While reaffirming her support for homosexuals, Jefferts Schori indicated that compromise was critical. “My sense is that the original resolution is the best we’re going to do today.”

…

It appears that the incoming Presiding Bishop cares most about coalescing power and resources until TEC is able to move to separate from the Anglican Communion.

Her first focus will probably be on the property. TEC has ultimate control over all Episcopal properties. The lawsuits will fly. They need to remain within Anglicanism until they can sort it all out legally. Once the chance of properties and assets going to other jurisdictions in the Anglican Communion is eliminated it will be TEC that will do the booting. And worldwide Anglicanism will stand around mulling over the fact that they were having such a pleasant discussion over tea.

Other interesting points:

• The incoming Presiding Bishop refers to Jesus as he/she in her sermon at this morning’s ‘Eucharist’
• There was a motion to allow anyone to receive the ‘Eucharist’; you need not even be baptized. In the TEC it is just a chunk of bread anyway so it doesn’t much matter. Still, could they be any less disciplined?
• There is no need of Jesus to procure salvation. Jesus Christ is not the way, truth, or life. The reason given is that Jesus is an impediment and stumbling block to the Jews. Where have I heard that before —“ I think it was some guy preaching the necessity of Jesus.
• They affirmed the appointment of a thrice divorced Bishop who is currently married to a divorced woman. The conservatives were up in arms, all upset about the message it sends. I just thought that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Wasn’t the whole point of Anglicanism the ability/right of a monarch to divorce his wife and take another? Now their panties are in a bunch over divorce (Prince Charles’ included)?
• The whole response to Windsor is a non-binding resolution that at least one bishop has already rejected (right after he voted)

I think that the only thing missing from the whole spectacle was the martyrdom of a true Christian. It will come later, death by a thousand cuts.