Cherie Wetzel, Editor THE ANGLICAN VOICE, reporting from New Orleans
Hi, Everyone. It is just after 6:00PM in New Orleans. The House of Bishops is working now 2 hours over their schedule on the second draft of the Statement they will issue tomorrow. This will be their reply to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates of the Communion with regard to the Dar es Salaam Communique. Because they have now gone two hours over, and cancelled the Eucharist they were to share at 5:00, I am asking everyone to stop and pray. Yes, right now. The bishops have hard decisions to make and their desire for clarity in the response is to be honored
Please pray that they will say what they mean, and mean what they say.
7:00 PM. The Press Briefing is over.
Tonight we were briefed by the Rt. Rev. David Alvarez of Puerto Rico (who deposed all the orthodox clergy in Puerto Rico after the 2003 General Convention), the Rt. Rev. Neil Alexander, Atlanta, and the Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno, Los Angeles.
These three bishops assured us that the discussion on the Statement contained the following criteria:
1) All voices were and will be listened to.
2) It is a democratic process (read: the majority vote wins).
3) They are genuinely striving to produce a clear, concise statement.
4) Bp. Bruno stated that fudge is something you eat, not write.
5) Those who have chosen to leave the table diminish the presence of God in the assembly (remark on Pittsburgh, Quincy and Springfield, who left on Friday)
6) The Anglican Communion is “tough fabric” and has been in conflict nearly every decade and indeed, every century since its formation. It will survive intact.
7) Our polity is not in ruling bishops and archbishops but in a bi-cameral General Convention. Our polity is equal voices of laity, clergy and bishops, which is democratic, essential and unique in the Communion.
8) The full inclusion of gays and lesbians in all facets of the life of this church is an issue not open to debate. The House of Bishops will never go back on that statement of principle. Peace and Justice issues are the bedrock of this Church.
9) They believe the Archbishop of Canterbury will find a way to include Gene Robinson in Lambeth 2008.
10) Bp. Bruno has not authorized clergy in his diocese to perform gay marriages. He was SHOCKED to find out that the Los Angeles Times reported one yesterday at All Saints, Beverly Hills. “I knew nothing about it, but I sure am going to look into it.”
And so, I think it is fair to conclude that this house will stand on the decisions made at General Convention 2006. B-033 with regards to confirmation of another gay bishop “discourages” approval of anyone whose personal life may be a challenge to another part in the Communion. And they will continue to insist that the House has never authorized any RITES for the blessing of same sex unions. (That is actually what the Windsor Report asked.) And so, fellow prayer warriors, we have an exquisite opportunity ahead of us to flex our knees and encourage the Righteousness of God to shine through. The bishops all said they want to produce a clear, concise statement that is difficult to misinterpret. That means they must speak with clarity about their decisions and intentions.
Clarity is on God’s side in this moment in time.
The bishops said that they cannot control how the Joint Committee from the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates Council that will receive the report and register their comments with the Archbishop, or the Primates will receive this report. They expect that some would disagree if they claimed the “sky is blue.”
Clarity is on God’s side in this moment in time.
The bishops do not believe that 5 dioceses are set to withdraw from TEC, or that the Communion may split over this issue. They really believe that peace and justice issues trump those “fuzzy little Scriptures.” Life is lived based on one’s choice of a moral and ethical standard. All standards are equal.
Clarity is on God’s side in this moment in time.
John Maynard Keynes, the eminent economist said, “When somebody persuades me I am wrong, I change my mind. What do you do?” For whatever reason, our bishops have become convinced that there is no sin involved in homosexuality. But, the essential question is what does God think? Does He change His mind? Has He changed His mind? I do not believe He has, nor will.
Clarity is on God’s side in this moment in time.
Please remember to pray. This is our battlefield and prayer is our weapon of choice. Do your best!
More when there is news on Tuesday. The meeting is expected to close between noon and 6:00 PM. I doubt that we will be allowed to sit in on the meeting in the morning. There will be a press conference with the Presiding Bishop and other members of the House at the end. And, we will have a copy of the statement. Bishop Bruno said tonight that they might release a Communiqué, not just a statement. Tomorrow, we will know. Please remember to pray. Cherie Wetzel reporting from New Orleans
