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Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop’s office notifies Diocese of Alaska of successful canonical consent process

Bishop-Elect Lattime ordination and consecration on September 4

[August 4, 2010] The Office of Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has notified the Diocese of Alaska that Bishop-Elect Rev. Mark Andrew Lattime has received the required majority of consents in the canonical consent process.

As outlined under Canon III.11.4 (a), the Presiding Bishop confirmed the receipt of consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction, and has also reviewed the evidence of consents from a majority of standing committees of the Church sent to her by the diocesan standing committee.

In Canon III.11.4 (b), Standing Committees, in consenting to the ordination and consecration, attest they are “fully sensible of how important it is that the Sacred Order and Office of a Bishop should not be unworthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to bear testimony on this solemn occasion without partiality, do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify that we know of no impediment on account of which the Reverend A.B. ought not to be ordained to that Holy Office. We do, moreover, jointly and severally declare that we believe the Reverend A.B. to have been duly and lawfully elected and to be of such sufficiency in learning, of such soundness in the Faith, and of such godly character as to be able to exercise the Office of a Bishop to the honor of God and the edifying of the Church, and to be a wholesome example to the flock of Christ.”

Bishop-Elect Lattime was elected on April 10. His ordination and consecration service is slated for September 4; Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori will officiate.

While Bishop-Elect Lattime has received the necessary majority of consents, consents will continue to be accepted up to and including the September 25 deadline date.

Episcopal Diocese of Alaska: http://www.episcopalak.org/

To read about the election, go to Episcopal News Service: Alaska diocese elects Mark Andrew Lattime as eighth bishop

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_121396_ENG_HTM.htm

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_123857_ENG_HTM.htm

By ENS staff, August 03, 2010
[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s office announced Aug. 3 that Bishop-elect Michael Louis Vono of the Diocese of the Rio Grande has received the required number of consents from bishops with jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees to his ordination and consecration.

Vono, 61, was elected April 24 as ninth bishop of Rio Grande on the third ballot out of a field of six nominees. He received 150 votes of 189 cast in the lay order and 69 of 86 cast in the clergy order. An election on that ballot required 106 in the lay order and 64 in the clergy order.

His consecration and ordination is slated for Oct. 22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The presiding bishop will officiate.

Most recently Vono served as the rector of St. Paul’s Within the Walls, Rome, Italy. Read more…

[Ed. Note:  The Rt. Rev. Paul Lambert is the Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Dallas.  He is at Camp Allen outside of Houston, at the House of Bishop's  (HOB) Spring meeting, which began last Friday, March 19 and will end on Wednesday evening, March 24.  The bishops  published a document on Saturday  supporting the people and bishop of  El Salvador, condemning "the attempted assassination of our brother bishop, Martín Barahona, and his companions on Wednesday evening".   The theology committee's report cited in the first paragraph has not been released yet.  Believed to be one of the final works by the Rt. Rev. Henry Parsley, Bishop of Alabama and head of the HOB theology committee, I will post the report when it is released.  Bishop Parsley has announced his decision to retire, which I believe will further weaken theological discussion and study in the House of Bishops.  Cheryl M. Wetzel]

House of Bishop’s Spring Meeting

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The House of Bishops has concluded its “College of Bishops” forum for this edition of the Spring House of Bishop’s meeting and we will move into our next stage which will end on Wednesday evening. To date we have had the theology committee’s report on “Same-Sex Relationships in the Life of the Church”. Suffice it is to say the response to this report was received with some caution and we will continue to use the report as a basis for further conversations and it should not be seen as the definitive statement of the Church’s statement on  same-sex relationships although some would see it as so. Presented were both the “traditional” view of relationships in marriage on the “right” and the “liberal” view of relationships on the “left”. Instead of one paper requested by the House of Bishops we received two from divergent views. The theologians involved in the preparation of the “paper” determined early on in their study that it was not possible to present One paper on the subject. So the conversation continues with two very divergent views, which in my mind, shows where we are as a Church on the matter of same-sex relationships.

It goes without saying that the recent Consent for the Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles has been a topic of discussion among the gathered bishops and how that will impact our relationships with the larger Communion. Although we have not had a plenary discussion on this development we will no doubt do so when the subject of the Anglican Covenant later this week occurs. Of course, her presence at our meeting makes it difficult to discuss this openly and honestly, both for her and the House gathered. I bid your prayers that we may have a spirit of mutual respect and forbearance for all involved. I do believe that we will do so with sensitivity and concern for all.

Yesterday we  had a discussion on “Incarnation” and “Salvation” as a part of the  “Around One Table” initiative. These were refreshing conversations regarding who we are and what we are to be about. Many of you will be surprised to learn that, for the most part, the House believes we need to be more missional as a Church and begin proclaiming Jesus as the way to salvation.  It remains to be seen where this will go so far as a definitive statement as to who we are as a Church but the conversation has begun. Read more…

[Ed. Note:  I asked the Presiding Bishop about this matter at the press conference at General Convention.  She indicated that the matter, then July 22, was not completed as yet, because bishops had until 25 July to sent in their votes and the Standing Committees could change their votes.  There is no speculation at what the diocese will do now.  They will be forced to hold another election; or like South Carolina after the first ballots on Bishop Mark Lawrence, they can run the same candidate again and hope for a different outcome.  The House of Bishops' members that I spoke with at General Convention believed the consecration would fail because of Thew Forester's theology, and radical re-writing of the Baptismal Office and Covenant expressed therein.  Cheryl M. Wetzel]

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112903_ENG_HTM.htm

By ENS staff, July 27, 2009

the Rev. Kevin Thew Forester, Marquette, MI

[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori on July 27 notified the standing committee of the Diocese of Northern Michigan that the necessary consents to the ordination and consecration of the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester as bishop were not received within the prescribed time period and therefore his election was “null and void.”

In Thew Forrester’s case, standing committees had until July 19 and bishops with jurisdiction had until July 25.

“I have been extraordinarily blessed and honored to walk with my friends from the Diocese of Northern Michigan over these past months as their bishop-elect. I treasure the support they have extended me and my family, as well as that I have received from Hong Kong to Holland and from Great Britain to New Zealand, and indeed from so many throughout The Episcopal Church.  As we live and move and have our being in Christ, there is truly a Holy Wisdom in all that is unfolding, and as St. John of the Cross affirms, a grace in ‘all that happens,’” said Thew Forrester in a statement.

Members of the standing committee couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Thew Forrester, chosen during a special convention on February 21 to succeed James Kelsey who died in June, 2007, had come under intense scrutiny since his election.

Initially, concern centered on Thew Forrester’s status as the only candidate at the convention and the question of whether his practice of Zen Buddhist meditation diluted his commitment to the Christian faith, making him unsuitable to serve as a bishop. That attention led to the internet publication of some of Thew Forrester’s sermons and writings along with a revision he made to the Episcopal Church’s baptismal liturgy, raising further concern among some about his theology.

Supporters said his election adhered to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and were part of a process called mutual ministry, which encourages laity and clergy to lead in partnership. Others said Thew Forrester is a person of strong Christian faith and a thoughtful theologian.

An earlier Episcopal News Service story appeared at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_109244_ENG_HTM.htm

Under the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.11.4 (a)) that apply for all episcopal elections, a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to Thew Forrester’s ordination as bishop within 120 days from the day after notice of his election was sent to them.