Conger

The US Presiding Bishop has threatened the Bishop of Fort Worth with legal censure eight days before his diocese debates adopting a secession clause at its synod meeting today.

In a letter released last Friday, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori stated she was “grieved” by the proposed legislation that would allow the diocese to quit the Episcopal Church, and noted that in her view such an action would “violate the Church’s Constitution.”

Bishop Iker’s “statements and actions in recent months demonstrate an intention to lead [his] diocese into a position that would purportedly permit it to depart from the Episcopal Church,” Bishop Schori wrote.

She urged him to desist and to use his offices to counsel synod to step back from secession.

If he did not, “I shall regrettably be compelled to see that appropriate canonical steps are promptly taken to consider whether you have abandoned the Communion of this Church — by actions and substantive statements, however, they may be phrased — and whether you have committed canonical offences that warrant disciplinary action.”

Bishop Iker responded that he would not be cowed.

Bishop Schori’s charge that he was abandoning the Communion was “baseless” as “I have abandoned nothing, and I have violated no canons,” he said. Bishop Iker stated it was “highly inappropriate” for Bishop Schori to “misuse [her] office in an attempt to intimidate and manipulate this diocese.”

“The threatening tone of your open letter.” he wrote on Nov 12, made no attempt at “reconciliation, mediation, or even dialogue” but was designed to “intimidate.”

Twenty-five years ago the “newly formed Diocese of Fort Worth voluntarily voted to enter into union with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. If circumstances warrant it, we can likewise, by voluntary vote, terminate that relationship,” he said.

Bishop Schori’s letter would likely produce the opposite effect than was intended, he noted, saying “your missive will now be one of the factors that our Convention will consider as we determine the future course of this diocese.”