Episode 86: Anglican Unscripted, November 23, 2013 November 24, 2013
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican.TV, Church of England, GAFCON, Quincy, The Episcopal Church.Tags: Justin Welby
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Anglican Unscripted is the only video newscast in the Anglican Church. Every Week Kevin, George, Allan and Peter bring you news and prospective from around the globe.
Show Index
00:00 GAFCON and the ABC
09:56 Allan Haley and TEC Legal Fantasy
22:00 Raceophobic Church
28:56 GAFCON Down Under
42:52 Marriage
4719: Extinct COE
59:00 Closing and Bloopers
Episode 85: Anglican Unscripted, November 14, 2013 November 14, 2013
Posted by geoconger in Anglican.TV, Church of England, Disaster Relief, Property Litigation, Quincy, The Episcopal Church.comments closed
Published on Nov 14, 2013
Anglican Unscripted is the only video newscast in the Anglican Church. Every Week Kevin, George, Allan and Peter bring you news and prospective from around the globe.
Helping the Philippines: 00:00
GAFCON Update 04:16
Fleeing the Churches 16:00
Legal Update 20:06
GAFCON in England 30:07
Closing and Bloopers 47:15
TEC loses battle for Quincy: Anglican Ink, September 10, 2013 September 12, 2013
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Ink, Property Litigation, Quincy, The Episcopal Church.comments closed
An Illinois circuit court has rejected the national Episcopal Church’s claim that it is a “hierarchical church” under law, handing down a ruling that supports the Diocese of Quincy’s secession from the national church.
Details of the court’s ruling have yet to be analyzed by Anglican Ink, but the Illinois ruling appears to have rejected the legal arguments brought by the national Episcopal Church in its litigation with departing dioceses and congregations — upholding the neutral principles of law doctrine over deference to the denominational polity of the church.
The suit came On 7 Nov 2008 delegates to the diocesan synod meeting at St John’s Church in Quincy, Illinois, approved the second and final reading of a constitutional amendment withdrawing from the Episcopal Church. The vote was 41-14 in the clergy order and 54-12 by the laity. A second resolution affiliating the diocese with the Southern Cone pending the creation of a Third Province in North America was approved 46-4 in the clergy order and 55-8 in the lay order.
Read it all at Anglican Ink.
Chicago absorbs Quincy diocese: The Church of England Newspaper, June 16, 2013 p 7. June 20, 2013
Posted by geoconger in Chicago, Church of England Newspaper, Quincy, The Episcopal Church.Tags: diocesan mergers
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The synod of Episcopal Diocese of Chicago has voted to absorb the loyalist remnant of the Diocese of Quincy. On 8 June the Diocese of Chicago agreed to accept the 755 Quincy Episcopalians and their worshiping communities back into the diocese.
On November 7 2008 the Quincy synod approved the second and final reading of a constitutional amendment withdrawing from the Episcopal Church and voted to affiliate with the Church of the Province of the Southern Cone. Quincy later became one of the founding member dioceses of the Anglican Church of North America.
One of the US Church’s smallest dioceses, Quincy comprised 24 congregations spread across rural west central Illinois. Traditionally Anglo-Catholic, Quincy was one of three dioceses in the Episcopal Church that did not ordain women clergy at the time of its secession.
A briefing paper presented to the Chicago meeting stated that under the reunification agreement, the present provisional bishop of Quincy would become an assisting bishop in Chicago, and the clergy transferred to the Diocese of Chicago. St Paul’s Cathedral in Peoria (pictured) would revert to parish status and the Diocese of Chicago would assume all property and other assets owned or claimed by the Diocese of Quincy.
Approximately $4 million in assets and title to the property of the 22 breakaway congregations is the subject of litigation between the Episcopal Church and the ACNA diocese. The Episcopal Church has argued the 2008 synod vote to quit the Episcopal Church was unlawful and that that the remnant group is the true diocese entitled to ownership of all diocesan and parish assets. A decision is pending in April’s civil court proceedings over the secession.
Last week’s vote in Chicago is likely to presage the fate of the remnant groups in the dioceses of San Joaquin and South Carolina as none of these groups are financially self-sustaining.
According to a press release from the Episcopal News Service, the reunion of the two dioceses will be governed by Episcopal Church Canon 1.10.6, which allows the reunion of dioceses that were previously a single entity, but which had split apart, and now wanted to come together again, rather than Article V of the Constitution, which governs cases of two existing dioceses seeking to merge. The canon allows the dioceses to merge by vote of the bishops and standing committees of the church dioceses, while the constitution requires a vote by the General Convention.
The General Convention divided the Diocese of Illinois into three, creating the Diocese of Quincy from the Western portion of the state and Springfield from the South. In 1884 the Diocese of Illinois was renamed the Diocese of Chicago. The Diocese of Springfield has expressed no desire to merge with Chicago.
Anglican Unscripted Episode 74, June 4, 2013 June 4, 2013
Posted by geoconger in Anglican.TV, Church of England, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, House of Lords, Property Litigation, Quincy, Southern Baptist Convention, The Episcopal Church.Tags: gay marriage, scouting
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Episode 74 tracks the latest news from Britain and their House of Lords Same-Sex Marriage debate — and you won’t believe what the Archbishop of Canterbury said. Your hosts also talk about the latest decision from the Boy Scouts and how it will be worked out around the country and the churches.
You won’t be surprised to learn about the new obedience rules which are being discussed for new TEC Bishops. What will surprise you is the response.
Peter Ould explains how the House of Lords operates and AS Haley explains (in very frank terms) why you don’t sign an Accord with the Devil. Comments to AnglicanUnscripted@gmail.com Tweet us at #anglicantv and #au74
VIDEO INDEX
00:03 According to God’s Holy Ordinance
04:16 Be Prepared
11:47 Bishop’s Club
16:06 Marriage
27:38 Devils Accord
37:08 John Vs Jacobus
41:32 Been There Already
45:42 Closing
Anglican Unscripted, Episode 71, May 10. 2013 May 14, 2013
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Church of Aotearoa New Zealand & Polynesia, Anglican Church of North America, Anglican.TV, Los Angeles, Property Litigation, Quincy, San Joaquin, The Episcopal Church.Tags: Diocese of Niagara, Michael Bird, St James Newport Beach
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In this week’s Episode your host talk about the latest legal heartbreak in California. Also this week, there is late breaking international news about a Bishop who accidentally invokes Scripture. AU’s Legal segment covers all of the court cases in the US, and Kevin interviews David Jenkins about his lawsuit from Bishop Byrd. #AU71 Comments: AnglicanUnscripted@gmail.com
Settlement reached in Episcopal misconduct cases: The Church of England Newspaper, January 20, 2013 p 6. January 25, 2013
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Ecclesiastical Trials, Ecclesiology, Fort Worth, Quincy, The Episcopal Church.Tags: Fort Worth 9, Katharine Jefferts Schori
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A settlement agreement has been reached in the disciplinary proceedings of 9 American bishops accused of misconduct for holding and propounding contrary views on church history and polity to those of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.
Last week representatives of the accusers: Bishops C. Wallis Ohl, Jr., and John Buchanan, met with representatives of the accused: Bishops Peter H. Beckwith, Maurice M. Benitez, John W. Howe, Paul E. Lambert, William H. Love, D. Bruce MacPherson, Daniel H. Martins, Edward L. Salmon, Jr, and James M. Stanton, three observers from the House of Bishops: Mary Gray-Reeves, Edward S. Little, Michael Milliken to sign a “conciliation” agreement.
The nine had been charged with fraud, financial misconduct, teaching false doctrine and failing to inform on their fellow bishops who held opinions on church order contrary to those advocated by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. The form the misconduct took was in having endorsed an amicus brief filed in the Texas Supreme Court in the Diocese of Fort Worth case and signing an affidavit in the Diocese of Quincy case.
The text of the settlement agreement — mediated by Prof. John Douglass of the University Of Richmond School of Law following a 8-9 Jan 2013 meeting — has not been released so far as it must be signed by all parties and received the imprimatur of Bishop Jefferts Schori.
A statement from the national church’s press office noted the proceedings were closed and no news bulletins would be released by the parties, however sources at the meeting report the final document is an “amicable” resolution to the dispute.
Conciliator appointed for Fort Worth & Quincy cases: Anglican Ink, November 20, 2012 November 20, 2012
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Ink, Canon Law, Fort Worth, Quincy, The Episcopal Church.Tags: Clayton Matthews, Fort Worth 7, John Douglass
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John Douglass of the University of Richmond School of Law
The Presiding Bishop’s office has appointed a former federal prosecutor and law school dean to serve as a mediator in the Fort Worth and Quincy cases.
On 19 Nov 2012 the Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews wrote two letters to the nine bishops subject to complaints of misconduct for having express opinions contrary. Bishop Matthews informed the nine that Prof. John Douglass had been appointed to be “conciliator” between the accused and the complainants.
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
Panel of Reference report on the Fort Worth 7 finds misconduct: Anglican Ink, October 22, 2012 October 23, 2012
Posted by geoconger in 77th General Convention, Anglican Ink, Fort Worth, Quincy.Tags: D. Bruce MacPherson, Daniel H. Martins, Edward L Salmon Jr., F. Clayton Matthews, James M Stanton, John W. Howe, Maurice M. Benitez, Paul E. Lambert, Peter H. Beckwith, William H. Love
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Bishop F Clayton Matthews
A Reference Panel has found that a prima facie case of misconduct can be made against nine serving and retired bishops of the Episcopal Church for having endorsed an amicus brief presented to the Texas Supreme Court, or for having given testimony in a trial court proceeding involving the Diocese of Quincy.
The Rt Rev. Peter H. Beckwith, the Rt Rev Maurice M. Benitez, the Rt Rev John W. Howe, the Rt Rev Paul E. Lambert, the Rt Rev William H. Love, the Rt Rev D. Bruce MacPherson, the Rt Rev Daniel H. Martins, the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr, and the Rt Rev James M. Stanton have been informed the Reference Panel had reviewed the charges brought against them by the provisional bishops of Fort Worth and Quincy and by lay and clergy accusers.
In an 19 Oct 2012 email Bishop Matthews wrote:
“The Reference Panel unanimously decided according to IV. 6.sec.8 that the complaint will proceed with option (c), Conciliation pursuant to Canon IV.10.”
Under the Title IV disciplinary canons, if the intake officer finds that if a prima facie case can be made against the accused – if the charges if proven true would constitute an offense – the proceedings are passed on to a Reference Panel for action.
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
Show trial set for 9 bishops: Anglican Ink, July 6, 2012 July 6, 2012
Posted by geoconger in 77th General Convention, Anglican Ink, Fort Worth, Property Litigation, Quincy, The Episcopal Church.Tags: C Wallis Ohl Jr, John C. Buchanan
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A letter accusing nine bishops of disloyalty to the Episcopal Church and violation of its canons is scheduled for discussion on 6 July 2012 during a closed session of the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops meeting at the 77th General Convention in Indianapolis.
The letter has been described as “end run” around the Title IV canons, one bishop told Anglican Ink, that seeks a political solution to a judicial process.
On 5 July the Rt. Rev. C. Wallis Ohl, Jr., Provisional Bishop of Fort Worth, and the Rt. Rev. John C. Buchanan, Provisional Bishop of Quincy wrote to the presiding bishop asking the House of Bishops to “set the record straight regarding recent statements by certain bishops in our Church.”
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
Bishops Salmon, Beckwith, and MacPherson charged with misconduct: Anglican Ink, June 30, 2012 June 30, 2012
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Ink, Property Litigation, Quincy.Tags: D. Bruce MacPherson, Edward L Salmon Jr., Peter H. Beckwith
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Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against three bishops of the Episcopal Church under the provisions of Title IV for having endorsed a legal pleading filed in the Quincy lawsuit.
On 28 June 2012, the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr., former Bishop of South Carolina and Dean of Nashotah House seminary, the Rt. Rev. Peter H. Beckwith, former Bishop of Springfield, and th Rt. Rev. D. Bruce MacPherson, Bishop of Western Louisiana received an email from the Rt. Rev. F. Clayton Matthews stating that the charges had been leveled against them.
“As the Intake Officer for the Church, I am obliged to inform you that a complaint has been received against you for your action in signing affidavits in opposition to a motion for Summary Judgment made by representatives of The Episcopal Diocese of Quincy and The Episcopal Church in the Fall of 2011 to secure the Diocesan financial assets from a breakaway group. In the next few weeks, I will initiate a disciplinary process according to Title IV Canon 6 Sec. 3 & 4 of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church,” Bishop Matthews wrote.
The bishops have not been informed what canon they violated. But they appear to be accused of violating the canons for having filed a brief in opposition to the national church’s motion for summary judgment in the case of the Diocese of Quincy v. the Episcopal Church.
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
Anglican Unscripted Episode 22, December 22, 2011 December 22, 2011
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Church of Korea, Anglican.TV, Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Pittsburgh, Quincy.comments closed
This last week of Advent Kevin and George bring news from Sudan, North Korea and Pittsburgh. Allan Haley brings good news from Quincy in our legal segment, And, Episode 22 includes some videos to bring a little perspective to Christmas.
Court victory for Quincy in church property dispute: Anglican Ink, December 21, 2011 December 21, 2011
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Church of North America, Anglican Ink, Property Litigation, Quincy.Tags: Bishop Alberto Morales
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Bishop Alberto Morales of Quincy
An Illinois court has dismissed the claim that as a “matter of law” the Episcopal Church is a hierarchical with dioceses being subordinate to the national church, rejecting a motion for summary judgment brought by the national church against the breakaway Diocese of Quincy.
The 16 Dec 2011 decision by Judge Thomas Ortbal of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Adams County, Ill., now sends the dispute between the Diocese of Quincy and the national church and its allies to trial. The court also concluded that even if the church is hierarchical, that would not end the matter because a “neutral principles of law” approach should be applied to resolving the property ownership dispute.
Judge Ortbal’s decision – which cannot be challenged on appeal at this stage of the proceeding without his permission – may well be a legal blow to the national church’s litigation strategy in its fight with other breakaway dioceses as it cuts the legs out from under the national church’s chief legal argument.
Read it all in Anglican Ink.
Pittsburgh’s ACNA clergy will not be defrocked: CEN 10.09.09 p 8. October 13, 2009
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Pittsburgh, Quincy.comments closed
| First published in The Church of England Newspaper.
Pittsburgh clergy who wish to transfer from the Episcopal Church to the Anglican Church in North America will be permitted to leave the diocese without being deposed, the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church affiliated Diocese of Pittsburgh have declared. The Oct 5 decision by the “Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Episcopal Church” to allow clergy of the “Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Anglican Communion)” the opportunity to withdraw from the church without legal sanction stands in contrast to the recent actions in the Dioceses of San Joaquin and Quincy, where clergy who seceded with the dioceses from the Episcopal Church have been defrocked. |
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In a letter from the loyalist Standing Committee clergy are asked to state whether they wish to remain active in the Episcopal Church or be released. “We’re doing this for pastoral reasons,” Standing Committee president, the Rev James Simons, said. “We do not want to see our priestly brothers and sisters deposed.”
In a statement released on the loyalist diocese’s website, the Standing Committee said it had “initiated the release on its own,” but consulted with Bishop Kenneth Price, who has been nominated to become the diocese’s provisional bishop.
Bishop Price stated: “As the Standing Committee worked through this necessary action, I was painfully aware that they were not just talking about a list of clergy, but friends of long standing. For this reason I am grateful the canons provide this ‘softer’ method of allowing those who wish to depart from the Episcopal Church to do so legally without us making a judgment on their ordination.”
“This does not affect your ordination, which you may register with whatever entity you choose,” the Standing Committee said.
In the Episcopal Church a deposition removes a priest or deacon from Holy Orders, while a release ends a clergyman’s licence to officiate in the Episcopal Church.
On Sept 22 the secessionist Diocese of Quincy denounced the decision by the loyalist faction of the central Illinois diocese under provisional Bishop John Buchanan to depose seven priests, and inhibit 34 others — who will soon be deposed unless they recant their secession.
The president of the standing committee, Fr John Spencer said: “The supposed inhibitions and depositions of our clergy have no bearing on those clergy, or on their ministries, since our diocese is no longer under the authority of the Episcopal Church.”
In late August, Bishop Buchanan wrote to seven priests, including Fr Spencer, accepting their “renunciation of the ordained ministry” and declared they were deprived of all the authority conveyed in ordination.
“We did leave the Episcopal Church,” Fr Spencer said, “but we didn’t renounce our ordination vows, or abandon our ministries.”
Quincy Dioceses files lawsuit against Episcopal Church: CEN 4.03.09 p 6. April 4, 2009
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Property Litigation, Quincy.comments closed
The breakaway Diocese of Quincy has filed suit against the Episcopal Church in an Illinois Court, asking the court to clarify its rights to the name and assets of the diocese.
“We hoped from the beginning to avoid any legal action,” the President of Quincy’s Standing Committee, Fr. John Spencer said on March 31. However, preliminary moves by the national church to seize the diocese’s bank accounts prompted the court filing, he said.
Attorneys for the national church in January wrote to the bank that manages the diocese’s endowment funds, stating that the breakaway diocese no longer had a claim on the funds and that its officers should not be permitted to disperse the funds. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori wrote the members of the Standing Committee in February informing them that she no longer “recognized” them as officers of the diocese.
However, under the church’s canons, “she has no authority to make such a judgment,” Fr Spencer said. “The governing officers of each diocese have always been elected at the local level, and the General Convention officers in New York have no say in the matter,” he argued.
Publication of the Episcopal Church’s national legal strategy in March that would “craft a lawsuit that is trim and focused on the critical claims involving ownership and possession of diocesan property” in the breakaway dioceses prompted Quincy’s decision to seek protection from the courts.
“It was clear,” Fr. Spencer said, “that a law suit was heading our way. From suits they have filed elsewhere, we know Episcopal Church leaders will start by trying to seize our funds, and eventually try to take our churches.”
At its November 2008 synod, Quincy joined Pittsburgh, Fort Worth and San Joaquin in quitting the Episcopal Church and affiliating with the Province of the Southern Cone, and is expected to be one of the founding dioceses of the third province Anglican Church in North America at its June convocation in Bedford, Texas. The diocese is currently without a bishop, as the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman stepped down from office last year.
Quincy is asking the Illinois courts for a “declaratory judgment,” that lays out the rights, duties and obligations of the diocese under law—a process that may take several years, should the parties appeal unfavorable decisions. The Quincy case raised to 57 the number of property lawsuits between dioceses, parishes and the national church that have appeared before US state courts.
Diocese of Quincy votes to leave Episcopal Church in bishop’s absence: CEN 11.16.08 November 16, 2008
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Quincy, Secession.comments closed
| The Diocese of Quincy has quit the Episcopal Church and affiliated with the Province of the Southern Cone, making it the third diocese to quit the American church over its leftward theological drift.
On Nov 7 delegates to the diocesan synod meeting at St John’s Church in Quincy, Illinois, approved the second and final reading of a constitutional amendment withdrawing from the Episcopal Church. The vote was 41-14 in the clergy order and 54-12 by the laity. A second resolution affiliating the diocese with the Southern Cone pending the creation of a Third Province in North America was approved 46-4 in the clergy order and 55-8 in the lay order. One of the US church’s smallest dioceses, Quincy comprises 24 congregations spread across rural west central Illinois. Traditionally Anglo-Catholic, Quincy was one of three dioceses in the Episcopal Church that did not ordain women clergy. Four congregations are expected to remain within the Episcopal Church. Read it all in The Church of England Newspaper. |
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Bishop of Quincy to step down: CEN 11.07.08 p 7. November 7, 2008
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Quincy, Secession.comments closed
Anglo-Catholic leader, the Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman, the Bishop of Quincy has announced his retirement due to ill health with effect on Nov 1. The announcement by the leader of Forward in Faith in the United States comes one week before his diocesan synod will vote on whether to secede from the Episcopal Church.
The Oct 30 statement said that after conferring with his family, the diocesan leaders and his physicians he would retire from “his administrative duties as executive officer of the Diocese.”
However, he stated he planned on remaining in the “Diocese for some time and will make himself available, under arrangement with the Standing Committee, to perform Episcopal acts and provide spiritual counsel to members of the Diocese.”
Bishop Ackerman has been plagued by ill health for several years, and was unable to preside at the 2007 session of diocesan synod that took the first steps towards secession from the Episcopal Church. A leading figure among the conservative bishops at Lambeth as well as the June Gafcon Conference in Jerusalem, the bishop’s decision to retire is not being seen by conservatives as a retreat from battle for the American church, but a withdrawal due to ill health.
In his statement announcing his retirement Bishop Ackerman noted he had “no intention of abandoning the diocese but will continue to provide spiritual and pastoral support as asked by the Standing Committee.”
Forward in Faith added that Bishop Ackerman would remain in office as President of the North American chapter, and that it was “his intention during his retirement to devote himself more fully than has been possible hitherto to this ministry.”
The American House of Bishops must vote to accept Bishop Ackerman’s resignation, before it takes official effect. Should his diocese vote to quit the Episcopal Church on Nov 8—as is expected—and Bishop Ackerman offer his pastoral services to the breakaway dioceses, given the current mood of the US House of Bishops in the wake of the deposition of Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan, it is likely that Bishop Ackerman’s resignation will be refused and he would be brought to trial for “abandonment of communion” and deposed, one serving American bishop told The Church of England Newspaper.
Bishop’s inhibition lifted: CEN 9.26.08 p 8. September 28, 2008
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Quincy.comments closed
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has lifted the suspension of a retired bishop for officiating at a service at a breakaway congregation in San Diego, after he agreed to submit to the church’s discipline.
On Sept 9, Bishop Katharine Jefforts Schori lifted the inhibition or suspension of Bishop Edward MacBurney and admonished him “not to repeat the actions which caused the presentment to be brought against him.” She also directed him to apologize “in writing to the Bishop of San Diego for not respecting his authority as the bishop of that diocese.”
In June 2007 Bishop MacBurney held a confirmation service for a San Diego congregation that had quit the diocese and joined the province of the Southern Cone. Bishop James Mathes of San Diego brought charges against Bishop MacBurney and in January the church’s Title IV Review Committee issued an indictment against the retired Bishop of Quincy. Pending his November trial, Bishop MacBurney was prohibited from functioning as a priest.
The plea deal negotiated between the Presiding Bishop’s office and lawyers for Bishop MacBurney allows the retired bishop to remain unmolested within the Episcopal Church.
Bishop Mathes wrote his diocese on Sept 10 that he was satisfied with the Presiding Bishop’s decision. The process “held a bishop of the church accountable to his colleagues and this was a good thing,” he told the Episcopal News Service.
At last month’s Lambeth Conference, Bishop Mathes sought out Bishop Gregory Venables, primate of the Southern Cone to discuss visitations in his diocese. On July 31, Bishop Mathes wrote to his diocese that Bishop Venables “apologized for not contacting me before making incursions into the Diocese of San Diego. Over the past two years, Bishop Venables together with Bishop Frank Lyons of the same province, have made numerous episcopal visits to our diocese without my knowledge or consent. I was heartened by his apology.”
On Aug 1, Bishop Mathes clarified his remarks, telling a news conference, “I want to emphasize that this is a start,” Bishop Mathes said. “[Bishop Venables] did not say he would stop making visits, but he did agree to continue talking and to work with another person.”
When questioned about the encounter, Bishop Venables explained that he had had a “frank, tranquil and calm” conversation with Bishops Mathes and had explained his reasons for accepting the breakaway congregations into the Southern Cone.
However, he was “not a stepping back” from his support for the breakaway groups, Bishop Venables said.
Quincy diocese ‘likely’ to leave Episcopal Church: CEN 8.31.08 August 31, 2008
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Quincy.comments closed
| The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Quincy has sent a 35-page report to all members of the diocese, responding to questions and concerns over plans for the diocese to quit the Episcopal Church.
On Nov 7-8 the Quincy synod will have the second reading of a constitutional amendment that would permit the diocese to withdraw from the Episcopal Church and affiliate with another province of the Anglican Communion. While no formal resolution so far has been submitted to the synod that would seek formal separation, the president of the standing committee, the Rev James Marshall told The Living Church magazine such a move was likely. Read it all in The Church of England Newspaper. |
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Traditionalist press briefing at Lambeth August 1, 2008
Posted by geoconger in Anglican Album (Photos), Church of the Province of West Africa, Lambeth 2008, Quincy.comments closed
The Rt Rev Keith Ackerman, SSC of Quincy and the Rt Rev. Matthias Mededues-Badohu of Ho (Ghana) addressing the media on July 31 at the Lambeth Conference
The Bishop of Quincy March 31, 2008
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The Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman, SSC
Bishop gauging support for move to depose traditionalist bishop: CEN 3.20.08 p 7. March 21, 2008
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, House of Bishops, Quincy.comments closed
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is gauging her strength among the members of the US House of Bishops to see if she has sufficient political capital to depose traditionalist Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh before the July Lambeth Conference.
Bishop Schori’s admission came in the same week as word of new litigation against a retired conservative bishop was announced. The former Bishop of Quincy, 80-year old Edward MacBurney (pictured) is charged with violating the church’s canons by visiting a non-Episcopal church in the diocese of San Diego without the permission of the local Episcopal bishop.
Speaking at a March 12 press conference following the House of Bishops’ trial of Bishops John-David Schofield and William Cox for “abandonment of communion” of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Schori said she would now move against Bishop Duncan and distribute copies of the investigation into Bishop Duncan’s statments to the bishops. This would allow her to gauge the mood of the house for a trial as early as May for the conservative leader.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on March 15 that Bishop Schori’s lawyer, David Booth Beers sent an email to a number of Pittsburgh church leaders last week explaining the decision. Bishop Schori would “poll the House of Bishops in April to see when the House would next like to meet to discuss, among other things, the certification respecting Bishop Duncan. It is not accurate to say that she is seeking approval to proceed; rather, she seeks the mind of the House as to when to proceed,” he said.
Whether Bishop Schori will be able to rid herself of Bishop Duncan is unclear. The House of Bishop’s failure to conform to its own rules in the trials of Bishop Schofield and Cox, and the reports of wide spread and consistent violations of the Bishop Cox’s right of fair play and due process under the canons by Bishop Schori, strengthens Bishop Duncan’s hand. Under the constitution and canons of the Episcopal Church, 148 votes are needed to depose a bishop for abandonment of communion.
Only 68 active bishops were present at the trial of Bishops Schofield and Cox, as were a further 25 or so retired bishops. To successfully depose Bishop Duncan, Bishop Schori must find a further 50 bishops to get Bishop Duncan..
Bishop MacBurney, however, has not been charged with abandonment of communion at this stage of the ecclesiastical proceedings, but merely with canonical violations. In a statement released by the Diocese of Quincy, his lawyers noted the novelty of the charges against their client as to “whether an Episcopal bishop exercises total control over a certain geographical territory or whether a Bishop merely exercises control over the Episcopal churches within that territory.”
The current Bishop of Quincy, the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman has given his full backing to Bishop MacBurney, saying his actions had been done in “good faith” and were motivated by the claims of conscience. Forward in Faith called the charges “pastorally and politically inept.”
The attack on Bishop MacBurney “will alienate others across the Communion who have not yet grasped the extent of the graceless and totalitarian mindset which now dominates the Episcopal Church,” it said on March 14.
Bishop Jack Iker of Fort Worth and Bishop Keith Ackerman of Quincy December 12, 2007
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American traditionalist diocese holds off secession: CEN 10.26.07 p 6 October 26, 2007
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Quincy.comments closed
The Diocese of Quincy has decided not to quit the Episcopal Church, for now. The synod of the traditionalist diocese, one of three in the US that does not ordain or deploy women clergy, backed away from proposed changes to its constitution that would have led to its secession from the Episcopal Church.
In a statement released after the Oct 19-20 synod meeting, Bishop Keith Ackerman, SSC, said the goal of the diocese was to “to remain in fellowship with the wider Anglican Communion.”
Read it all in The Church of England Newspaper.
Three US Dioceses on the Verge of Quitting: CEN 9.21.07 p 9. September 23, 2007
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Quincy.comments closed
Failure of the US House of Bishops to respond appropriately to the Primates’ Dar es Salaam Communiqué may force three American dioceses to quit the Episcopal Church.
On Sept 11 the dioceses of Pittsburgh and Quincy announced their upcoming diocesan synods would sever their ties to the national Episcopal Church, while a Sept 6 letter from the Bishop of Forth Worth reported “the realignment of the Anglican Communion is well under way.”
Fort Worth Bishop Jack L. Iker reported that the leaders of the conservative movement had had “some very encouraging meetings and conversations” with the leaders of the Global South coalition of Anglican provinces, and were prepared for action.
This week’s House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans would most likely reject the primates’ requests, Bishop Iker said, forcing the diocese “to choose in favor of the Anglican Communion majority at the expense of our historic relationship with the General Convention Church.”
The Diocese of Quincy announced that it too would consider amendments to its bylaws “that would cut its ties with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church if leaders of that church continue to pull away from mainstream Anglicanism.”
“Leaders of the Anglican Communion have repeatedly asked The Episcopal Church to repent and heal the schism they’ve caused in our Communion. The Episcopal Church has simply refused,” Bishop Keith Ackerman said.
Quincy had “gone the extra mile in demonstrating patience,” but there was “no sign” the Episcopal Church would “turn back from the destructive path it is on,” the president of the diocesan standing committee, the Rev. John Spencer, said.
“While we continue to pray for the House [of Bishops], we must also prepare for the very real possibility they will not respond favorably” to the Primates’ communiqué, the president of the Pittsburgh diocesan council, the Rev. David Rucker, said.
The proposed legislation would allow Pittsburgh to create parishes outside its geographical boundaries, welcoming any “parish formed and desiring union with the diocese.” The diocese will also seek to allow it the option of withdrawing from the Episcopal Church and affiliate with “such province of the Anglican Communion as is by diocesan canon specified.”
Mr. Rucker said Pittsburgh hoped the House of Bishops would act in such a way as to make these “votes unnecessary”, but was prepared to act if they did not.
Conger 