Walkabout Hokey Pokey

The walkabouts were an interesting experience, but I couldn't heelp but think about "Doing the Harry Potter,"



Instead I got treated to the real Hokey Pokey:

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out;
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

This past weekend we saw what is commonly called in politics "the great move towards the middle." As election day nears, real politicians know that they have to try to attract moderate voters. My impression of our three liberal candidates for the next bishop of EDUSC was that they were tripping over their their albs as they raced to say whatever it took to convince people that they were really "moderates." It was an embarrassing time for this observant pewster to see these men shed their liberal clothing and expose themselves, not as the moderates they wished to seen as, but as sorry politicians. Perhaps I am being too harsh on David Thompson. He, for one, at least revealed his true liberal nature in his answers to the question of D025 and C056 by saying in moderate style "Yes, Maybe" he would consent to partnered gay bishops or clergy as well as SSBs, for if and when they are authorized, he would bring it back to the diocese, and see how it would be implemented. He also said that he “sees sexual orientation as a gift from God.” Knowing that would not go over well, he added that, if elected bishop, he would have conferences so we “could understand one another.” We have all heard that before. That is the famous "listening process" which invariably drags a diocese leftward. That was still the boldest moment in an otherwise ineffectual presentation which brought out the indecisiveness that I had seen in his earlier answers to the search committee. Points for honesty to Thompson however.

I have no sympathy any longer for the next two men. They appear guilty of trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the sheep in the audience. Such behavior alone should disqualify them for the position of bishop. Integrity was one of the most important qualities our diocesan profile (p.32) pointed to in our choice of a bishop. Let's see what I mean.

Andrew Waldo+ when asked about open communion being practiced in his parish said that he was “a vocal critic for 10 yrs in his diocese,” but the movement came to Minnesota, and there was a great wave of parishes adopting communion of the unbaptized. He said that his parish decided to “call all seekers” to the table as a compromise, and he tried to woo us by creating an analogy to the 1928 prayer book. I thought this was a lame attempt at pandering to moderates who might mistake him for a 1928 Prayer Book type. Since no follow up questions were allowed, I could not ask him to identify which service at his church uses the 1928 Prayer Book.
Then he said that he would not “foist it” (open communion) on us. Let me see, he was against it, then caved in under the pressure of the people around him, and he wants us to believe that he can be trusted under pressure? Does he fit our profile's requirement that our bishop, "Have a strong theological background, interpreting the Gospel and standing on Christian principles, even if standing alone" (p.33)?
Reports from one of the other rooms indicate that he claimed that if he had been at GC 2009, he would have voted "No" to D025! I don't buy it, this coming from a man who claims as old friend and mentor none other than Bishop Gene Robinson. Does anyone not believe that +Robinson could have persuaded this old friend to say "Yes."
Read the profile again,

"Be of the highest integrity..."

And then in closing, he said he can hold left and right together. I believe he is referring to Minnesota Left and Minnesota Right which have no relevance to EDUSC.
He was not asked about his parish's dropping average Sunday attendance, to me that sounds like even the Minnesota Right can not be held by Waldo+.

Judging from the decline in the Diocese of Minnesota (remember he admits they let their very own camp and conference center "die"), can anyone honestly believe that importing one of their liberal rectors into EDUSC will turn around the decline here? A vote for Waldo+ would be a huge mistake for the future welfare of the Episcopal church in Upper South Carolina.

That leaves liberals forced to consider Philip Linder+. His presentation should have made even the most die hard liberal extremely suspicious. He was the one candidate who spoke badly of the other candidates when he said, “I am ready, we do not have time to wait for someone to get to know us.” He was of course referring to the other candidates from outside this diocese who had mentioned in their introductory remarks that they were still learning about us. Cheap, cheap, shot Phil. That was unbecoming of a bishop.

"Be of the highest integrity..."

And then there was his famous quote to the large group,

“I am a passionate moderate” and a "believer in the Via Media.”

For one thing, he has shown by his op-ed pieces in "The State" newspaper, and his vote for D025, as well as his staffing of Trinity Cathedral that he is passionate about "full inclusion," which is not being moderate in any way shape or form. This was the big bold faced lie that should have resulted in a Joe Wilson moment for this pewster who was too shocked and too busy taking notes to do anything but to sit quietly and think, "the Lord's will be done."
For another thing, a "passionate moderate" is an oxymoron. Such a creature, if one could be found, would be an indecisive, directionless, non-leader, yet Linder+ says he wants to lead us. The only direction I see him leading us is to continued diminution.

When I heard all about how he would transfer the methods that he has been using at Trinity Cathedral to the wider diocese, I had to recall the falling demographics of the cathedral and thought, "No, that is not the kind of success that we need!"

And then there was his saying that he had a “deep sense of call.” He is the one candidate who says he was "persuaded" by his wife and fellow clergy and not "called" in the first place! Then the "deep sense of call" called him (I wonder if it was a phone call?) to conveniently remove his name from the selection process when rumors surfaced that he might not make the final cut. After the final slate of candidates was announced, the "deep sense of call" must have phoned him and said, "You can beat these guys." Eventually his wife persuaded him that the "Spirit was really calling." This is not a "deep sense" of call. The truth may never be known about the Linder Hokey Pokey, but a partially truthful answer might have been that discerning God's call has been very, very difficult for him, but he wouldn't say that.

"Be of the highest integrity..."

Finally he felt he was qualified because of his “strong knowledge of our diocese.” Does that mean that he was not qualified when he was a nominee for Bishop of Eastern Tennessee in 1997? That “strong knowledge of our diocese” can't be because of any actual work he has done on the diocesan level or because of site visits to the churches. I had never even heard of him until this election. When was the last time you saw him at your church? How much time has he put in with his own convocation? Oh, Joe Wilson where were you?

I also need to know, what self-respecting liberal would vote for a priest who lives in a gated community?

"Be of the highest integrity..."

You put your backside in,
You put your backside out;
You put your backside in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!