Okay, imagine you are on a sinking ship. Most of us would be trying to secure all watertight doors, minimize flooding, unload ballast, and prepare the lifeboats. Who in their right mind would want to add more dead weight to the bridge? That would seem to increase the risk of capsizing and taking all hands down to Davy Jones' locker.
During much of this time period Katharine Jefferts Schori served as the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal group (2006-2015), and during her tenure her Episcopal organization shrunk dramatically. At the same time, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego shepherded approximately 7000 members into lifeboats while their Sunday attendance sank by 3500 souls.
So what is the logical thing for Episcopal San Diegans to do in response? This, of course,
They are so pleased that they released the following statement to the world,
So instead of reaching for a life ring, the sheeple of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego are grasping for a millstone.
They should have signaled the Carpathia with an S.O.S.
I heard a sermon once in which the rector went on and on about how dumb sheep are. I thought then that the rector went overboard, but observing the sheer stupidity of the sheeple of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, I see that he was right.
Or maybe that one needs to be re-written as "All we like lemmings".
Wallace Hartley where are you when I need you?
"In some stories, evil and wicked sailors who died at sea were locked up in the chest (locker) by Davy Jones and had to spend eternity trapped in there."Episcopalians in the Diocese of San Diego may be headed in that direction because their diocese is such a sinking ship. Just take a look at the following plot of membership and Sunday attendance from 2005-2015 (source the Episcopal organization's statistics page),
During much of this time period Katharine Jefferts Schori served as the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal group (2006-2015), and during her tenure her Episcopal organization shrunk dramatically. At the same time, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego shepherded approximately 7000 members into lifeboats while their Sunday attendance sank by 3500 souls.
So what is the logical thing for Episcopal San Diegans to do in response? This, of course,
"Katharine Jefferts Schori to be Assisting Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego"Genius!
They are so pleased that they released the following statement to the world,
"We are excited to announce the selection of the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori as our assisting bishop. Bishop Jefferts Schori will begin her tenure with us on August 13. She will serve three-quarters time performing episcopal functions such as visitations, confirmations, ordinations, and receptions. She will share with the standing committee the task of providing leadership and vision for the diocese and shall generally perform the functions of a diocesan bishop as delegated to her by the standing committee in its capacity as the ecclesiastical authority during the transition. She will work closely with the executive council as well."
So instead of reaching for a life ring, the sheeple of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego are grasping for a millstone.
They should have signaled the Carpathia with an S.O.S.
I heard a sermon once in which the rector went on and on about how dumb sheep are. I thought then that the rector went overboard, but observing the sheer stupidity of the sheeple of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, I see that he was right.
Or maybe that one needs to be re-written as "All we like lemmings".
Wallace Hartley where are you when I need you?
Posts
I am unfamiliar with the term "Assisting Bishop".
ReplyDeleteMaybe a typo or maybe an Episcopal innovation because "Assistant" Bishop is the approved term in the TEc dictionary:
Delete"A bishop who assists the diocesan bishop by providing additional episcopal services. An assistant bishop is appointed by the diocesan bishop, with the approval of the Standing Committee of the diocese. The assistant bishop must already be exercising episcopal jurisdiction as a diocesan bishop, or serving as a suffragan bishop, or a qualified bishop who has previously resigned all previous responsibilities, or a qualified bishop of a church in communion with the Episcopal Church. The assistant bishop serves under the direction of the diocesan bishop, and may not serve beyond the termination of the appointing bishop's jurisdiction. In the nineteenth century, bishops coadjutor in the Episcopal Church were known as assistant bishops."
It would be better imho for the entire diocese to identify such a bishop as an Interim Bishop, and then define the delegation of authority where delegated. However, it is a much stickier wicket with bishops and their authority, presumed or otherwise, and Assisting defines the relationship as no presumption nor guarantee of ecclesiastical authority. In this case, Assisting Bishop is assisting the ecclesiastical authority which is the Standing Committee, which is responsible for the transition process. The assisting bishop's duties (and powers) will need to be clearly spelled out in the transition ministry contract.
Delete"She will share with the standing committee the task of providing leadership and vision for the diocese and shall generally perform the functions of a diocesan bishop as delegated to her by the standing committee in its capacity as the ecclesiastical authority during the transition." What transition? Is the present bishop departing?
ReplyDeleteYep
DeleteNote: Bishop Mathes concluded his tenure as bishop on July 1, 2017 with a farewell Eucharist at Saint Paul's Episcopal Cathedral
ReplyDeleteIf she is not an interim bishop does that means that as "assisting bishop", she is transitioning to become bishop of the diocese? Am I slow to get this?
ReplyDeleteThey are making the rules up as they go along. Standard revisionist fare.
ReplyDeleteIf she provides the same kind of leadership and vision she did to the national church, the results can be expected to be similar. This should be labeled the Anglican Church development program, as surely this will spur Anglican growth in the area.
ReplyDelete