Chipping Away at the Autonomy of Episcopal Dioceses? 815 to Standardize Bishop Elections?

In an attempt to avoid having another Bishop with a substance abuse problem like Heather Cook commit vehicular manslaughter, the Episcopal Sect did what they do best, they created a commission, a "Commission on Impairment and Leadership".

Their full report to the House of Deputies can be seen here, but I want to point out something that may be the camel's nose sniffing under the tent flap of diocesan autonomy.

"We recommend that the bishop with oversight over the Office for Pastoral Development, drawing on the research from this commission, establish a standardized process for conducting episcopal elections." 

Whoa! While this is intended to detect impaired priests, the language is so broad that I wonder if it might spell the end to the possibility that any conservative minded bishops be elected in the Episcopal Sect in the future.

In order to soften the blow, the Commission promises that dioceses will maintain independence in discernment.

"The commission recognizes the diversity and unique context of every diocese, and we are not recommending that the church adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to episcopal elections. Nor do we wish to diminish in any way the independence needed in any given diocese to effectively discern what might be needed in a new bishop for that diocese."

Yeah, right. I can foresee a recommended set of screening questions for candidates to the office of Bishop that go beyond just digging into substance abuse problems. But not to worry, 

"We do believe, however, that establishing a standardized process based on best practices can be tailored to meet the particular characteristics of a given diocese and that doing so can insure that the key components to effective screening and discernment will not be lost in the process." 

So what kind of standardized procedures does the Commission foresee?

"Such a standardized process for episcopal elections may include: 

a. Extensive and substantial orientation with all diocesan leadership with regard to best practices for episcopal elections, including education and training in recognizing and addressing issues of impairment. 

"Best practices" is concerning to me. Who determines what "best" is? Might the election of Gene Robinson be in the running for one of the best ever?

b. Trained consultants to provide informed and consistent guidance, based on best practices, to bishops, standing committees, search committees, and all other parties in the episcopal election process, including checklists and competent counsel for recognizing and addressing any issues with addiction or impairment that may emerge during the course of their work."

"Trained consultants" have a way of becoming trained "indoctrinators". Those "trained consultants" will likely have gained, as part of their training, the ability to sniff out not just the results of a breathalyzer test, but to also detect a candidate for Bishop who might go rogue and attempt to take his diocese out of the sect.

These recommendations could be the beginning of a new Episcopal federalism.

Beware the tentacles of 815.