ENGLAND: Conservative group denounces consent to Glasspool's election in Los Angeles
Episcopal News Service. March 26, 2010 [032610-03]
Matthew Davies
A conservative evangelical group in the Church of England has censured the Episcopal Church for consenting to the election of Los Angeles Bishop-elect Mary Glasspool, saying the action "confirms" that the U.S. province "is determined to ignore all the repeated appeals of the wider [Anglican] Communion."
Glasspool is the second openly gay partnered priest to be elected a bishop in the Episcopal Church. The first was Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who was elected in 2003. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's office on March 17 confirmed that Glasspool had received the required number of consents from diocesan standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction to her ordination and consecration as a bishop.
The leadership team for Fulcrum, which includes lay and clergy members and one bishop, issued the March 26 statement saying that with its decision the Episcopal Church "as a body has determinedly, perhaps irrevocably, chosen autonomy over 'communion with autonomy and accountability.'"
The statement also called for "clear and decisive action" by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams while also acknowledging that he has "limited powers" within the communion.
The full text of the statement is available here.
In the Episcopal Church, a bishop is elected by lay representatives and all the clergy of a diocese. Then a majority of the church's bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to his or her ordination within 120 days of receiving notice of the election, as required by the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.11.4).
In many other Anglican provinces, particularly those in Africa and England, bishops are appointed rather than elected, resulting in a much less democratic process than in the U.S.-based Episcopal Church. Of all 38 Anglican provinces, the Church of England as an established church is unique in that its diocesan bishops are appointed when the U.K. prime minister selects one of two names put forward by the Crown Nominations Commission. The choice must be endorsed by Queen Elizabeth II.
But Fulcrum said that the Episcopal Church's polity "allows for confusion and assertion in the place of coherent policy and practice," especially in terms of supporting the proposed Anglican covenant, a set of principles intended to bind the Anglican Communion.
Fulcrum said that the Episcopal Church "as a province [is] incapable of making meaningful or credible commitments to the communion about their future conduct. The only hope now is for TEC dioceses to reject TEC's path by committing to the covenant and for such commitment to be recognized by the communion."
While Fulcrum is not alone in voicing concern over the consent to Glasspool's election, other groups and individuals have expressed joy in the decision saying it is cause for celebration.
The Rev. Sharon Ferguson, chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, another U.K.-based group, "enthusiastically welcomed" news of Glasspool's approval.
"Ferguson said in March 22 statement. The Episcopal Church has "demonstrated a commitment to the inclusive gospel of Christ and have recognized the qualities, experience and deep Christian faith which have characterized Mary Glasspool's ministry thus far," she added.
The group said it "hopes that even those who find this to be a decision they cannot accept will join with her in furthering the cause of the gospel in a hurting world."