FORT WORTH: Realignment resolution proposed; Iker gives 10 reasons to approve
Episcopal News Service. September 29, 2008 [092908-01]
Mary Frances Schjonberg
Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth Bishop Jack Iker has given the diocese a list of 10 reasons why it should realign with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.
The list comes as a proposed diocesan convention resolution to approve that realignment was posted on the diocesan website. The convention will meet November 14-15 at St. Vincent's Cathedral in Belford, Texas.
The resolution, proposed by the diocese's Committee on Constitution and Canons, appears to go farther than a recommendation approved September 10 by the diocese's Executive Council calling for Fort Worth to become a "member diocese" of the Southern Cone "on a temporary, pastoral basis, until such time as an orthodox Province of the Anglican Communion can be established in North America." That recommendation came from Iker and the Standing Committee.
Iker has said in his list of 10 reasons that, after the realignment, the diocese would "aggressively pursue" formation of a new Anglican province in North America.
Among the reasons Iker cites are the General Convention's consent to the consecration and ordination of Gene Robinson, who has been open about his long-term relationship with another man, as bishop of New Hampshire; "heresies and heterodoxy" that Iker said are allowed in the Episcopal Church; an urgent need to act now or "lose our momentum and lose our God-given opportunity;" an allegation that the Episcopal Church "is coming after us" because he has been warned about the possible consequences of his actions; and a claim that it is mostly older diocesan clergy who oppose realignment while most of those ordained in the last 10 years -- "the voice of the future of this diocese," Iker calls them -- support the move.
The realignment resolution and Iker's list were issued on the eve of what Iker has called "an intentional 40-day period of prayerful discernment" to be concluded the week prior to the diocesan convention.
"I will not force any of you to comply with this request," Iker wrote in his "pastoral request" earlier this month. "At this very tense and troubled time in the life of our Church, I am simply asking each of you to respect and be guided by my pastoral direction and leadership as your bishop by leading your congregation(s) in this discernment program. Ultimately, no one from outside can tell you and your people what you should decide is the best way forward for your congregation."
Iker called for congregations to use a process, 40 Days of Discernment, developed by Truro Church and the Falls Church in Virginia before the majority of laity and clergy in those and nine other congregations voted to leave the diocese. The introduction to the first week of that guide states that "the real question is not whether, but how unity will break."
Episcopalians who do not agree with the direction in which Iker and the rest of the diocesan leadership is headed have been gathering and exchanging information through a variety of organizations, some of which are listed here.
The Southern Cone has about 22,000 members and encompasses Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Its provincial synod, meeting in Valpariso, Chile, November 5-7, agreed to welcome into the province "on an emergency and pastoral basis" Episcopal Church dioceses "taking appropriate action to separate from The Episcopal Church."
"They have stuck their necks out for us and offered their encouragement, assistance and support," Iker said in his 10-reason list of the Southern Cone's invitation and the support of some Anglican leaders. "We must now have the courage of our convictions and act!"
Fort Worth's last convention passed a resolution thanking the province for its invitation and asking the Fort Worth leadership for a report on "the constitutional and canonical implications and means of accepting this invitation."
Two previous Standing Committee reports, available here and here endorsed the realignment, saying in part that "the structure and polity of the Province of the Southern Cone would afford our diocese greater self-determination than we currently have under the General Convention of The Episcopal Church."
The 2007 Fort Worth convention also gave the first of two approvals needed to amend its constitution and remove accession to the Constitution and Canons of General Convention, as well as several canonical amendments that eliminate mention of the Episcopal Church.
The former leadership of the Diocese of San Joaquin accepted the Southern Cone's offer in December. The remaining Episcopalians are reorganizing the diocese with the help of the wider church. The Diocese of Pittsburgh is scheduled to consider the offer October 4, via Resolution One (available here in a list of other resolutions).
More information about the convention is available here.