RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight for Parishes fleeing the Episcopal Church
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
5/31/2007
The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande has passed two resolutions asking the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church for alternative oversight for parishes wanting to leave the diocese and the national Episcopal Church.
In a letter to the diocese, the Rt. Rev. Jeffrey N. Steenson, said that The Standing Committee, Property Trustees and Diocesan Council met recently in El Paso and unanimously requested alternative pastoral care recommended by the Primates, arguing that it is the best available option to keep its congregations together.
The actions of the Episcopal Church have "deeply alienated" the diocese from mainstream Anglicanism, he said. The diocese voted 17-1 to ask the Presiding Bishop for alternative oversight with "a negotiated rather than litigated solution."
"It is our hope that we will not have to face such a painful moment, and we will work diligently to keep the lines of communication open between the diocese and congregations deeply alienated from the actions of the Episcopal Church especially since 2003," wrote Steenson.
"The effect of losing the active participation of even one or two of our larger congregations would be substantial, and we looked realistically at that scenario. Your diocesan leadership certainly does not have its head in the sand about the steps that need to be taken should this occur."
Steenson said the diocese has in Convocation made a commitment to the "Windsor Process," the approach commended by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican Consultative Council, and the Primates based on the Windsor Report's recommendations for maintaining communion amongst the member churches of the Anglican Communion."
The diocese then passed a resolution "to pursue settlement through negotiation rather than litigation should one of its member parishes or self-supporting missions seek to sever its relationship to the Diocese and the Episcopal Church."
The diocese then passed a resolution saying that any congregation strongly considering departing from the diocese and the Episcopal Church should do so temporarily "for a season of discernment while maintaining membership in the diocese and TEC."
In such a withdrawal, following a congregational vote an agreement will be drawn up that would "address fair share and other issues such as voting membership in deaneries, convocation, and all committees and commissions." The agreement will be reviewed annually.
The diocese also voted enthusiastically to endorse the Pastoral Scheme set forth by the Primates of the Anglican Communion at their February meeting in Dar-es-Salaam.
END
| Poster | Thread |
|---|---|
| ctowles | Posted: 2007/5/31 13:38 Updated: 2007/5/31 13:38 |
Home away from home   Joined: 2006/12/4 From: Posts: 478 |
 Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo...How can Schori say that the disaffected are minor in numbers? This is the second diocese to wander off the reservation. It was put quite elegantly.
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| Strider | Posted: 2007/5/31 14:06 Updated: 2007/5/31 14:06 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/5/26 From: Posts: 339 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... Don't hold your breath, +Steenson. Asphyxia is bad for your health.
Strider |
| Cennydd | Posted: 2007/5/31 14:44 Updated: 2007/5/31 14:44 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2005/10/30 From: Los Banos, CA, Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin Posts: 6703 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... If past performance is any indicator, Schori and the rest of the heretic apostate revisionists in the House of Bishops will say "no" to this request, and Bishop Steenson knows it. Then the ball will fly right out of the ballpark.
Cennydd |
| JRoss | Posted: 2007/5/31 15:45 Updated: 2007/5/31 15:45 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2004/3/15 From: New Jersey Posts: 895 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... Alternative oversight to keep the funds coming to further the pansexual agenda? You may have another bishop at your episcopal visitation, but some of what you put in the collection still goes to Schori to further the degradation of the church and elimination of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Disassociation is not the answer to the crisis, consensus is not the answer, and certainly compromise is not the answer. The answer lies only in shaking the dust off one's feet and fleeing to a church where Jesus is Lord and the only way to the Father.
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| otispage2 | Posted: 2007/5/31 16:20 Updated: 2007/5/31 16:20 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/3/14 From: Posts: 603 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... Dissent in a religious context, like a fire, feeds on the fuel of TEC’s corporate transgression where law and tradition are violated.
TEC has become a homosexual sect. It serves the interests of a minority of homosexuals while opposing and offending a vast plurality of Episcopal Christian Saints who honor “the faith once given”. Schism is the result. The schism is a manifestation of a dissenting laity joined and led by a righteous episcopate. It is that of God throwing TEC over to itself in its corporate sin. (Rom 1:17, 28-32) Here we see evil in its clear and simplest form – where TEC’s leaders misguide humble lambs to spiritual slaughter. But those who depart from TEC do so as a high calling by God who glorifies those who depart in a spirit of dissent against the lie. Glory, glory, hallelujah! (Colossians 1:13-17) |
| Isaac | Posted: 2007/5/31 16:24 Updated: 2007/5/31 16:24 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2004/3/1 From: Texas Posts: 596 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... ctowles,
My thoughts as well. And I think there are MANY indivual Episcopalians and parishes still waiting to see what happens, they will take further action later. Without GOD, PECUSA/ECUSA/TEC will fail, it is only a matter of time. Isaac |
| db4him | Posted: 2007/5/31 16:46 Updated: 2007/5/31 16:46 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2004/5/19 From: Posts: 423 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... Knowing TEc has already summarily dismissed APO as a viable option, I believe this is a good-faith move on the part of the diocese to position it for the litigation to come.
We shall see, for one thing is certain: these true believers will part company with TEc one way or the other before it's all said and done. They are theologically too far apart to do otherwise. |
| ZachS | Posted: 2007/6/1 2:09 Updated: 2007/6/1 2:09 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/5/1 From: Posts: 210 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... Load of rubbish
Alternative Episcopal Oversight is just smoke and mirrors. Your still in the TEC. Therefore you have No credibility. Ridiculous ZachS |
| Cennydd | Posted: 2007/6/1 12:40 Updated: 2007/6/1 12:40 |
Home away from home Joined: 2005/10/30 From: Los Banos, CA, Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin Posts: 6703 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... Better to seek Alternative PROVINCIAL Oversight. At least Schori and Company wouldn't be sticking their noses in where they aren't welcome!
Cennydd |
| SkyPilot | Posted: 2007/6/1 13:36 Updated: 2007/6/1 13:36 |
Just popping in  Joined: 2004/10/20 From: Posts: 3 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... The only $$$ that have left the DRG is for the GC Assessment -the ante to sit at the table. The diocese has not sent any money from its budget to 815 since 1992, so that is not an issue for the DRG.
A particular problem for DRG orthodox clergy and our self-supporting congregations is that Bishop in several venues has publically affirmed he will do nothing to lead the DRG out of TEC. I take this to mean that in less diocesan leadership rises and acts on our own, the failure of APO will mean that +Steenson, many if not most large congregations and the orthodox clergy will leave one by one, reducing the DRG to almost a shell corporate entity. Those that leave will include me. I have been advised by a most knowledgeable source to wait for several months as behind the scene activity will reveal great change during this period. Still ridin' for the brand. . . |
| Festivus | Posted: 2007/6/4 15:25 Updated: 2007/6/4 15:25 |
Home away from home Joined: 2004/12/2 From: Earth Posts: 240 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... I've long ago left the desert of TEC for the pasture of the GS, but I have to ask a question: why do the doiceses in TEC have to ask the PB for permission? Wasn't it TEC that so eloquently explained to the communion that each diocese is autonomous? I really don't get this we not a hierarchial church / we're a hierarchial church schizophrenia TEC displays.
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| ZachS | Posted: 2007/6/4 21:51 Updated: 2007/6/4 21:51 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/5/1 From: Posts: 210 |
Re: RIO GRANDE: Diocese Requests Alternative Oversight fo... Festivus:
But the desert of the TEC is joined to the pasture of the GS solidly and undeniably through Canterbury, the ABC and still shamelessly as we saw at Dar El Salaam with the gathering of Primates. True. ZachS |
