ANGLICANS UNITED CONDEMNS HOB DEPO PLAN AS SERIOUSLY FLAWED

By Todd H. Wetzel

One week ago, I challenged the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church, USA to commit themselves to a plan for Adequate Episcopal Oversight that displayed true compassion for those who disagreed with General Convention 2003.

Their procedure released on 24 March is seriously flawed. It proposes that the only party with any power in the decision making process is the diocesan bishop, not those in disagreement with General Convention. That, by definition, is not adequate oversight. The Archbishop of Canterbury made it clear, that the aggrieved party has the right to determine what constitutes adequate oversight, not the adjudicating bishop. This report has not indicated that the House of Bishops will even read, let alone heed, the Eames Commission report or the decision of the Primates, due out in October 2004.

And so, the crisis in ECUSA deepens.

The meeting of the House of Bishops points squarely to the necessity for intervention by the Anglican Communion in the Episcopal Church, USA, because the degree of woundedness is past the point where the resources for a cure exist. The Episcopal Church cannot heal itself, nor does it have the will. The meeting this week provides further evidence of the Episcopal Church's narcissistic, self-preoccupied dysfunction.

This institution has for decades cast itself as concerned for the oppressed, yet can find not a shred of compassion for those who feel marginalized by this church's recent decisions.

The House of Bishops' stubborn and stiff-necked refusal to consider that they are in error has brought this church to this crisis. One must bear in mind that the leadership of ECUSA was warned repeatedly by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primates Council, and bishops from provinces all over the world that to approve the practice of homosexuality and lend the church's blessing to it would do no end of harm. The leaders who met last weekend in Navasota have chosen again to proceed without respect for a company of brothers and sisters both around the world and in the United States.

Why is it so difficult for the power structure of ECUSA to acknowledge the rights of those who disagree with them? The only hope of avoiding ecclesiastical war is that a moderate group from the House of Bishops will find the courage to recognize the plight of the aggrieved and act appropriately. The report of this meeting does not lend much credence to this hope.

We must wait for the October decision of the Eames Commission and the next Primate's meeting. Only then will the orthodox in ECUSA know if there is any hope for this sinking ship.

The Rev. Todd H. Wetzel is Executive Director of Anglicans United & Latimer Press