BISHOP GREW’S MUTED RESPONSE HIDES DEEP HUMILIATION

Bishop Grew, clearly miffed by this "invasion" of five orthodox bishops into his diocesan territory, could only say, "It saddens me that these five congregations had to create a disturbance with our common church polity, in order to focus attention once more on their minority position."

"There is no crisis in the Diocese of Ohio," he opined, "except the one created by a group that hopes to hold on to attention that is slipping away as time passes." Grew did not say whether disciplinary action would be taken. But judging by past history, the House of Bishops has little stomach for presentments, because if you start them on these five bishops, then someone is going to say that presentment charges should be brought against Spong for his heresies—and no one has the stomach to go there.

But clearly this is a personal snub of Grew, the humiliation of which he will not soon forget. Their action also sent a loud message, not only to the largely revisionist House of Bishops, but to Rowan Williams—and it also sent a loud beeping sound to the Eames Commission.