CENTRAL FLORIDA: Bishop Seeks Calmer Tone in Episcopal Controversy

Bishop Seeks Calmer Tone In Episcopal Controversy Howe supports working for traditionalist change within existing church.

By Cary McMullen

Ledger Religion Editor

WINTER PARK -- While the controversy in the Episcopal Church continues to boil across the country, Bishop John Howe is attempting to turn down the heat in the Diocese of Central Florida.

In his first public remarks since he signed the charter of a new network for traditionalist Episcopalians on Tuesday, Howe addressed the opening of the dioceses annual convention Friday afternoon. He expressed approval of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, but at the same time reiterated his position that neither he nor the diocese would leave the Episcopal Church.

He described the network, organized earlier this week at a meeting in Texas, as a means for traditionalists, who opposed last year’s consecration of a gay priest as an Episcopal bishop, to cooperate on common causes.

The intention behind the network is to enable like-minded bishops, clergy, dioceses and congregations to work together within the structures of the Episcopal Church to uphold and propagate the historic faith and order of the church as we have received it, he said. It is not to break away, it is not to become a replacement province or a church within a church.

Howe stressed that he signed the charter of the network as an individual and not on behalf of the diocese. A resolution, scheduled to be considered in today’s session of the convention, would authorize the diocese to become a member of the network. But Howe recommended in his address that the resolution be referred to the dioceses executive board.

I believe there is too much involved in the formation of this network for us to deal with it responsibly in this convention, he said. He added that the network could be a vehicle for helping us move forward in this unsettled and difficult time.

Howe dismissed press reports last week of a strategy document that called for the establishment of a jurisdiction that would replace the Episcopal Church and for wresting control of property from the national church by means of ecclesiastical disobedience. The document never came up at the meeting in Texas, he said.

Howe told the convention that even if it wished to do so, there is no legal way for a diocese to secede from the Episcopal Church, and he urged the diocese to move beyond the rancor that has gripped the church since the consecration of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire in November.

In response to Howe's appeal, at least three resolutions that dealt with various aspects of the controversy were withdrawn, but at least three others remain on the table for consideration today. One of those resolutions calls for the resignation of all bishops who voted to sustain Robinsons election and for the resignation of Frank Griswold, the Episcopal Church’s presiding bishop, who supported Robinson.

Howe himself had issued a similar call in November, but Friday he questioned whether the resolution was necessary.

We have made the position of this diocese extremely well known, and it seems questionable at best whether there is a lot to be gained by restating it over and over, he said. I ask you to seek the Lords leading tonight as to whether we really want to be calling for resignations that we know will not be forthcoming, or keeping a list of bishops who may not be invited here, when the truth of the matter is they are very unlikely to be invited in the first place.

Copyright 2004 The Ledger

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