It is all over but the shouting!

Frankly, I did not expect much big news to come out of the House of Bishops' meeting down near Houston this week. Boy, was I wrong. ENS has a bombshell. The bishops have collectively REJECTED OUTRIGHT the Primates' scheme to set up a Pastoral Council to protect the orthodox within TEC! Astonishing. Simply astonishing. (Note that even as they toss the hard-won agreements of the Communique into the trash can, they insist on their "passionate desire" to remain part of the Communion. Words fail me to describe this hypocrisy and arrogance.)

I have difficulty imagining a scenario now that includes the possibility of the orthodox remaining within the Episcopal church a year from now.

Here are the relevant resolutions from the HOBs:

Mind of the House of Bishops Resolution Addressed to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church

The following resolutions were passed by the House of Bishops March 20 during its annual Spring retreat meeting in Navasota, Texas.

Resolved, the House of Bishops affirms its desire that The Episcopal Church remain a part of the councils of the Anglican Communion; and

Resolved, the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution of The Episcopal Church is determined solely by the General Convention of The Episcopal Church; and

Resolved, the House of Bishops believes the proposed Pastoral Scheme of the Dar es Salaam Communiqué of February 19, 2007 would be injurious to The Episcopal Church and urges that the Executive Council decline to participate in it; and

Resolved, the House of Bishops pledges itself to continue to work to find ways of meeting the pastoral concerns of the Primates that are compatible with our own polity and canons.

Adopted March 20, 2007
The House of Bishops
The Episcopal Church
Spring Meeting 2007
Camp Allen Conference Center
Navasota, Texas

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Read the letter produced by the bishops on the same site, as well as the statement below to the Archbishop and the other Primates.

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To the Archbishop of Canterbury and the members of the Primates' Standing Committee:

We, the Bishops of The Episcopal Church, meeting in Camp Allen, Navasota, Texas, March 16-21, 2007, have considered the requests directed to us by the Primates of the Anglican Communion in the Communiqué dated February 19, 2007.

Although we are unable to accept the proposed Pastoral Scheme, we declare our passionate desire to remain in full constituent membership in both the Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church.

We believe that there is an urgent need for us to meet face to face with the Archbishop of Canterbury and members of the Primates' Standing Committee, and we hereby request and urge that such a meeting be negotiated by the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and the Archbishop of Canterbury at the earliest possible opportunity.

We invite the Archbishop and members of the Primates' Standing Committee to join us at our expense for three days of prayer and conversation regarding these important matters.

Adopted March 20, 2007
The House of Bishops
The Episcopal Church
Spring Meeting 2007
Camp Allen Conference Center
Navasota, Texas