Marvelous Sermon by Bishop Iker
Do please take the time to listen to this superb sermon by Bishop Iker, preached at St. Andrew's, Fort Worth, to confirmands recently. His warning that it may soon be necessary to "shake the dust from off our feet," even if it means suffering for the Faith once delivered to the saints, is quite timely. Hat tip to Stand Firm.
posted by Texanglican (R.W. Foster+) | 10:45 AM
2 Comments:
Just a new tidbit for you Anglicans out there. Even though I do not agree with Bishop Iker on many things, I feel that ALL members of the diocese have a RIGHT to be informed about the "official" goings-on here. In light of this recent development I will share with you, I do not think that the entire Diocese is at unity with itself in continuing the path advocated by our Bishop. It looks like at least 1 parish in our Diocese is officially beginning to "shake the dust off it's feet" from the Bishop and Standing Committe's recent APO statement by unanimously passing the following vestry resolution:
Resolution of the Vestry - 05/19/07
The Vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church wishes to express its profound disagreement with the actions of the Executive Council taken on May 16, 2007, concerning alternative primatial oversight.
Trinity Episcopal Church, while affirming its place in the Diocese of Ft. Worth and in the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, does not support any search for forming a new Anglican Province. Trinity Episcopal Church does not support transferring to another existing province of the Anglican Communion. Trinity Episcopal Church does not support seeking the status of an extra-provincial diocese. Trinity Episcopal Church affirms the place of the Diocese of Fort Worth in the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America.
This statement can also be found at http://www.fortworthtrinity.org/vestry%20response.htm
Fair enough, Anonymous. Trinity Church is almost certainly the most liberal parish in the diocese, and their rector pretty much assured our diocesan clergy that Trinity will remain loyal to KJS's TEC at our luncheon following the Chrism Mass during Holy Week. I fully expect Trinity to do so. Godspeed them in doing what their conscience dictates.
In case folks are interested, I could also pass along word that St Martin in the Fields, Southlake, has also routinely opposed to the actions of our diocese to distance ourselves from heresy at the national level. They would almost certainly leave us for KJS's TEC as well. Beyond those two staunchly pro-815 parishes there are three or four other parishes where the parish leaders are split pretty evenly. Therefore, if push comes to shove this Fall I strongly suspect that two or three parishes, and a significant portion of a handful more, would bolt from our diocese at stick to 815's TEC rather than find alternative affiliation with the broader Anglican Communion through our diocese. That being said, however, my guess is that 85% to 90% of the diocese will stick together. All parishes would lose some members in the short term--very few in the case of St. Vincent's Cathedral--but the long term prospects for our orthodox diocese are, I am certain, bright.
Of course, there is always the chance that 815 and her minions will repent and it will all work out fine in the end. ;-)
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