A STATEMENT BY BISHOP IKER
The Dallas Morning News recently ran an article claiming that certain priests of the diocese of Fort Worth "may be looking at Catholicism."
In response to that area newspaper report, Bishop Iker has issued the following statement:
I am aware of a meeting that four priests of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth have had with Bishop Kevin Vann of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth on June 16, 2008. After a year of studying various agreed statements that have come out of ecumenical dialogues between Anglicans and Roman Catholics on the national and international level, these clergy expressed an interest in having a dialogue on the local level and asked my permission to make an appointment to talk with Bishop Vann. The stated goal of these official Anglican/Roman Catholic dialogues (which have been going on for over 40 years) has been full, visible unity between the two communions.
The priests who participated in this meeting with Bishop Vann have my trust and pastoral support. However, in their written and verbal reports, they have spoken only on their own behalf and out of their own concerns and perspective. They have not claimed to act or speak, nor have they been authorized to do so, either on behalf of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth or on my own behalf as their Bishop.
Their discussion with Bishop Vann has no bearing upon matters coming before our Diocesan Convention in November, where a second vote will be taken on constitutional changes concerning our relationship with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. There is no proposal under consideration, either publicly or privately, for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth to become part of the Roman Catholic Church. Our only plan of action remains as it has been for the past year, as affirmed by our Diocesan Convention in November 2007. The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth intends to realign with an orthodox Province as a constituent member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
By God’s grace, we will continue to work and pray for the unity of the one holy catholic and apostolic church.
The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth
August 12, 2008
In response to that area newspaper report, Bishop Iker has issued the following statement:
I am aware of a meeting that four priests of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth have had with Bishop Kevin Vann of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth on June 16, 2008. After a year of studying various agreed statements that have come out of ecumenical dialogues between Anglicans and Roman Catholics on the national and international level, these clergy expressed an interest in having a dialogue on the local level and asked my permission to make an appointment to talk with Bishop Vann. The stated goal of these official Anglican/Roman Catholic dialogues (which have been going on for over 40 years) has been full, visible unity between the two communions.
The priests who participated in this meeting with Bishop Vann have my trust and pastoral support. However, in their written and verbal reports, they have spoken only on their own behalf and out of their own concerns and perspective. They have not claimed to act or speak, nor have they been authorized to do so, either on behalf of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth or on my own behalf as their Bishop.
Their discussion with Bishop Vann has no bearing upon matters coming before our Diocesan Convention in November, where a second vote will be taken on constitutional changes concerning our relationship with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. There is no proposal under consideration, either publicly or privately, for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth to become part of the Roman Catholic Church. Our only plan of action remains as it has been for the past year, as affirmed by our Diocesan Convention in November 2007. The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth intends to realign with an orthodox Province as a constituent member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
By God’s grace, we will continue to work and pray for the unity of the one holy catholic and apostolic church.
The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth
August 12, 2008
posted by Texanglican (R.W. Foster+) | 1:48 PM
9 Comments:
"...intends to realign with an orthodox Province..."
Rut Ro! +Kate, DBB, Screwtape, and Wormwood are no doubt warming up their Depose-o-matic.
They couldn't push anything through to attack Bishop Iker consistent with the canons of TEC in the time frame available them (though the actual content of the canons has never slowed down KJS from doing what she wants to do!) Of course, we could always move up our convention if we need to. No worries.
Actually, I don't think we can move the Diocesan Convention up by much. I'm pretty sure that the Diocesan constitution specifies that the annual meeting of Diocesan Convention must take place in the month of November and that amendments to the Constitution must be voted on at annual (i.e. not specially-called) meetings.
Actually, Mr. Powers, while the date is normally November this date, and its place, may be changed by the bishop with the consent of the Standing Committee. See article 3 of our diocesan constitution: "for sufficient cause the Bishop, with the consent of the Standing Committee, may change the date of meeting or appoint some other place for holding the Convention; provided that thirty (30) days notice of such change shall be given to each Parish and Mission in union with the Convention."
So we could convene our annual convention and have our second vote a mere 31 days after PB Schori attacks if we need to do so.
You can find our constitution here:
http://www.fwepiscopal.org/resources/constitution.html
God bless!
Oops! Conservatives, you are BUSTED! Sort of embarassing, I would think.
I don't know who the "conservatives" you feel have been "busted" are, anon. But you have my word on it--I am an Anglican and will remain one for the foreseeable future. And if I ever gave up on Anglicanism entirely (which I do not anticipate doing) it would be the Bosporos that would call to me, not the Tiber. The four respected priests you apparently are referring to spoke for themselves, not me or many others in our diocese. They efforts certainly do not reflect some sort of diocesan "plan."
Father,
I've noticed that you had the latest AD Clerum posted - then it went off - then it was posted again - now it is off again. If this statement is now public, why pull it?
Anon, the senior priests involved are all honorable and respected men of God and I didn't want the comments here to be a forum where unkind things could be said about them. The matter is concluded, as far as I am concerned. Thanks for stopping by. God bless!
For those who would like to read the paper presented to Bishop Vann of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth from the four priests of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, follow this link to read it without blog comments or sound bites. This is what everyone needs to read for themselves to see what this was all about. Then form your own opinion based on the actual document.
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=28893
You can cut and paste this into your browser.
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