Key Phrases to Watch

The good thing about Bishop Lee's fascinating letter was that it offered some clues of key phrases to watch:

pastoral scheme
self-governing
autonomous
not divided
undivided
foreign prelates.
foreign primates
foreign anything

See how many ways you can use the words in a sentence. Truth and Accuracy are optional.

For example: the "Pastoral Scheme" usage is particularly noteworthy. The word "scheme" in British English means "visionary planning" or "concrete ideas for the future," or simply "a plan." In American English "scheme" means "a plot of betrayal." A 'scheme" is nasty. Nice people don't have "schemes." Nice people have "plans." The American bishops have done nothing to explain or define to American Episcopalians in the pews the meaning of that word. We see the word "scheme" being employed over and over by the Episcopal leadership and I hope the Archbishop of Canterbury has been finally briefed that this word has a very different meaning in America and the American Episcopalian leadership is doing nothing to help him out. I hope he's paying attention to how many American Episcopal leaders and bishops are using that word because they are sending him a very clear message every time the word "scheme" instead of "plan" is used. Take note.

Another fascinating phrase that has suddenly popped up in the lexicon is: "foreign prelates." For those of us who have spent any considerable time in the South - we know what the connotations of that phrase is and let's just say those connotations aren't very nice. Flannery O'Connor, call your office. To use a phrase like "foreign prelates" also hints to the same sort of whispers that were around John F. Kennedy when he ran for president. Southern Protestants in particular were quite concerned that he would be ruled by a certain Foreign Prelate and it seems that tactic is back at work today.

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