Sunday, March 11, 2007

Washington Post Reports: PB faces rebellion of allies (Paradise Lost Revisited?)

BB NOTE: I've been thinking about this rather intriguing "pre-House of Bishops Meeting" article by veteran Post writer Alan Cooperman, a longtime observer of the Episcopal Church crisis who has written extensively on it over the years. I am frankly surprised that he's written this article since it's seem clear that liberal Episcopalians are working very hard to show a happy, sunny face ("Katharine didn't really mean it, she was just saying that she agreed that this is what the majority of the Anglican Communion believes, not that she herself believes it - which of course she doesn't - she just wants us to fast and wait and be good little boys and girls so she can have tea with the Queen and then take all of our money and give it to the ACC and make the entire Anglican Communion turn into the Episcopal Church which is why The Executive Council gave the ACC so much money, even though The Episcopal Church is under discipline at the ACC and can't send anyone to get a nametag and vote, but oh well).

No, the real division (which Cooperman masterfully identifies) appears to be between two liberal Episcopal groups: what I might call the "Activists" and the "Institutionalists." Both hold the same theological and social-political views. But one group is devoted to the "Cause" and the other group is devoted to the "Institution." They have aligned with one another for a long time (and that is worth a book in itself) - but if Cooperman is right, this alliance is finally coming to a crossroads.

David Brooks calls these two groups the "bohemians" (Activists) and the "bourgeois" (Institutionalists). Together they care called the "Bobos." TEC has been the perfect "Bobo Church." It looks structurally quite "bougeois" on the outside, but inside it's theological bohemia all the way. Now, if Cooperman is correct, the TEC Bobos are not in paradise anymore.

When the orthodox were engaged in the struggle inside the traditional structure of TEC, they were a convenient punching bag to unify these two very different groups together. They were indeed "Bobos in Paradise." But now the orthodox have their own ballgame to play (as recognized by the Communique as being Windsor, CANA, or AMiA) - leaving the Bobo TECies to decide what they are going to do next. They can keep punching in the wind at their old strawmen, or turn on each other. Coooperman says the latter. I'm not so sure - the activist/bohemians seem to be carrying the bourgeois standard, just as the institutional Episcopal Church needs them to do (remember what happened in the House of Deputies when B033 was on the floor?).

Unlike conservatives - who have always had no problem tearing each other apart in public - liberals like to do their own bloodletting in private and it's often difficult for observers to know what has happened until it's all over and the losers have slunk off into the shadows to write their memoirs. They keep the outward appearance of sunny faces by slamming their convenient punching bags in public, but what Cooperman seems to be saying here is that behind the sunny facades all is not happy in Whoville.

Susan Russell and Michael Hopkins have said they had a little meeting with the PB up in Oregon during the Executive Council meeting and explained things to her. They happily report back that "In our conversation in Portland when 'why did you sign the Communique?' came up +Katharine specifically (and emphatically said) 'Nobody 'signed' anything.'" Au contraire - not from the Archbishop of Canterbury's point of view as well as the other Anglican primates - and they are the view that counts. We are not sure if Susan and Michael are trying to convince us that she didn't agree to the Communique - or the wool is being pulled over their eyes yet again by an Institutionalist telling them what they want to hear so they can go back to their classic punching bags (Mark Lawrence, call your office).

If Cooperman is right and the real battle is raging (though perhaps not in front of all of us) then perhaps each time we here this ranting and raving against the orthodox, or the Anglican Communion, or the Windsor Bishops or anyone except Katharine Jefferts Schori (and perhaps in the end the TEC House of Bishops, be aware) - the venom is really a redirection away from the real institution who is selling them a spin.

What's their alternative? They have to support the Presiding Bishop - what other choice do they really have? It wasn't enough that she walked into the House of Deputies and compelled them to pass B033 (which didn't do the job she promised). Now she makes more promises and they nod their heads and smile, telling us she didn't sign away anything - and certainly not the prophetic witness of the spirit that's doing a new thing. Cooperman says different. So who will win the day? Chane or Marshall? The Activist or The Institutionalist? The Bohemians or the Bourgeois?

Notice what the Activists/Bohemians say in Cooperman's article - they have principles and they are not turning back the clock. The Institutionalists/Bourgeois appear to point their fingers at the Usual Punchingbags, rather the the bohemian agenda that got us all into this mess in the first place. Brilliantly, the Institutionalists appear to be doing all they can to get the Activists to do the unpleasant work for them, anything but find public fingers pointed back at those who may be playing "Let's Make a Deal" to retain their institutional facade. Tea anyone?


LATER NOTE: What we may be seeing played out today over the consents for the new bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina is the breaking of the "Bohemian/Bourgeois" Alliance. It was clearly the Bohemian/Activists that lobbied the Standing Committees to reject Mark Lawrence and now the Bourgeois/Institutionalists that are fighting back. The Orthodox have alliances with the Institutionalists because - like the Institutionalists - the Orthodox respects the institution of the church, but not for the same reasons. However, as is now occurring in South Carolina, the Orthodox remnant and the Institutionalists are aligning together against the Activists to preserve the institutional church (especially now that Mark Lawrence has voiced assurances to do what he can to keep the institution together - what the Institutionalists needed to hear). This certainly could be the case in Virginia. The Actvists have gone strangely silent (hitting their punchingbags even harder instead) - but will they prevail in the end? We shall know by day's end.

New Criticism for Episcopal Bishop
Her Liberal Allies Wonder Why She Signed Ultimatum on Gays
By Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 11, 2007; A05


Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first female presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, is used to hostility from the right wing of her denomination. Now, she faces a rebellion among her longtime allies on the left.

With more puzzlement than rancor, liberal Episcopalians are questioning why Jefferts Schori signed an international statement last month that, in their view, demands a halt to 30 years of growing acceptance of gay men and lesbians.

"The overwhelming response I'm hearing is, 'Wait a minute! We're not prepared to turn back the clock,' " said the Rev. Ruth Meyers, academic dean of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill.

The bishops of all 111 Episcopal dioceses will meet this week at a church retreat center near Houston to consider their response to an ultimatum issued in Tanzania on Feb. 19 by the primates, or heads, of the 38 national churches that make up the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the 77 million-member communion, which is still reeling from the consecration of an openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, in New Hampshire in 2003.

In an attempt to prevent a schism, Jefferts Schori and her fellow primates gave U.S. bishops until Sept. 30 to make an unambiguous, collective promise that they will not consent to the election of any more gay bishops and will not authorize blessings of same-sex couples. The primates also agreed to establish the post of "primatial vicar" to oversee U.S. dioceses unhappy with the Episcopal Church's recent course.

If the Episcopal Church rejects the ultimatum, it will face unspecified sanctions, such as a downgrading of its status within the Anglican Communion. But even before the U.S. bishops gather in Texas on Friday, more than a dozen of them, including Bishop John B. Chane of Washington, have indicated they are inclined to rebuff Jefferts Schori's recommendation and politely but firmly say "no" to the primates.

"We have to be very clear about where we are as a church. We have consented to the consecration of Gene Robinson, and we have -- the majority of dioceses in this country have -- allowed the blessing of same-sex couples for some time," Chane said in an interview.

"We have done these things, and the one thing we're not going to do, in my opinion, is we're not going back to Egypt," he said, referring to the biblical exodus from slavery. "These are positions that have been taken, really, at some cost to the unity of our church, but for the integrity of our church."

Liberal Episcopalians also object to the ultimatum on procedural grounds, noting that the primates' Tanzania communique was addressed solely to U.S. bishops, as though they can speak for the American church. "There isn't a bishop I know of who will say we can do that," Chane said.

Bishop Paul V. Marshall of Bethlehem, Pa., said many of the primates rule autocratically over former colonial churches and do not understand the "democratic polity" of the Episcopal Church, which broke away from the Church of England during the American Revolution.

The Episcopal constitution was written by many of the same people who drafted the U.S. Constitution, and it vests power in a legislature with two equal chambers: a House of Bishops and a House of Deputies, which contains lay people and priests, Marshall said.

Marshall predicted the American bishops will call for discussions throughout the Episcopal Church, rather than respond directly to the primates at the Texas meeting.

"Historically, the House of Bishops seeks ways around conflict. If there's a way to pass the buck, we will," he said.

Conservative Episcopalians generally have welcomed the ultimatum. They see it as a clear demand for the U.S. church to repent and return to traditional positions on sexual matters.

But the response from liberal Episcopalians has run the gamut "from sadness to anger and everything in between -- a lot of disappointment and frustration," said Meyers, a member of the House of Deputies. Above all, she added, "we're trying to understand why our presiding bishop thinks this is the right way to proceed."

Jefferts Schori declined to be interviewed for this article. But she explained her position during a Feb. 28 live webcast from New York in which she answered questions from Anglicans worldwide. Poised and unhurried, with an easy laugh, she projected calm.

"We are being pushed toward a decision by impatient forces within and outside this church who hunger for clarity," she said. " . . . If we can lower the emotional reactivity in the midst of this current controversy, we just might be able to find a way to live together."

In 2003, Jefferts Schori voted with a majority of Episcopal bishops for Robinson's consecration. She also allowed the blessing of same-sex unions in her former role as bishop of Nevada.

She has made clear that she still supports the "full inclusion" of gay men and lesbians at all levels of the church. But she is urging the Episcopal Church to accept the primates' call for self-restraint, which she has compared to "a season of fasting," so that the U.S. church can continue to be a voice at the Anglican table.

Although some conservatives have praised her for recognizing the communion's value, she has not won their trust.

"She calls for patience and says in time the entire communion will come around to embrace the new theology. She's trying to play a longer game, for a bigger prize," said the Rev. Kendall Harmon, a conservative theologian in South Carolina.

Liberal Episcopalians have questioned Jefferts Schori's recent judgment, but she has not lost their allegiance.

Bishop Chilton R. Knudsen of Maine said she is worried that the primates' ultimatum is a step toward turning the Anglican Communion into a "magisterial" church with centralized authority, something much closer to Roman Catholicism than to the loose "bonds of affection" that have tied Anglicans together.

But, she said, "I'm reserving judgment. I know Katharine well enough to have an instinctive trust in her, and I want to hear from her about this."

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

A very nice article indeed.

Of course, once the instutionalists realise the real price of staying in the communion - conforming the entirity of their practice to Lambeth 1.10 - getting rid of Robinson and Russel and Crew and Spong and all the rest - there's no way they'll be able to sign up - and that's really the biggest lie that Shori is selling both Bourgeious and Bohemians - that they stop ordaining gays and stop marrying them for a "season" but carrying on as if everything else is OK.

But with Akinola & Orombi on the Pastoral council overseeing every single move ECUSA makes;
with a directive from the council that ECUSA vests property in every Christian congreation with no constraints whatsoever;
with the AAC crosschecking if Russel or Spong is preaching or celebrating or doing anything anywhere still as part of ECUSA

the chance of instutitionalist bishops getting to Lambeth is absolutely zero


Rather we pray for the holy destruction of our enemies.

We pray to christ that the heretics (institutionists) and apostates (liberals) will indeed destroy each other, leaving Christians free to serve the Lord.

Kevin said...

Anon:

You seem very confident. I'm glad you have such assurance, however ++KJS will have a say on two seat of said council, the ABC one and ALL the primates the others. Remember the sub-committee report or ++KJS election to the standing committee? I'm not sure in the face of the evidence of the past that I can join you in your enthusiasm.

Also you attitude does not seem to fit Abraham grieved for Sodom, Jeremiah wept for Jerusalem, Jesus lamented how He wished they'd return, these who would in a few days call for His death.

Careful or you may be the one under disciple rather than those whose downfall you seem to already be celebrating for it is written:

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
lest the LORD see it and be displeased,and turn away his anger from him
[Proverbs 24:17-18]".

(Let alone Roman 12:14-21)

--------------

BB:

I must say it is odd you referenced David Brooks'Bobo in Paradise for a month ago I heard a sermon on Gen 19:1-14 that references how we in the US seem to have a minority view that there's no such thing as wrath, quoting Brooks that the sheep will be divided from the goats, those that fold up their newspaper to be recycled from those who do not, but in the end will be more like the final discussion.

Then radical love is only understood in the context of judgment. All else is cheap grace. Mercy only makes any sense in the face of punitive justice.

-------

My take on the article - yeah, pretty much sums it up. Her biggest problem is going to be the GLBT community, I don't think they've ever been told to shut up real well, Dr. Crew can play strategy but many others I don't think will go along, but if she moves the 60%/40% split in her favor to a trip to Lambeth than she have her long term game. I think Cannon Harmon has summed the her strategy quite accurately.

Anonymous said...

Kevin,

Bless you! I was so mad about the first post I was going to write something mean until I thought better of it. Your response was so much calmer than mine would have been and very much on point! In Jewish tradition we never celebrate the downfall of our enemies. You captured that spirit very well and reminded me that I should be as gracious.

As for your GLBT community comment, I don't think anyone should be told to shut up. I think everyone has the right to their own say. I am sure many people have wanted to, or have, told the conservatives to shut up, and that's not right either.

As an outside oberserver it seems to me the KJS is trying to find some middle ground here. As one who really likes the middle I wish her luck.

Kevin said...

RE: As for your GLBT community comment, I don't think anyone should be told to shut up.

I think it's the difference between pure political ideology and pragmatic political ideology. I think ++KSJ is in full agreement with the ideology but would wish people to be quite for pragmatic politics.

In the flip side, I'm a purest theological conservative. I'm very upset that there is so much attention on this area of sexual sin but not remarriage. There are calls to withhold communion from GLBT people who wear a rainbow ribbon on Easter for a statement. In terms of justice, I'd have no problem with that if applied universally, but I'm not sure it has been. I'm not sure there been investigation if remarried priest or remarried vestry members I know are under 1 Cor. 7 definition, still uncomfortable with 1 Tim. 3 restrictions (summary is victim of adultery or unbelieving spouse leaves - leadership just says of one wife). I do not see such a hard Biblical stance from CANA. I've pressed Bp Nazir-Ali and got a weak affirmation that heterosexual sins are important.

My stance is very Biblical, but not politically practical, as holding to a 1 Cor. 7 view of remarriage would alienate a fair number of people. Political pragmatism on the conservative side. This a term I heard recently was social vs. theological conservatives (I'll only say the question was on two groups uniting, but not which was identified by which label).

Dr. Crew told to keep quiet by ++KJS would, because he's very pragmatic and has advanced his agenda for a long time, others would probably be purest and give the PB trouble.

I doubt she trying to find middle ground as much as she very shrewd and read the times and playing a long term game. In WWII there were two egotistical madmen on stage, but the Soviet turned the tide by not trying to fight every battle and allowing retreat to regroup, then the tide turned into a crushing avalanche. I think the PB knows how to work the system, but GLBT lobby tasted so much success that their not that willing to play ball with her, even if in the end it'll give great gains [note: at it's root theirs is a need of acceptance that manifests itself in politics thus lies much of the internal conflicts in the "progressives" side].

Anonymous said...

Kevin,

I really appreciate your willingness to not let the GLBT issue of sin stand alone. Some how hetrosexual sin seems to not even register for a lot of folks.

Don't we all have a need for accpetance? And didn't a lot of groups have to turn to politics to gain that acceptance?

Unknown said...

Obviously the First Anon post got into the stash of Firewater instead of the Butterbeer. Yes, I see that Anon now - under the table. Someone go get a tablecloth please.

bb

Anonymous said...

"Don't we all have a need for accpetance?"
Have you ever heard of a bank robber's pride parade? Or an adulterer's pride parade? It's kind of creepy when sinners love their sin so much they try to rationalize it out of existence, part of which is to bully people into "accepting" them.

Kevin said...

RE: "It's kind of creepy when sinners love their sin so much they try to rationalize it out of existence, part of which is to bully people into "accepting" them.

Oh this is too easy for me not to take it. Sad fact is that describes just about all sin. Actually rationalization is the most common form in the US. In DC it's spin circle for pride, hey at Truro I've heard something been explained away or other blatant sins marginalized, the same true of The Falls Church.

Hey want to talk about blatant favoritism? How about people in leadership wandering from their post in search for selfish gain but leaving the spiritual health of those responsible hanging? How about refusing to help even in the slightest because of learning a new spiritual discipline or because of dealing with "important" issue?

I hate to say it Anon, but I'll share from personal experience that CANA specifically can rationalize and bully with the best of them.

There is no lock on sin or the avoidance of accepting blame. It's pretty pervasive in all camps. It does not make their or our acceptable, but we do need to being at home with looking for sin.

Unknown said...

I think that's why there are crosses still hanging in our parishes. I mean, how many organizations have a symbol of torture as their official "logo?" It is sort of bizarre - unless that symbol of tortue is a door to hope and freedom, which for all of us sinners it is.

Yet every Sunday we sit there and stare at that thing. Maybe it's time to remember what happened on it and decide whether it was a bunch of hooey or it really meant something.

That's our choice - no one says we gotta believe (no matter what we might hear). I put up "Here is Love" not long ago because I needed to remind myself what happened on that cross.

Here's the post again: click here.

Anonymous said...

Bobos? Are they in any way similar to bonobos, who are quite institutionalist but with an unusually free approach to sexual expression?

Unknown said...

Another round of Butterbeers, Br_er Rabbit is too funny. The only thing about the Man in Question is he has managed to stay married to his high school sweetheart, no small feat. Or perhaps, she has managed to stay married to him.

bb