News Updates

News Updates

July 2005

• Bishop Smith Responds to Brother Diocesan Bishops

  Connecticut Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, accused nine other diocesan bishops of making a petulant ill-informed attack on his inhibition of the Rev. Mark H. Hansen, rector of St. John’s, Bristol, and denied spurning the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference or abusing the canons.

  Posted on July 29, 2005

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• Council Authorizes Legal Aid to Dioceses

  The Episcopal Church spent more than $500,000 last year funding diocesan lawsuits against parishes and covering excess expenses incurred in Title IV real estate disputes.

  Posted on July 29, 2005

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• North Carolina Bishop Not a P.B. Candidate

  The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Bishop of North Carolina, recently announced that he will not allow his name to be considered for election as the next Presiding Bishop.

  Posted on July 29, 2005

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• Episcopal Acts Performed in Overland Park

  Acting on a request from the Primate of the Anglican Province of Uganda, the Rt. Rev. William J. Cox, retired assisting Bishop of Oklahoma, performed sacramental episcopal acts on two occasions within the past month at Christ Church, Overland Park, Kan. When contacted by The Living Church Bishop Cox reluctantly confirmed that he ordained two priests and a deacon on June 29 and on July 24 he returned to lead a service of confirmation.

  Posted on July 29, 2005

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• Californians Seek Rite for Same-Sex Blessings

  A task force in the Diocese of California has concluded that “now is the time to acknowledge in convention our diocesan practice of 22 years.” The committee, charged by the diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, to consider a variety of issues related to the status of marriage and the blessing of same-gender covenants in Church and society, has proposed three resolutions to be considered at convention in the fall.

  Posted on July 29, 2005

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• ERD not Abandoning Haiti

  Despite growing chaos in Haiti, the work of Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) will continue. A press notice released earlier today states that the charitable aid organization remains “committed” to its long-term programs. The Diocese of Haiti, which has 79,497 baptized members, according to the 2005 edition of The Episcopal Church Annual, is the third largest in that category, exceeded only by Texas and Virginia.

  Posted on July 28, 2005

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• Nassau Covenant Signed

  Because of “the confusion and theological chaos” that has been introduced into the region starting with the 2003 General Convention, the Archbishop of the West Indies and the Archbishop of Southern Cone (Argentina) said they would join with the Moderators of the Anglican Communion Networks in the U.S. and Canada to establish a Council of Anglican Provinces of the Americas and Caribbean. The umbrella network will be based on “an agreed theological foundation” for collaborative projects within the Anglican Communion and will be shared with the representative provinces and organizations for discussion and ratification.

  Posted on July 28, 2005

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• Nominating Committee Narrows Field of Presiding Bishop Candidates

  The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop met June 17 in Chicago to narrow the list of potential successors to Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold.

  Posted on July 27, 2005

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• Q & A Interview with the Bishop of Fort Worth

  Earlier today, the Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth, was one of nine diocesan bishops to sign “A Second Open Letter to the Bishop and Standing Committee of Connecticut.” Written in response to the inhibition of the Rev. Mark S. Hansen, as rector of St. John’s, Bristol, Conn., the letter informs the Bishop of Connecticut, the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, that the nine bishops do not recognize the inhibition and are preparing ecclesiastical charges against Bishop Smith for conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy. Yesterday, the Diocese of Fort Worth announced that it had petitioned the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference, claiming a “serious theological disagreement” with the Episcopal Church. The Living Church spoke with Bishop Iker about these two developments.

  Posted on July 27, 2005

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• No Decision Yet on Florida Seven

  In responding to a request for alternative episcopal oversight from seven priests, the Bishop of Florida is consulting widely and is aware that many Episcopalians will be affected by whatever decision he announces, according to a diocesan spokesperson, Paul Van Brunt. Earlier this week, the Rt. Rev. John Howard briefed the standing committee on the situation at a regularly scheduled meeting.

  Posted on July 26, 2005

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