Part II Of Sarah Hey’s Inverview of +Bruce

Read it all. I get the sense that this interview became more of a conversation, and a good one at that.

Cherie Wetzel Reports That +Bruce Chairs The Communion Partners Group

As she writes here:

Bishop Bruce McPherson of Western Louisiana, who now chairs the Communion Partners group of bishops in the US, said he was pleased to see these specific moratoria. “We need to come up with accountability if it goes forward and to provide for a way for it to be lived into.”

This is, of course, not news from a standpoint of the amount of work +Bruce has put into Communion Partners, the fact that he went with Bishop Duncan to Tanzania, and so on. However, I guess it is newsworthy from a standpoint of beginning to realize where this is all going. The real question for this fall’s Diocesan Convention in Western Louisiana is will the Diocese salute when the Communion Partners flag is raised. This, of course, is critical if the Communion Partners movement is to succeed in being an orthodox Anglican witness in North America.

Obviously, I have mixed feelings about all this. I’d rather be free of TEC and be in an orthodox Anglican province in the United States. It would just be easier – spiritually, mentally, and timewise. There are times when I think that being free of such aggravation would be worth it to even trade the unity of the Diocese. But, I don’t think that is necessarily the right thing to do.

It is, frankly, difficult to discern. Mostly, because I desperately want to leave this up to God to judge. It is also difficult because of a short conversation I had with Andrew Carey after GC2006 at an AAC dinner. He asked me “if you leave, what about all the faithful still in the Episcopal Church?” He is right; there is a lot of people in the Episcopal Church for whom Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. That is not to say I am irreplaceable in the Episcopal Church. Frankly, no one is, no matter how important they may seem. But, being faithful to God’s call on my life has left me intertwined with the Episcopal Church against my own wishes.

More later. It should be an interesting day at Lambeth, since today is sex day.

Sarah Hey’s Interview With Bishop MacPherson (Part I)

Read it all.

Looking at the recommendations of the meeting this afternoon, and at which there was standing room only, the recommendations appear about the same as that which came out of Dar es Salaam. The only exception to this as I recall, is the Dar es Salaam document carried stronger language with regard to non-compliance. For true purposes of accountability, I feel we truly must have a specified consequence spelled out.

Unlike the previous hearing, there were a number more bishops willing to speak publicly today about the damage that is taking place and the need for a Covenant that will provide clear direction to the Communion.

Sarah’s second article will have some of +Bruce’s thoughts on the Communion Partners movement.

Bishop Robinson: Country Bishop Or Total Psycho?

You be the judge.

Bishop Robinson:

On Thursday, knowing that the conference attendees would leave early in the morning for London — for the MDG walk, lunch at Lambeth Palace, and tea with the Queen…

…

Then, we were off to London. Many months ago, I had been contacted by the Cara Trust, a philanthropic organization who has been providing support and services to those living with HIV/AIDS since the early days of the pandemic. They invited me to have tea with them and many of their clients — now not just limited to gay men, but including heterosexuals, women and especially women of color. What an honor to be asked, and what an honor to accept.

In one of those divinely humorous coincidences, our travel route from Canterbury and through the jam-packed traffic of London took us around Buckingham Palace, just at the precise moment that bishops and spouses were streaming off their coaches and into the Palace, for tea with the Queen.

But maps don’t lie:

What Needs To Happen At Lambeth This Week

They need to give the boot to the border crossers (even though I am on their side) and those involved in the same sex blessing and gay ordination debacles and tell them to come back to the sandbox when they have decided they can place nice and play by the rules. It really is that simple. Lambeth simply needs to say “You are no longer in communion with us” and ask that they leave the conference. Yes, that will include a Primate or too. Including my own, but also the one giving the most ecclesiastical cover in North America at present.

Short of that, as Greg Griffith has noted, it is pretty much all over for the Anglican Communion.

What to do with those under the ecclesiastical cover of other Provinces is simple – put them in trust with the American bishops who haven’t been given the boot. Probably those Communion Partner guys. That will also put an end to the litigation. They are in the Episcopal Church – just not with the guys who have been kicked out of the Anglican Communion.

If nothing changes, certain Primates aren’t invited to the Primates Meeting. The Anglican Consultative Council is no big deal, because it is just a charitable trust to support Anglicanism, and has no real authority in the Communion when you read its organizational documents. Yes, it has done things like declared Sees vacant without authority, but it doesn’t mean they actually have that power. The remaining Primates set to work reorganizing Anglicanism, starting with recognition of faithful bishops who play by the rules and asking them to elect a new Primate.

Not that I think the current ABC will do this. But, it is what he ought to do. I think he might be surprised how quickly folks begin to cooperate. He simply has to force it on them, with the help of the bishops at Lambeth who would be willing to go along with this. He could start revoking invitations and credentials today. It is also not for lack of warning, since he told the Bishops they were expected to work with the Windsor and Covenant processes. Plenty of folks are not working with them. Now, I blame all of this on the intransigence of TEC’s liberal leadership, but blame is not the issue.

What has to be done is similar to the Organian treaty imposed upon the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire in Star Trek. The Organians didn’t give the Federation or the Klingons any choice. They just said this is how things are going to be, period. Come to think of it, +Rowan Williams is sort of like an Organian…”we have no one in authority, but I am chairman of the council of elders” and what not.

That’s about all that can be done, at this point, to save the Anglican Communion.

More Windsor Consultation Group Suggestions

This is all sort of like a British bobby with no gun. “Stop! Or I’ll say ’stop’ again!”

A New Search Engine Hits The Net With A Very Different Approach

Check it out. Cuil.

A Snippit of An Email to +Bruce Regarding My Prayers For the Lambeth Conference

Know that I will be holding you in prayer this week as the Lambeth Conference faces the tough decisions regarding the Communion. I am praying that what they do will ultimately force TEC’s liberal leadership to declare the “Episcopal Communion”, as I do not think they will change or go back on their current moves. That would hopefully allow faithful Dioceses to form an Anglican Province and keep their property, consistent with the Constitution and Canons of the Church.

Or for some other miracle.

Lotsa Lambeth Video

Including an extended video (in two parts) of the Archbishop of Sudan.

+Bruce Sends A Report From Lambeth; UPDATED

Lambeth Conference 2008
University of Kent at Canterbury

Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26, 2008
St. James the Apostle and the Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Since writing last we have settled into the rhythm that is so much a part of our lives within the context of Lambeth Conference. In my first epistle you read about the encounters of getting here, getting settled, and were given a glimpse of what the beginning of our time together looked like. What I really hadn’t discovered at that time was the vast size of the campus at Kent University. It seems as though when we are not involved in something, we are walking to whatever we need to be involved in next. By the end of day most of us are more inclined to be seen “dragging” in place of “walking.”

Our routine has not varied much, we begin each day with early Eucharist, and this is presided over by the various Provinces. The music for each of the services will reflect the particular tradition, but most of the participants each day are members of the Chaplaincy team. All the participants at Lambeth Conference were given headsets upon arrival and this enables us the benefit of having the various services and other events translated.

Following worship we go to one of the two dining rooms where our meals are shared. As this is done cafeteria style, we get to stand in long, and I really mean long, lines. Depending upon the timing of your arrival at the dining room can make a difference of 30-45 minutes in line! One of the pleasant elements of our dining arrangement is that we most often end up sharing a meal with someone new each time, and this is one of the primary opportunities we have to get to visit with a variety of bishops from other jurisdictions.

Promptly following breakfast we head to our Bible study groups, and as I shared last, this time with seven other bishops is time well spent. I am blessed with an excellent group, and we meet with the same people every day.

We then head out directly to our Indaba group (see the last epistle for the description of this) where we spend two hours in discussion, reflection, and prayer on the given topic for the day. The Indaba groups are supposed to be central to what we do here, but I must confess, and I am not alone, that a great expanse exists for these gatherings to take hold. As I shared with the group this morning, we better posture ourselves for engagement in the issues before us soon, or we will be faced with no time. (Note: plans do call for us to become much more engaged in all of this next week, thus extra prayers please.)

Looking back at the past few days since I wrote, I note there have been several meetings with various Primates and Bishops to address the work that is before us as a Communion; attended a hearing of the Windsor Consultation Group where preliminary work was started in this first of five meetings; and attended another meeting with the Covenant Design Group. Additionally, we spend about 90 minutes each afternoon in a “self-select session,” and this being a discussion group or workshop.

On Thursday, July 24, we began the day with travelling by bus to Lambeth Palace in London where we shared in the gathering that followed the Millennium Development Goals Walk. (I did not walk as my knee has declared – enough is enough with the miles of walking on the campus every day.) The rally at Lambeth Palace included a rousing speech by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. Before boarding the bus to Buckingham Palace, we shared lunch under a huge tent in the courtyard of Lambeth Palace and where I had the company of the Bishop of Dover and the Russian Orthodox Bishop of Bucharest (Bukarest).

Upon arrival at Buckingham Palace we were thoroughly screened prior to getting into the palace. A lovely afternoon was spent there and we actually were in the company of the Queen, though very few got to speak to her or Prince Philip, her husband. I am pleased to say however, that I was one of the folks selected to visit with them, and had a charming, but brief conversation with Prince Philip. Once we had departed this delightful event and all its fanfare, I thought to myself, goodness, all this and they forgot to sing happy birthday! (Which brings to mind, thank you to those who sent me gracious e-mail birthday greetings from home.)

A two hour bus trip from London to Canterbury got us back in time to call it a day, and then get up this morning to begin again the routine spelled out at the outset of this epistle. I must say that we did take a break this afternoon to have the “official Lambeth photo” shot, and after which I participated in an interview that I had committed to earlier this past week.

Tomorrow, the 11th Sunday after Pentecost, will find me taking the bus to Canterbury Cathedral in the morning where you will be remembered in my prayers, and then returning to the campus for a meeting on the continuing progress of Communion Partners in the afternoon.

Thus, this having been said, this is where we are at the end of Day Twelve.

In closing, please continue to hold me and those participating in this important meeting with me in your prayers. Know also that my day begins and ends each day with prayers for each of you, and thanksgiving for the ministry we share.

Blessings in abundance.

+Bruce MacPherson

The Rt. Rev’d D. Bruce MacPherson
Bishop of Western Louisiana
and President of Province VII

UPDATE:

When originally writing “A SECOND WORD FROM LAMBETH,” my computer did something strange and I lost the document. Since rewriting and sending the piece, I found that a portion of what had originally been written had been dropped out, and provide it at this time. Apologies.

Looking back at the past few days since I first wrote, I note here my participation in several meetings with various Primates and Bishops to address the work that is before us as a Communion; attended a hearing of the Windsor Consultation Group where preliminary work was started in this first of five meetings; and attended another meeting with the Covenant Design Group. Additionally, we spend about 90 minutes each afternoon in a “self-select session,” and this being a discussion group or workshop. Two significant meetings have been held with the regard to the Communion Partners plan. The first meeting, which was held this past Tuesday, found me being asked to speak to the gathered body of about 150-180 bishops on the design and implementation of the Communion Partners plan; and then a follow up meeting with a smaller group was held on the next evening.

Also in the past week, each of the Provinces has met individually. Our House of Bishops met on both occasions, and the gatherings (not meetings) were spent mostly with announcements, questions and answers. The first meeting, as some may have read, included the action of a few bishops to endeavour to have the Bishop of New Hampshire at these two gatherings. It was pointed out this was not possible as these were not meetings of the House of Bishops, but rather, were a part of the Lambeth Conference. The request was not supported by the leadership of our gathering, and the discussion was put to rest.

A highlight of the first gathering of our House of Bishops was the showing of a DVD sent to us by the youth at the Episcopal Youth Event in San Antonio. This was indeed delightful to have about 1,200 young people express their greetings to us with great enthusiasm (FYI – our diocese was well represented at this event).