The Spring issue of the Virginia Theological Seminary’s News from the Hill raises questions about what is happening at VTS. Although the Dean Ian Markham offers the newsletter in the spirit of open conversation, the voices are particularly one sided.
Former US Secretary of State James Baker, member of St Martin’s Church, Houston TX and self proclaimed “no expert on Episcopal Church polity” offers a plan for “local option” which seems more like congregationalism than an Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Dr. Russell Levenson, Jr., Rector of St. Martin’s Church, Houston TX writes on his view of a middle way which is essentially returning to doing nothing or worse retreating on the church’s commitment to full membership of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender brothers and sisters in Christ. His idea of “middle way” is mainly – let’s not talk about it anymore or do anything to upset those who are opposed to the direction of the church and tries to redefine “moderate” into a code word for his conservative point of view.
A little back story on the authors: Levenson was in on the Anglican Communion Institute emails in which they were scheming about how to sideline the Presiding Bishop in the ‘alternative oversight’ process and put one of Diocese of Colorado’s parishes under the oversight of Bp. Mark Lawrence and out from the direction of Bp. Rob O’Neill. The story from April 2009 is here. The email thread includes this paragraph by Chris Seitz: “CP can show a third way, and ought to do so. Then the choice is hers [referring to the Presiding Bishop], and something can be learned from her response to this, say with Jim Baker present, et al.” The cabal on the email met at Levenson’s church during a Communion Partner’s meeting.
This issue of the VTS newsletter does not seem to offer a conversation but an attempt to cast reaction as moderation. Hoping to see other voices in the next issue.
UPDATE: Tobias Haller comments at his blog about the Baker plan.