As reported in The Lead on Monday, a steering committee has been formed for Episcopalians in the Diocese of Fort Worth who wish to remain in the Episcopal Church should the Diocesan Convention and the Bishop of Fort Worth succeed in passing resolutions that attempt to join that diocese with another province of the Anglican Communion. And then on Tuesday we reported on the Presiding Bishop’s letter to Southern Cone Presiding Bishop Venables requesting he not cross boundaries. Now we have reaction from Bishop Iker on both fronts.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports on Bishop Iker’s reaction to the steering committee:
Fort Worth Diocese Bishop Jack Iker said in a statement Tuesday that the steering committee is “a self-selected vigilante group whose only stated purpose is ‘to remain in The Episcopal Church’ no matter what — and regardless of what TEC believes or practices. They espouse a blind institutional loyalty that borders on institutional idolatry.”
..
[Walter Cabe, president of the Steering Committee of North Texas Episcopalians] said that the steering committee is a way for several Episcopal groups to bond and work with the national church to stay intact. He said it should not be categorized as liberal or conservative.
“We want a more tolerant attitude toward one another, a willingness to engage in informal adult conversation and eliminate fear and intimidation,” he said.
But Iker in his statement said that the diocese’s main purpose is to be faithful to biblical teaching and that the annual diocese convention, composed of elected lay and clergy leaders from every diocese congregation, is the only body that can act on behalf of the diocese.
Read the Star-Telegram story here.
Thanks to Katie Sherrod for the pointer. She writes:
This is indeed a strange place when Episcopalians are called vigilantes for seeking to keep an Episcopal diocese in The Episcopal Church, but a bishop who invites the primate of another province to come persuade our convention delegates to “move” to his province is called “Windsor compliant.”
It’s also sad that while Bp. Iker insists that those who oppose him do not vilify him, he is free to call members of his diocese idolaters and vigilantes.
Vigilante is an interesting word. It is Spanish for “watchman” or “watcher.” It came into the English language through the Southwestern United States, where many Spanish words are used daily. The term has gotten a bad rap because some vigilante groups in our history have resorted to violence when those in positions of power failed to deliver the justice they thought was needed.
But mostly those in power don’t like vigilante groups because they are “watchers.” People who are walking on a thin line of legality particularly do not like “watchers.” I think it is a very interesting choice of words by Bishop Iker.
And then there’s “meddling.” Bishop Iker on the objections of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori to the upcoming visit of Presiding Bishop Venables (Southern Cone) to the Fort Worth:
Archbishop Venables is coming to the Diocese at my invitation and as an honored guest, which hardly makes it “an unwarranted invasion.” The only meddling going on here is on Katharine’s part. And who is she to accuse someone else of uncanonical actions?
+JLI
Isn’t it remarkable that this is the first comment there? Who knew Iker was such a faithful follower of the blogs?
Almost in answer:
When the Fort Worth delegation declared that they have been forgotten in this battle, the Presiding Bishop replied, “Have you been watching San Joaquin? They were not forgotten and now show dynamic signs of new life. You will not be forgotten, either.”
Throughout much of the question-and-answer session retired Bishop Sam B. Hulsey of Northwest Texas stood in the back of the parish hall. Last January Bishop Hulsey held an organizational meeting for clergy from the Diocese of Fort Worth, offering continuing care to those who wish to remain with The Episcopal Church, an action to which Bishop Jack Leo Iker of Fort Worth objected.
Expanding on his comment at Stand Firm, Bishop Iker has written a letter to the Presiding Bishop . He’s not happy. Bishop Gene Robinson would interested in Iker’s argument that it is the diocesan’s prerogative to make invitations, not the primate’s.