FT. WORTH: Executive Council Urges Bishop to Seek Affiliation with Province of Southern Cone

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
9/9/2008

The Executive Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth has recommended that Bishop Jack Leo Iker and Standing Committee affiliate with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone as a member diocese, on a temporary, pastoral basis, until such time as an orthodox Province of the Anglican Communion can be established in North America.

A news announcement from the diocese states the recommendation (with only one dissenting vote) will be presented to clergy and delegates at the upcoming 26th Annual Convention for consideration on Nov. 14 & 15, 2008.

This action constitutes the third report made in response to Resolution 2 of the 25th Annual Convention of the diocese which requested "that the Bishop and Standing Committee prepare a report for this diocese on the constitutional and canonical implications and means" of becoming a member diocese of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. Two preliminary reports were made - one on January 9, 2008, and another on February 12, 2008 -- as an integral part of the recommendation for the 26th Annual Diocesan Convention.

"After months of prayerful discernment and extensive consultation with others, both within our own diocese and beyond, we have come to the following conclusion. We recommend that this Diocese affiliate with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone as a member diocese, on a temporary, pastoral basis, until such time as an orthodox Province of the Anglican Communion can be established in North America," said the Executive Council.

"We have been in conversation about this matter with the Committee on Constitution and Canons, and they will be presenting to Convention the necessary changes to our constitution and canons to enact this realignment.

"We pray for God's grace to uphold and guide us in the days ahead and for the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire us '"with the spirit of truth, unity and concord'" as we seek to serve and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ."

A coalition of liberal organizations in the Diocese of Ft. Worth is seeking to up end any attempt by Anglo-Catholic Bishop Iker to take the diocese out of the Episcopal Church at the next Diocesan Convention.

The groups are, Via Media Fort Worth, Steadfast Episcopalians, Steering Committee North Texas Episcopalians, (www.SteeringCommitteeNTE.org), North Texas Remain Episcopal and Mid Cities Episcopalians (a faith community of Episcopalians from Northeast Tarrant County). There are five main groups and two or three other small "communities,", but they all tend to have much the same leadership, VOL was told.

"The Steadfast Episcopalians tend to be the folks who want to be able to say they're Episcopalians, because that's what they've always been, and they don't realize how many changes Bishop Iker has resisted. These folks are being frightened by threats that they will be turned away from their churches on the day after the convention. The Via Media group, by contrast, is the one that invited Louie Crew to come to town to speak in conjunction with an Integrity Eucharist (not in an Episcopal church)."

A source in the diocese told VOL that their advisory board consists of: Elinor Normand - Chair, Fr. Fred Barber, Stephanie Burk, Frances Cox, Fr. Walt Kesler, Diane Snow, Kathleen Wells led by Kattie Sherrod, the vocal female liberal in the diocese who has the support of the National Church.

A diocesan spokesperson said that Bishop Iker does not make statements about these groups as it tends to legitimize them, encouraging them to do more things to get another response (thus diverting his time and energy). "They are mostly lay people, and not subject to discipline. As of now, he has not disciplined any of the clergy involved. Despite the charges of control and manipulation made against him, he allows them freedom of speech."

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