WESTERN KANSAS BISHOP BLASTS EPISCOPAL PRESIDING BISHOP

David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
11/20/2008

The evangelical Bishop of Western Kansas, the Rt. Rev. James M. Adams, Jr., blasted Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori over her theology, abuse of the Church's Canons, and what she calls "dissidents" and "trouble makers."

In a fiery letter to the editor of "The Living Church", (Nov. 23), Bishop Adams excoriates Jefferts Schori and cynically says, "So the acceptance begins" (does it?).

Adams quotes the Presiding Bishop saying "The worst is over." (Really).

Adams mimics Jefferts Schori, "We have a diverse church and all are welcome with any theological perspective you wish. Believe Jesus is the savior of the world or just for the ones who choose to believe he is the truth? It matters not. What is an indefinite article among friends? 'The' or 'a,' it really does not matter. Jesus can be both at the same time and you can choose what to believe."

"Is Jesus the Christ of God, the Way, the Truth and the Life, or just another choice among other ways to God the Father? It is just a matter of opinion; it can be termed orthodox in TEC?" he asks.

Adams lights into Jefferts Schori, "Don't like the way canons are written and what they say? We can change the interpretation now, and then worry about the paperwork come General Convention. Our adherence to the discipline of our church is only important when it serves the purpose of ridding the Church of 'dissidents' and 'troublemakers'.

"But when we need to ignore a straightforward canon, which has no interpretive wiggle room, like who may receive the Holy Communion, then it is all right to declare 'local option..' That discipline of the Church can be ignored without another thought or challenge, much less a trial.

"It no longer matters who Jesus is in TEC, because you can believe anything, and as long as you do not step on the wrong discipline, then all is well. Resurrection? Maybe. Incarnation? Could be. Atonement? If really necessary. Sacrifice? Depends. And sin is now a four-letter word."

Adams concludes with this blast at the Presiding Bishop. "All shall be well. Well, for TEC? I guess so, since it seems not to matter. For the kingdom of God? Now that is another matter all together.

"General Convention 2009 looks to be the time when all ideas will be acceptable, and truth is what one makes it out to be. Canons will be 'fixed'.

"The transformation will be coming to a close and TEC will be open to all - all except for those pesky old-time religion dissidents and trouble makers. Most of them will be gone soon anyway, if not by convention. And again, all will be well."

END