Jim Simons chosen for Episcopal executive council

from Stand Firm by Sarah Hey:

Nice that he finally gets his wish and I'm happy for him. He'll be one of about three people who believe the Gospel on that committee of 38 -- if you don't believe me, feel free to check out the roster. Easy googling there, folks.

The only thing notable that I see in this article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is this small bit here:

"The Rev. Simons said he wants the council to understand that many theological conservatives want to remain in the Episcopal Church. He is willing to do outreach to those who are considering leaving. "I have deep and abiding friendships in those dioceses and would be willing to do whatever I can to be an agent of reconciliation and healing," he said."

This is a man who has been unrelentingly spiteful and petty on his blog and in blog comments, castigating incessantly the Leavers, which he has repeatedly referred to as "Lemmings." This is a man who is hand-in-glove with the strategy of suing the Leavers for their property. This is a man who instructed people in his "diocese" [sic] not to google the voting record of the raving revisionists that the Standing Committee put up for bishop:

http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/18680

Our old culture would now start to throw stones. It would “Google” the Bishop’s name and begin to collect writings and voting records, it would be mistrustful and suspicious. It would dwell on the deficits and not the benefits. Perhaps some from whom we are separated will do this.

We need to not do that. Rather, we need to trust that those who have been raised up to leadership have everyone’s best interest in mind and that this is not just a human answer to a situation but a godly one as well. We need to see this appointment as God’s way of moving us forward, to recognize it as another stone we gather in the rebuilding of our common life.”

My mind boggles at how he could think that he would be able to do "outreach" and "be an agent of reconciliation and healing" to any informed person who is "considering leaving."

My goodness, I don't want to leave TEC and I wouldn't want such a man doing "outreach" to me. I can't imagine people considering leaving being swayed by him.

I'm sure Father Simons will be a nice representative for orthodox theology and ideas -- and that's about it -- on the Executive Council.