from Stand Firm
Read the resolution below, linked on the Trinity Cathedral website.
There are a number of striking points in this statement -- I'll point out just a few of what I see.
1) It mentions "fiduciary obligations" in the first sentence. I think that is interesting.
2) It includes as signatories "elected members of the Trinity Foundation Commission" and "former wardens" with handwritten signatures -- 20 of them.
3) It lists 18 members of the vestry -- I believe that there are 20 total members of the vestry. This is overwhelming support. It is extraordinarily hard to get 18 people to agree on such serious action; one doesn't see this very often.
4) It's confirmed that the vestry sought a "dissolution of the pastoral relationship." That is sort of the "nuclear option" with regards to parish and clergy issues. It involves a canonical process.
5) The statement says "We are advised and believe that further discussion of the concerns giving rise to our decision at this time would be unwise and not in the best interests of the parish." I can only read that to mean that there are legal concerns.
That fits with the report from the State today that includes this passage:
6) It is very good that the vestry and others have communicated about this in writing. This is good -- the more that can be communicated the better. On the other hand . . . I shudder to think that "the concerns giving rise to our decision" might never be communicated. Everything I know about the health of organizations and communication among groups of people tells me that secrets are utterly devastating -- and they always spread, or at least . . . a version of such secrets always spreads, and in the absence of deliberate communication, underground railroads carrying needed information always form; it is simply a given, and one can see the unfortunate consequences of the corrupt and self-serving and very poor communication from the national organization and leaders of TEC running rampant in our denomination as a whole given its deep dysfunction. I can only hope that clear and forthright and open communication about "the concerns giving rise to our decision" eventually occurs for Trinity Cathedral. Information is a lot like floods of water traveling downward -- eventually, even if blocked, the water will find its own course and reach its destination.
7) I can't imagine the stress that this vestry is going through and will go through in the coming months. It is possible for Trinity to come out of this stronger and more whole than before -- but it will be a challenging time before that happens. I hope they have a strong prayer team in place and that they themselves are praying together too.
There are a number of striking points in this statement -- I'll point out just a few of what I see.
1) It mentions "fiduciary obligations" in the first sentence. I think that is interesting.
2) It includes as signatories "elected members of the Trinity Foundation Commission" and "former wardens" with handwritten signatures -- 20 of them.
3) It lists 18 members of the vestry -- I believe that there are 20 total members of the vestry. This is overwhelming support. It is extraordinarily hard to get 18 people to agree on such serious action; one doesn't see this very often.
4) It's confirmed that the vestry sought a "dissolution of the pastoral relationship." That is sort of the "nuclear option" with regards to parish and clergy issues. It involves a canonical process.
5) The statement says "We are advised and believe that further discussion of the concerns giving rise to our decision at this time would be unwise and not in the best interests of the parish." I can only read that to mean that there are legal concerns.
That fits with the report from the State today that includes this passage:
"Richard J. Briebart, a lawyer and Trinity member who is representing Linder without payment, disputed the allegations.
“I will state respectfully that there is a factual dispute over whether the dean violated any pastoral directive,” said Briebart, a Lexington lawyer. He said he and Linder regretted that the matter became public.
The matter is expected to be mediated in an ecclesiastical court.
6) It is very good that the vestry and others have communicated about this in writing. This is good -- the more that can be communicated the better. On the other hand . . . I shudder to think that "the concerns giving rise to our decision" might never be communicated. Everything I know about the health of organizations and communication among groups of people tells me that secrets are utterly devastating -- and they always spread, or at least . . . a version of such secrets always spreads, and in the absence of deliberate communication, underground railroads carrying needed information always form; it is simply a given, and one can see the unfortunate consequences of the corrupt and self-serving and very poor communication from the national organization and leaders of TEC running rampant in our denomination as a whole given its deep dysfunction. I can only hope that clear and forthright and open communication about "the concerns giving rise to our decision" eventually occurs for Trinity Cathedral. Information is a lot like floods of water traveling downward -- eventually, even if blocked, the water will find its own course and reach its destination.
7) I can't imagine the stress that this vestry is going through and will go through in the coming months. It is possible for Trinity to come out of this stronger and more whole than before -- but it will be a challenging time before that happens. I hope they have a strong prayer team in place and that they themselves are praying together too.
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