The Bishop of East Tennessee Opines on the Recent Decisions of the Diocese of South Carolina

from Stand Firm by Sarah

Sly. Indirect. Pettish.

From the October email newsletter, where there is more:

At a recessed convention of that diocese, held only several days ago, that body took several steps of concern for the larger Episcopal Church. Among other actions, the convention removed mention of the canons of The Episcopal Church from their diocesan canons. Such an action removes a significant part of the traditional diocesan rule in the life of our church.

This is not the first time that I have observed individuals or subgroups attempting to change the conditions under which they will remain members of the larger group. Indeed, the process reminds me of children at play -- and the circumstances under which one or more of them will attempt to modify the rules of their game, in the course of the game itself.

And so on and so on.

Actually, bishop, the people who acted like children are the ones currently leading our church through its latest ghastly raddled and harridanish decline -- and the ones to whom the Diocese of South Carolina has responded. The children changed the rules of the "game" -- if that's the way one must describe the Christian faith -- long ago, and then dared others to kick them out of "the larger group."

Watch the silver, Diocese of South Carolina -- the bishop of East Tennessee is looking forward to living in South Carolina someday when he finishes his great work in the Diocese of East Tennessee.