Responding to the recent furor over the invitation to Katharine Jefferts Schori to preach at Nashotah House, a heretofore “orthodox” Episcopal seminary, Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Church in North America issued this not-so-veiled threat:
At the request of the Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America, meeting in conference call on Tuesday, February 25, I have been asked to make the following statement:
“The Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America deeply regret the invitation by Dean Edward Salmon to Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori to preach at Nashotah House. The insensitivity of this invitation to many of the loyal friends of the House is compounded by the proposed eucharistic context. What is far more concerning, however, are the fundamental spiritual, biblical and institutional issues that the visit to Chapel raises. We have trusted Nashotah House with our students, our prayers and our support, recognizing that the House also serves the Episcopal Church, and that a remarkable community has been built there. We hope that ways can be found to restore the trust that this particular invitation has seriously shaken.”
I was going to post this and move on except for an intriguing suggestion made by a commenter in that post. I admit that this sounds a little conspiracy-theoryish but MichaelA wonders whether the idea for inviting Mrs. Schori, which was supposedly initiated by some Episcopal Organization students at Nashotah, isn’t a back-door attempt by TEO to rid itself of one of its few remaining “orthodox” institutions.
I suspect the preamble is meant to make the point that, even though the bishops have not met nor taken a poll (which they could only do if they physically met, as i understand it) that they are nevertheless united on this issue.
That means that ++Duncan is truly speaking for the bishops.
That in turn means that if Nashotah House doesn’t do something to restore the relationship, it may soon not be getting any more students or contributions from ACNA.
tjmcmahon (#14) adds:
Something I find very concerning is that the usual outlets of revisionist bile – Episcopal Cafe and HoBD list- have been COMPLETELY silent on this whole affair. This indicates to me that the HoBD is being heavily moderated, and that EC has been alerted not to say anything. This almost always means that 815 is orchestrating something and they don’t want revisionist vitriol all over the place. SO I think there is much more going on behind the scenes, and this was much more at the initiative of 815, than the story of 3 students would have us believe. Yep, that is pure speculation. Or analysis based on previous behavior by TEC. Take your pick.
Is there anything to any of this? I have no idea except to say that it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if the Episcopal Organization wanted to cap one of the last of its “orthodox” seminaries and would use any means at its disposal in order to do so.
At the request of the Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America, meeting in conference call on Tuesday, February 25, I have been asked to make the following statement:
“The Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America deeply regret the invitation by Dean Edward Salmon to Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori to preach at Nashotah House. The insensitivity of this invitation to many of the loyal friends of the House is compounded by the proposed eucharistic context. What is far more concerning, however, are the fundamental spiritual, biblical and institutional issues that the visit to Chapel raises. We have trusted Nashotah House with our students, our prayers and our support, recognizing that the House also serves the Episcopal Church, and that a remarkable community has been built there. We hope that ways can be found to restore the trust that this particular invitation has seriously shaken.”
I was going to post this and move on except for an intriguing suggestion made by a commenter in that post. I admit that this sounds a little conspiracy-theoryish but MichaelA wonders whether the idea for inviting Mrs. Schori, which was supposedly initiated by some Episcopal Organization students at Nashotah, isn’t a back-door attempt by TEO to rid itself of one of its few remaining “orthodox” institutions.
I suspect the preamble is meant to make the point that, even though the bishops have not met nor taken a poll (which they could only do if they physically met, as i understand it) that they are nevertheless united on this issue.
That means that ++Duncan is truly speaking for the bishops.
That in turn means that if Nashotah House doesn’t do something to restore the relationship, it may soon not be getting any more students or contributions from ACNA.
tjmcmahon (#14) adds:
Something I find very concerning is that the usual outlets of revisionist bile – Episcopal Cafe and HoBD list- have been COMPLETELY silent on this whole affair. This indicates to me that the HoBD is being heavily moderated, and that EC has been alerted not to say anything. This almost always means that 815 is orchestrating something and they don’t want revisionist vitriol all over the place. SO I think there is much more going on behind the scenes, and this was much more at the initiative of 815, than the story of 3 students would have us believe. Yep, that is pure speculation. Or analysis based on previous behavior by TEC. Take your pick.
Is there anything to any of this? I have no idea except to say that it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if the Episcopal Organization wanted to cap one of the last of its “orthodox” seminaries and would use any means at its disposal in order to do so.
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