In October 2004 the Episcopal Diocese of Central NY issued a vision statement. It was the product of numerous meetings that began with the new episcopate of Bp. Skip Adams. The vision statement has since appeared on the diocesan website, stationery and other mailings. The vision statement that was issued in 2004 was accompanied by eleven bullet points.
1. First, the diocese proclaimed it would be "committed not to mere survival but by being a vibrant, vital Church for the people of the 21st century." How has the diocese done on this goal?
Let's look at the record. The diocese closed Thornfield and bulldozed the buildings. Thornfield was a place of vibrant and vital ministry; it is no more. The diocese has been closing churches. Areas that were once had vibrant, vital Episcopal churches are no longer served. In 2003, the diocese by the votes of the bishop and delegates to General Convention, alienated three of the most vibrant parishes in the diocese. Two of those parishes have left the diocese and the other one is in the process of leaving. Other Episcopalians have left churches in the diocese over the votes of our bishop and delegates. The bishop has said publically that he would not ask gays and lesbians to step to the back of the bus. Instead, he has thrown the diocese under the bus.
The first bullet point also mentions speaking "the truth even when difficult." We have seen through the Fr. Bollinger affair that the bishop has no commitment to the truth. He has made many false statements about Fr. Bollinger and other aspects of the case, including two at the recent clergy conference. He continues to refuse to release the Shaffer Report. Apparently some truth is too difficult to bear for this bishop.
2. The second bullet point calls for "addressing the spiritual crisis in our midst." The spiritual crisis is identified as "the main thing" not being the main thing. The main thing is identified as the people of diocese being "a clear vehicle for the Holy Spirit." This would be a fine goal if it were not pursued in the manner of gnosticism. The diocese has chosen a path that opposes the path of the Anglican Communion and wider Christendom. The diocese has rejected the clear teachings of Scripure, the Anglican Communion and wider Christendom in the name of following the Holy Spirit. This is not catholic and apostolic Christianity; it is gnosticism. Gnosticism claims special revelation that stands above Scripture and the Church. This is what the Diocese of Central NY has done and is doing.
3. Point three pertains to the Diocesan Board's call to "articulate the mission of the Diocese" and to "formulate strategies."
4. Point four talks about moving away from the one priest/one parish model. Isn't this just naming the obvious? Parishes have been losing members, some parishes can no longer afford a priest, therefore priests will need to be shared among parishes.
5. Five calls for "always becoming more mission oriented." As someone has quipped about the Decade of Evangelism, this is like GM calling for the proclamation of next year being The Year of the Car. So what?
I could go on, point by point, but what's the point? Point 10 calls for a capital campaign. It's been nearly three years, have you heard any word about a capital campaign?
The vision statement was so underwhelming that less than three years later the diocese called for "strategic change" including "Discovery activities" to produce "Discovery data," leading to a "Strategic Change Summit" to lead to a "Strategic Change Plan."
Folks, when there isn't a clear vision managers resort to management techniques to produce Strategic Change Plans. What could be a clearer sign that this episcopate and the leadership of the Diocese of Central NY have been on the wrong path? The vision articulated in 2004 has not produced the results it was intended to produce (the eleven bullet points).
What is evident is that the Diocese of Central NY is in freefall. A number of talented priests have recognized this and have fled to other places for ministry. Many churches in this diocese are in trouble, with two cardinal parishes in Binghamton in conversation about merging, and the rector of one of these churches being asked to lead services for a small contingent of former members of St. Andrew's, Vestal.
Meanwhile, in Syracuse, the leadership of the diocese is engaged in plotting legal strategy against St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Vestal and Good Shepherd in Binghamton. Far from "seeking to live by the example of Jesus" (bullet point 6), the diocese sued St. Andrew's, Syracuse before settling out of court. By the way, the bishop erroneously characterized this out of court settlement as a legal victory.
This diocese needs strategic change. Unfortunately, the diocesan leadership has not demonstrated that they have the capacity to face the truth and do what is necessary for the health and well being of this diocese.
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