Blessed Clarity
By Matt Kennedy+

Four nominees for the office of Presiding Bishop were announced this week. Of the four, three voted to confirm Gene Robinson’s election as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003. One, bishop Parsley of Alabama, voted no. But don’t let the “no” fool you. Since then he has actively worked to silence the orthodox voices in his diocese as anyone at Stand Firm Alabama will tell you. He may be doctrinally “orthodox” but apparently he won’t let a small thing like that get in the way of institutional loyalty. Hence, the quotation marks around the word orthodox.

Nevertheless, were I a betting man, I’d put my money on bishop Parsley. The self-described moderates and even the orthodox delegates will likely cast their votes for him if Brad Drell’s thoughts are any indication. That should be enough to defeat the other three who are, by all accounts, solid revisionists.

The silver lining in all of this is clarity. Unlike say bishop Jenkins or bishop McPherson, Bishop Parsley will not fool anyone domestically or internationally. He may not be a revisionist personally, but he is most definitely a known collaborator with institutionalized revisionism.

Taken together, the slate of nominees does not signal a compromising stance with regard to the rest of the Communion. Nor does it portend the proverbial and long expected Windsor “fudge”. If this slate is any indication, Columbus will be a clear and defining moment where the deep theological chasm between ECUSA and the rest of Christendom will be revealed. I pray it is so.

Found at ORTHONY