TLC: Historic Two Days Ahead for House of Bishops
09/24/2007

Sunday was intended to be primarily a sabbath day on the House of Bishops’ meeting schedule in New Orleans. Instead the resignation announcement on Sept. 23 by Bishop Jeffrey Steenson of the Rio Grande revealed publicly how frustrated some of the bishops may be.

“It seems we are being given a ‘Sophie’s Choice,’ being asked to pick who we love more. Whatever choice is made, people will be hurt,” said Bishop Kirk Smith of Arizona in a letter to his diocese. “Even the option of refusing to choose can be interpreted by both parties as rejection.”

The four international speakers who have addressed the house all spoke critically of The Episcopal Church’s failure to consult adequately with its partners. They also mentioned how the church has made things worse by responding to requests for explanation with excuses about polity and cleverly worded statements that are contradicted by facts on the ground. Bishop Mouneer Anis of Egypt, Primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, had the most pointed criticism, but the criticism from Archbishop Phillip Aspinall of Australia came as something of a surprise because he and the Province of Australia are generally regarded as friendly to The Episcopal Church. the rest