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The material below
relates to the nature of The Episcopal Church.
Note: Recently added items are
marked “New.” Use “Next” and “Previous” links to move
easily between entries. To view a document, click on
“View.”
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| TITLE |
In defense of
remaining Episcopalian, Jerry Bowyer answers critics |
| AUTHOR |
Jerry Bowyer |
| DATE |
2/8/2008 |
| ADDED |
2/11/2008 |
| TYPE |
Essay |
| FORMAT |
Web page |
| DESCRIPTION |
Bowyer’s earlier essay (see
below) evoked much criticism from those who believe
the diocese should remove itself from The Episcopal Church. In this
essay, Bowyer responds. |
| COMMENT |
Bower answers eight specific
criticisms of his earlier essay. Many of the criticisms will be
familiar to those who have followed diocesan affairs. |
| TITLE |
Letter to 12
Conservative Priests |
| AUTHOR |
The Rev. Dr. Harold Lewis |
| DATE |
2/1/2008 |
| ADDED |
2/12/2008 |
| TYPE |
Letter |
| FORMAT |
PDF |
| DESCRIPTION |
Letter from rector of Calvary
Episcopal Church to authors of letter indicating their intention to
stay in The Episcopal Church (see below). The
letter is shown as it appeared in the 2/10/2008 issue of Calvary’s
newsletter Agape. |
| COMMENT |
Dr. Lewis expresses his pleasure at
the declaration of the 12 priests who, he says, have “struck a blow
for Anglican comprehensiveness.” He also indicates that he looks
forward to working with the letter writers in building up The
Episcopal Church in the diocese. |
| TITLE |
Letter to People
and Clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh |
| AUTHOR |
12 priests (see document) |
| DATE |
1/28/2008 |
| ADDED |
2/12/2008 |
| TYPE |
Letter |
| FORMAT |
Web page |
| DESCRIPTION |
Letter by 12 conservative priests
declaring their intention to stay in The Episcopal Church. |
| COMMENT |
It has always been clear that a
number of moderate-to-liberal clergy have no intention of leaving
The Episcopal Church. Some conservatives were equally clear about
their eagerness for “realignment.” It has also been clear that not all
conservatives intended to leave. In this letter, 12 conservative
priests declare that they will stay in The Episcopal Church. |
| TITLE |
Be faithful, be
patient, and pray for all in authority |
| AUTHOR |
Jerry Bowyer |
| DATE |
11/20/2007 |
| ADDED |
2/11/2008 |
| TYPE |
Essay |
| FORMAT |
Web page |
| DESCRIPTION |
The author argues against leaving
The Episcopal Church, suggesting that proponents of the move misread
both history and the Bible. |
| COMMENT |
Bowyer, a financial journalist known
by many in Pittsburgh for his work in radio, is a vestry member at
St. Stephen’s, McKeesport. This essay appeared in a slightly
different form in the Post-Gazette on November 11. |
| TITLE |
Where St. Paul’s
Vestry Stands |
| AUTHOR |
Vestry, St. Paul’s, Mt. Lebanon |
| DATE |
9/21/2007 |
| ADDED |
10/4/2007 |
| TYPE |
Letter |
| FORMAT |
PDF |
| DESCRIPTION |
Letter to parishioners from members
of the vestry declaring their intention to keep St. Paul’s in The
Episcopal Church irrespective of what the diocese or other parishes
might do |
| COMMENT |
St. Paul’s is one of the largest
parishes in the Pittsburgh diocese. Although there has been little
uncertainty regarding where its sympathies lie—its vestry had
already declined Anglican Communion Network membership—it has
largely sat on the sidelines as the diocese has increasingly
isolated itself from its parent body. This letter was issued shortly
after Bishop Duncan revealed his plan to remove the diocese
completely from The Episcopal Church. A Web page version of the
letter can be found
here. |
| TITLE |
The death of
liberal Anglicanism? |
| AUTHOR |
Lynda Patterson |
| DATE |
Winter 2007 |
| ADDED |
9/18/2007 |
| TYPE |
Magazine article |
| FORMAT |
PDF |
| DESCRIPTION |
Patterson, writing in a New Zealand
publication, argues that the center of Anglicanism is being squeezed
out, and she suggests what liberals should do about it. |
| COMMENT |
Current church controversies are
most often portrayed as a battle between conservatives and liberals.
This model ignores the fact that the “conservatives” are both
Evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics, who share only some of the same
views and have usually been considered opponents of one another.
Patterson offers a more useful model, suggesting that the
traditional Anglican via media represents a liberal middle,
the preservation of which requires immediate action on the part of
liberals. Anglicanism in the abstract is being analyzed here, but,
because the analysis applies specifically to The Episcopal Church,
even though that is not the author’s primary concern, we have placed
this entry in the “Episcopal Church” category, as well as in the
“Anglican Communion Relations” category. |
| TITLE |
A Definitive
Portrait of the Struggle in the Episcopal Church |
| AUTHOR |
Interfaith Voices radio
program |
| DATE |
6/14/2007 |
| ADDED |
9/15/2007 |
| TYPE |
Radio program |
| FORMAT |
Web page with Shockwave plugin and
MP3 download |
| DESCRIPTION |
Public radio program with interviews
of Bishop Martyn Minns and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts
Schori. (Also includes interview about Canada’s Big Valley Creation
Science Museum.) |
| COMMENT |
Two major figures in current
Episcopal Church controversies are interviewed here, Convocation of
Anglicans of North America (CANA) bishop and former Episcopal rector
of Truro Church Martyn Minns and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts
Schori. The interviews do not directly answer one another, but both
are interesting. |
| TITLE |
Undermining the
Episcopal Church, Part I: Cheap Substitutions Are Not Acceptable |
| AUTHOR |
The Rev. Thomas Woodward |
| DATE |
8/24/2007 |
| ADDED |
8/26/2007 |
| TYPE |
Blog post |
| FORMAT |
Web page |
| DESCRIPTION |
Woodward accuses critics of The
Episcopal Church of misrepresenting the issues at stake in our
“Anglican Agony” and “trashing” the church |
| COMMENT |
The essay is the first in a promised
series of essays on
The Episcopal Majority
Web site. Although it begins with what seem to be political
criticism, it quickly gets into more theological issues. |
| TITLE |
As we have always
taught... |
| AUTHOR |
Tobias Haller BSG |
| DATE |
8/10/2007 |
| ADDED |
8/26/2007 |
| TYPE |
Blog post |
| FORMAT |
Web page |
| DESCRIPTION |
The author uses Acts 13:26–41 to
draw a number of lessons for the church |
| COMMENT |
Haller says, “This passage from the
early history of the church is a reminder of several things,” and
proceeds to make 11 distinct points. A sample: “Those in the
position to understand the scriptures sometimes don’t, and those
with the authority to interpret them are sometimes wrong.” |
| TITLE |
Why Others Stand
as Well |
| AUTHOR |
Tobias Haller BSG |
| DATE |
7/3/2007 |
| ADDED |
8/24/2007 |
| TYPE |
Essay |
| FORMAT |
Web page, with a link to a PDF
version |
| DESCRIPTION |
Essay written in response to Dr.
Leslie Fairfield’s “Why We Stand” (available
here) |
| COMMENT |
The author offers a very different
view of The Episcopal Church from that of Dr. Fairfield. |
| TITLE |
What Did General
Convention 2006 Do? |
| AUTHOR |
Progressive Episcopalians of
Pittsburgh |
| DATE |
6/28/2006 |
| ADDED |
8/28/2007 |
| TYPE |
Flyer |
| FORMAT |
PDF |
| DESCRIPTION |
2-page handout describing the major
actions taken by General Convention 2006 |
| COMMENT |
The document is well described by
its own introduction: “The following is a summary of major actions
taken at the Episcopal Church’s 75th General Convention in Columbus,
Ohio. Because of their significance for inter-Anglican relations,
resolutions related to our response to the Windsor Report are
reproduced here in their entirety. Where indicated, resolution
numbers are given in brackets. |
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