This will be a splendid development - if it happens.  I only pray that the totalitarian approach of the US Church does not “insist” upon its way and thus force out the traditionalist clergy.  If it does work then perhaps Mrs. Schori could learn something.

Oh, there is an element in the CofE that has no problem with forcing out traditionalist clergy.  They succeeding at Synod.  Let’s pray they fail now.

Actually they are rent-a-Episcopalians: Marilyn McCord Adams and Christina Rees.  Over-mouthy and over here.

Link please?

Here’s the link.

This revives the Flying Bishop plan and makes it part of the law.  Whether it will be enough is a question, since their authority depends upon York and Canterbury, who could someday be female under the new law.

#1, frianm, Jefferts Schori and TEC have never made any accommodation for WO opponents, even though England had flying bishops, so I don’t see any reason to hope they’ll learn something now.

#5 Katherine.  Thanks, I know that and yet I am not beyond praying for miracles.  I have seldom seen such graceless thuggery as I find in the US church towards the dissenters - I am a dissenter.  I was ordained in the C of E and I still hope and pray that grace may prevail there.  This article gives me hope.  My three decades + in the US has taught me that miracle is our only hope and that Jesus is in the miracle business.

Ian +

The majority of the House of Bishops are either going to veto this, or else water it down so as to make it unviable.

now suggesting that traditionalist clergy should be given their own “flying bishops”.

While I am in the traditionalist camp, I have to scratch my head at what such a move would do to ecclesiology. This seems to be suggesting that clergy would be able to pick their own bishops. Is such a accomodation going to be made to liberal clergy as well? i.e. I’m a gay priest so I am entitled to a gay or sympathizing bishop, or I’m evangelical and thus disserve an evangelical bishop?

This seems to be pandering to entitlement thinking, and as I understand the authority of the office of bishop, does not sit too well with my thinking ecclesiologically and the precedent this sets.

As Perry Robinson once observed, you are who you are in communion with.  For this reason I am not impressed by people who reject w/o while remaining communion with those who accept it.  Clearly w/o is not beyond the theological pale in the minds of so called Anglo-Catholics since they are in communion with those who practice it and accept it. 

As someone who unreservedly rejects w/o as heresy; I follow the teaching of the fathers in extending that opinion to those who have communion with heretics.

ICXC
John

For my thoughts visit http://sbarnabas.com/blog/2008/10/05/a-tiny-ray-of-sunshine/

I take your points on board #9 - but when you are the shepherd of a congregation in a messy world it is not so simple. Besides which the reason we have ‘flying bishops’ is precisely because we ARE out of communion with many in our own church. For example we do not attend the Cathedral Chrism Mass but have our own etc…

#8 Archer
We have had ‘flying bishops’ for traditionalist clergy in the CofE since W/O was brought in.  The current decision of Synod was to get rid of them at the same time as trying to bring in Women Bishops.

This scheme is self-serving as it is quite possible that without the provision of an alternative for traditionalists that there will be insufficient votes to bring in women bishops in the final vote.  The opposition to this is led by the stroppy American ladies I mentioned at #3 above.

We’ll just have to see how this goes.  And frianm, I’m all in favor of praying for miracles.  Realistically speaking, there’s a better chance in England than in the US unless the Lord intervenes.

Pageantmaster, that adjective “stroppy” must be a British special.  But it has a nice ring applied to these women and according to dictionary.com, it’s very appropriate.  Thanks!

#12 Katherine - you are probably right.  Some words don’t travel but you find out by trial and error.  To me it means a beligerant, in your face, and argumentative person prone to going bezerk if they don’t get their own way.  In short a real pain.

#13 Pageantmaster, dictionary.com suggested exactly that, and said it might come from “obstreperous,” and it fits just right.  A great word.  I love language and words, in case you can’t tell. 

Stroppy. Well! I have just added a new word to my vocabulary. L

Flying bishops is stop gap at best.  The Anglo Catholics are fooling themselves if they stay.

We love our Anglo-Catholics and want them to stay.

Words are wonderful things Katherine.