Here we go!

Debate has begun on the various resolutions in response to the Windsor Report. Before we get to that I must mention that The Diocese of Ft. Worth began the day by asking for alternative primatial oversight in response to the election of the new Presiding Bishop who as you know is a woman. I understand the reasoning of the conservative reaction to the ordination of women but I don't really understand this. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has greater access to the broad spectrum of the Anglican Communion and other leaders of religious and secular governments. To say that the Presiding Bishop is the leader of the Episcopal Church is a bit of a stretch. While there is no one other individual who could lay claim to that position, any Diocesan Bishop probably has more true authority (be that in their own diocese) than the Presiding Bishop has in the Episcopal Church. The Presiding Bishop is not an Archbishop. The new Presiding Bishop will be "installed" in November in the National Cathedral but is not ordained nor consecrated. While she might be the "voice" of the Episcopal Church any Episcopalian could say in response, "isn't that special". I do not doubt that the new Presiding Bishop will have prophetic and powerful words to say to the church both inside the Episcopal Church and to others, but her office has very little power. How a woman Presiding Bishop could possibly be a threat to conservative diocese, I do not understand.

The Windsor Report. One resolution (with amendment) passed in the House of Deputies. It is evident that words have power. We changed "breached" to "strained" and that word change allowed passage of the resolution. The Episcopal Church now takes responsibility for "straining the bonds of affection" (I think it said)rather than "breaching" them by the actions of General Convention in 2003. We began debate on another resolution that in effect would disallow the election of any bishop living in an open same sex relationship. One deputy mentioned that it must then be acceptable if the relationship is kept secret. Impassioned debate followed and at 7:00 PM we chose to be in recess until tomorrow morning. We await a ruling to begin the day asking if the resolution as it stands is in violation of canon law. If this resolution comes to a vote I cannot predict the results. I do believe that "justice delayed, is justice denied".

Continue to pray for the Church.

Dean Hurley