Frequently Asked Questions on Realignment
www.parishtoolbox.org is going inactive
October 06, 2008
The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh’s decision to realign to the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone brings to a close the mission of this website. I don’t expect to post any new material here. That said, I won’t be moving to take down what is here either.
Since we launched http://www.parishtoolbox.org last August, the website has served 36,237 pages to 10,079 absolutely unique visitors. My hope is that the resources we provided here helped people think through their position on realignment and prepare for the diocesan decisions in November of 2007 and of this October. Now that decision is made, my prayer is that we can all begin the process of moving beyond this choice and into more fruitful ministry.
- Peter
Pittsburgh Episcopalians Weigh Division (New York Times)
October 02, 2008
Reporter Sean Hamill of the New York Times has written a story looking toward the diocese’s vote on realignment.
Representatives on both sides in Pittsburgh say there will be no outright winners, particularly because a lengthy legal battle over ownership of church property is almost certain if the diocese votes to secede.
“No one goes to church to fight,” said the Rev. Peter Frank, a spokesman for the diocese, whose conservative leader, Bishop Robert W. Duncan, was removed by the national church on Sept. 18 for pushing for secession. “It’s going to be difficult. And, at the same time, there’s hope in this. It’s time to move on.”
The drive to divorce the Episcopal Church arose after the election of V. Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of New Hampshire. But the secessionists say the issue is not simply about homosexuality. “Bishop Robinson is a symptom, not the cause of our disagreement with the Episcopal Church,” Mr. Frank said.
The dispute includes complaints that the national church allows open debate on whether Jesus is the Son of God, or that the only way to God is through Jesus — tenets of faith that conservatives find indisputable.
But an opponent of secession, the Rev. Jay Geisler of St. Stephens Church in McKeesport, Pa., pointed out that those tenets are in the Book of Common Prayer, which guides the church. Mr. Geisler added, “I just can’t see Jesus Christ forcing us to go one way or the other and split apart.”
Diocese Found Breaking Up Hard to Do, but Still a Relief (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
September 30, 2008
Ann Rodgers, religion reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, wrote an insightful article on the experience of both realigners and non-realigners in the Diocese of San Joaquin.
The Rev. Gandenberger, the Anglican canon, said those who chose the Southern Cone accepted the risk to buildings.
“There is abundant life, after the convention vote,” he said.
“The relief that we feel, the focus regained, is something that I want them to know in Pittsburgh. Making the decision is the hardest part. Once it is done there is wonderful freedom. We can look at the Episcopal Church and say, ‘Hah! We’re not part of that any longer.’ We don’t have to be embarrassed by it any longer.”
It makes little difference to parishioners that they now have a headquarters in Buenos Aires instead of New York, he said.
The Rev. Glenn Kanestrom is rector of Christ the King Episcopal Church in Riverbank, which kept its building but lost about 20 of 110 regular worshipers to the Anglican diocese.
“We’ve felt the pain of separation,” he said.
At the same time, he said, his parish is more involved in the diocese because its people were once excluded from leadership.
“It’s freer and more open,” he said.
The full story is available here.
Summery of the Constitution and Canons of the Southern Cone
September 26, 2008
The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth has prepared a useful summery of the Constitution and Canons of the Southern Cone. They summarize the standards governing ordination, liturgy, property, provincial polity, and primatial leadership in the province.
“One fundamental principle underlying the Constitution and Canons of the PSC [Province of the Southern Cone] is that “the Dioceses are at liberty to provide necessary selection and training of clergy, liturgical use, finances and possessions, and other affairs related to the local situation, provided they are not in conflict with other Anglican norms and this Constitution.”
Constitution and Canons of the Southern Cone
September 26, 2008
The Constitution and Canons of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone are available as a pdf document that has been prepared by the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. Because of the emergency and temporary nature of their offer of oversight to Pittsburgh and other dioceses, not all descriptions and provisions will apply.
Generally speaking, the constitution and canons provide a great deal more freedom to dioceses than those of The Episcopal Church. The province makes no claim on the property of its dioceses and gives dioceses responsibility for ensuring “that the forms used in Public Worship and the Administration of the Sacraments be in accordance with Anglican Faith and Order and that nothing be established that is contrary to the Word of God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures.”