News for Week Ending 12/1/2008

Common Cause Partnership to declare itself ready to be ‘province’

As reported by Pittsburgh Update here, Members of the Common Cause Partnership will meet this week to organize a new Anglican province. The highly irregular action has resulted in a good deal of commentary on the World Wide Web. Church Times published “Province plan to be unveiled” November 28, 2008.

Good news-bad news from Episcopal cathedrals

The news we report here is almost always directly related to Pittsburgh or to developments in The Episcopal Church or Anglican Communion that have potential to affect Pittsburgh Episcopalians. Sometimes, however, it seems worth reporting news that should cheer or dismay Episcopalians generally. Two recent stories involving Episcopal Cathedrals fall into this category.

The New York Times reported November 30, 2008, on the rededication of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. The church had suffered a devastating fire seven years ago, and worshipers were celebrating its cleaning and restoration. The cavernous cathedral of the Diocese of New York still, after 116 years, remains unfinished, however. Dignitaries present for the celebration included Bishop of New York Mark Sisk, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Senator Hillary Clinton, and members of the New York City Fire Department.

On a less happy note, Episcopal News Service reported November 21, 2008, that Washington National Cathedral is reducing its budget by $8 million and cutting 30 from its staff in response to global financial conditions.

Iker dismisses inhibition

As was reported here last week, Bishop Jack Iker, of Fort Worth, was recently inhibited for his actions allegedly taking the Diocese of Fort Worth out of The Episcopal Church. Iker has responded by asserting not only that Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has no authority over him, but also that she never has. The statement was part of a press release issued November 24, 2008, that including a supporting declaration from the Standing Committee. The Living Church reported November 24 that two submissions had been made to the Title IV Review Committee attempting to facilitate the approval of Iker’s inhibition at the September House of Bishop’s meeting at which the deposition of Bishop Robert Duncan was authorized.