News for Week Ending 5/10/2010

New Zealand General Synod considers covenant

The General Synod of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia debated the proposed Anglican covenant May 10, 2010. The first three sections of the covenant have received approval in principal, but Section 4 has proven controversial. The church is being asked to study the covenant over the next two years, after which the General Synod will decide whether to adopt it. Details can be read here. Dr. Tony Fitchett, a member of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion and a New Zealander, suggested accepting Sections 1–3 and rejecting Section 4, which he calls “punitive and unAnglican.”

CoE publishes draft legislation for women bishops

A drafting committee of the Church of England has reported on a proposal to provide for women bishops in the church. The proposal will be considered at the July meeting of the church’s General Synod. Even if the proposal meets with the approval of the Synod, women bishops could not become a reality in the Church of England until at least 2014. The proposed has generally be favorably received by supporters of women bishops, as it does not make women second-class bishops. Those unalterably opposed to the innovation generally see the report as inadequate. Episcopal News Service reported the story here. Links to various reactions to the committee report are available at Thinking Anglicans.

Breakaway L.A. church again appeals to California high court

The parish property case involving the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and the breakaway congregation of St. James’ Episcopal Church, Newport Beach, is beginning to seem interminable. (See earlier Pittsburgh Update stories here and here.) The church now calling itself St. James’ Anglican Church has made a third appeal to the California Supreme Court. Details were reported by Episcopal News Service on May 10, 2010.

Glasspool to be consecrated May 15

As Pittsburgh Update reported here, the Rev. Canon Mary D. Glasspool is scheduled to be consecrated a suffragan bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles on Saturday, May 15, 2010. She will become only the second openly gay partnered bishop in the Anglican Communion. The consecration may occasion more criticism of The Episcopal Church for its inclusive policies.

Bennison makes final judicial appeal

As we reported earlier—see Pittsburgh Update story here—the Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr., the sometime Bishop of Pennsylvania who was found to have engaged in conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy for not reporting sexual improprieties of his brother, made his last judicial appeal to a church court May 4, 2010. The proceedings before the Court of Review for the Trial of a Bishop were held in Wilmington, Delaware, and lasted three hours. Bennison is under sentence of deposition. If the appeal to the Court of Review is unsuccessful, Bennison could bring his case to the House of Bishops. Details are provided in a story from The Living Church.

Bishop Price featured at PEP meeting

Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh (PEP) is sponsoring a program on Monday, May 17, 2010, at Church of the Redeemer in Squirrel Hill. Dubbed “A Conversation with Bishop Price,” the event will provide an opportunity for Pittsburgh Episcopalians to meet and talk to the provisional bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, the Rt. Rev. Kenneth Price, Jr. The event begins at 7:30 PM. Church of the Redeemer is located at 5700 Forbes Avenue, next to St. Edmond’s Academy.