News for Week Ending 3/5/2012

IASCUFO members reinstated

Two former members of the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order (IASCUFO) who were demoted to consultant status in 2010 for perceived infractions of their churches have been reinstated as full members of the Commission. Professor Katherine Grieb of Virginia Theological Seminary had been reduced in status because of the consecration of lesbian Mary Glasspool by the Diocese of Los Angeles. Bishop (now Archbishop) Tito Zavala had been demoted because the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone had failed to explain its interventions in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. The Southern Cone has recently declared that it no longer is involved in North American churches. Professor Grieb recently was featured in a pro-Covenant video. Additional details can be found in a March 1, 2012, story from Episcopal News Service.

Covenant fight heats up in England

Church of England dioceses continue to vote on whether adoption of the Anglican Covenant is to be considered further by the General Synod. On March 1, 2012, the Diocese of Sodor and Man voted to reject the Covenant. On March 3, the dioceses of Chelmsford and Hereford did so also. The Diocese of Bradford, on the other hand, voted for the Covenant. (See Thinking Anglican posts here and here.) As of now, 13 dioceses have voted against the Covenant, and only 8 have voted for it. For the matter to return to the General Synod, 23 dioceses must vote in favor.

As the Church of England approaches a decision on the Covenant, the rhetoric has been stepped up on both sides of the question. The Archbishop of Canterbury has just released a video in support of the Covenant. Thinking Anglican has been following major statements both for and against the Covenant. You can find links to the arguments here,  here, here, and here.

Va. churches ordered to deliver property to diocese

Seven breakaway congregations in the Diocese of Virginia were ordered March 1, 2012, by Judge Randy Bellows, to deliver real and personal property to the diocese by April 30, 2012. In issuing his final order, Judge Bellows rejected the petition by the congregations to reconsider requiring funds contributed before they split from The Episcopal Church to be surrendered. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) Additional details are provided in a March 2 story from Episcopal News Service.

Diocese releases candidate information

On March 1, 2012, the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh released a report on the candidates to become the next Bishop of Pittsburgh. In addition to the candidates selected by the Nominating Committee—see Pittsburgh Update story here—the report (and accompanying story) revealed that Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Canon Scott T. Quinn, rector of Nativity, Crafton, was nominated by petition. A long story on the upcoming episcopal election was published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March 4.

A special convention will be held April 21 to elect a bishop from among the five nominated candidates. Deputies and other people in the diocese have an opportunity to meet the candidates at four “walkabouts” being held across the diocese between March 20 and March 23. (See story on diocesan Web site.)