News for Week Ending 4/1/2013

Schism in São Paulo

Anglican Ink reported March 28, 2013, that St. Paul’s Cathedral in São Paulo has left the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (IEAB), apparently over a dispute concerning an episcopal election. The cathedral is said to possess the largest congregation in South America, and its departure may cause the IEAB financial hardship.Two other congregations have joined the walkout.

Standing Committee completes its meeting

The Anglican Communion’s Standing Committee completed its three-day meeting March 26, 2013. Anglican Communion News Service, which earlier reported on the first day of the meeting—see Pittsburgh Update story here—has issued reports on day 2 and day 3.

South Carolina Episcopalians respond in state court

On March 28, 2013, South Carolina Episcopalians answered the lawsuit brought by former Bishop of South Carolina Mark Lawrence and his breakaway group. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) In an 84-page filing with the County of Dorchester Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial District, Episcopalians responded to the arguments made in the original complaint, offered counterclaims, and asked for declaratory and injunctive relief. The content of the document is described in a post on the Web site of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. According to a story in The Post and Courier of Charleston’s, Lawrence’s diocese deferred comment on the latest legal development until after Holy Week. Due to the court deadline, the new document was submitted to the court on Maundy Thursday. Episcopal News Service also covered the latest court action in an April 1 story.

‘The risen Jesus is no butterfly’

That’s a line from a video Easter message from Bishop Dorsey McConnell posted on the Web site of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. The four-minute message suggests that, should WQED ever be looking for a replacement for Fred Rogers, our bishop should be at the top of the audition list.

April PEP meeting announced

Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh has announced that its next meeting will be at Calvary Church on April 29. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Moni McIntyre, whose talk is titled “The Usual Suspects: Homosexuality, Ordaining Gay Clergy, and Blessing Same-sex Unions.” Additional details can be found on a flyer from PEP. PEP will also be celebrating its 10th anniversary at this meeting.