Week Ending 07/11/16

Episcopal Church Responds to Week of Gun Violence

The shootings by police of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and of Philando Castile in Minnesota, and the shooting of 11 police officers (5 of whom died) in Dallas as they provided support for a peaceful demonstration protesting the earlier shootings elicited a call for prayer and study of ways to end racial strife by Presiding Bishop Curry, and statements on the initial shootings from the bishops in Minnesota and Louisiana, as well as responses to the Dallas shooting by the bishops in Dallas and Fort Worth.  In addition, the Bishop of Louisiana and a diocesan delegation marched in a Baton Rouge protest on the July 10th against all of the violence.  Episcopal Churches in other areas also responded.  All Saints, Pasadena, for example,  held its own march.  Many used the Good Samaritan readings on Sunday to preach against violence.

Bishop Bruno Case to Move to Next Level

Pittsburgh Update reported earlier that St. James, Newport Beach had a Facebook posting,  saying that although they had been asked not to disclose the outcome of the June 20 Conference Panel hearing, it was likely their complaint against Bishop Bruno would move to the next level. The parish has now posted a notice on the front page of their web page that efforts at reconciliation by the Conference Panel which met June 20, 2016  have failed and the charges against Bishop Bruno will now move to an ecclesiastical hearing by a Reference Panel.

Church Developments on Same Sex Marriages

It appeared that efforts to change the marriage canon in the Anglican Church in Canada fell one vote short in among the clergy while being approved by both the lay and bishops at the annual synod.  A number of bishops responded saying that the current canons do not forbid same sex marriages and they will approve parishes offering same sex marriage.  At least one authorized use of one of the rite approved by The Episcopal Church's General Convention last year.  However, in a recent development, a check of the votes showed that one clergy vote was miscounted as a lay vote, and in fact, Canada DID approve a change in cannons so that it explictly allows same-sex marriage.  Meanwhile, the synod of the Church of England held closed door conversations on sexuality despite threats of a walk-out by the most die-hard opponents to same-sex couples.  While the Church of England talked, the United Reformed Church (heir to the Congregational and Presbyterian traditions in England) in the United Kingdom approved same-sex marriages being performed in their churches.

South India Church Subject to Fraud Investigation

The Church of South India, which is recognized as a province in the Anglican Communion is currently under investigation for fraud and tax errors.  A number of laity have been trying to get an investigation  into the practices of the dioceses for at least nine years.  The Church is overseen by a committee of bishops.  Its moderator, the Rt. Rev. G Dyvasirvadam, who has only been in office for the last two years is confident that the audit will show that there were errors, but not a deliberate attempt to defraud.

Former Presiding Bishop Browning Dies

Edmund Lee Browning, the last Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church  to serve a 12 year term, and who was known for his statement that in the Episcopal Church "There will be no outcasts" lost his struggle with cancer on July 12, 2016.  Browning was the Bishop of Hawaii when he became Presiding Bishop.  During his term, he consecrated Barbara Harris as the first woman bishop in the Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion.  He also was known for outreach to Native Americans, his response to economic and social injustice and the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s.  There are two postings on the Episcopal News Network,  a general story and the official obituary.