God bless, Pittsburgh---good on yunz!

"Resolved: that Canon I enacted by Diocesan Convention on October 4, 2008, purporting to make the Diocese of Pittsburgh a member of the anglican Province of the Soutern Cone, is null and void and of no effect, and the Canons of the Diocese retain their numbering as of the start of the Convention..."

This would seem to afford a much-needed legal clarification of the situation of the affairs of TEC's Faithful Remnant in the Pittsburgh Diocese.

Thank God for the appointment of a new Assisting Bishop in the TEC Diocese. May the remaining Faithful of the Diocese be richly blessed in their intent to work together for the Good News of the Gospel, the healing of the Church, and the good of the people of Pittsburgh. Deo Gratias!

As one local parishioner has said: "It's a wonderful feeling of hope. The wonderful thing about the Episcopal Church is there's room for conservatives, liberals, traditionalists. There's room for ALL" - Betty Hetzler, 59, of Robinson -

I too love the language of the resolution declaring the recent actions of Pittsburgh trying to affiliate with the Southern Cone null and void.

The reorganized diocese will survive and grow. Moreover, I predict the new church formed by Bishop Duncan will lose many of the "go along, get along" members who haven't followed this debate. Now with no checks whatsover upon the radicals, they are free to degenerate into a happy clappy fundamentalism that even the most unengaged parishioner can't miss or mistake for traditional worship. And those radicals coming from an Anglican tradition are now competing for the same crowd that goes to the mega churches. This will be a tough sell indeed.

But ultimately whether the radicals thrive or die is of no concern. They have chosen to drive off the cliff. The health of the continuing Episcopal Church is what counts, and it sounds as if they are on their way to success in Pittsburgh. I envy the faithful Episcopalians who no longer have to mess with radical nonsense at their convention and who can pass resolutions stating the obvious - i.e that they are loyal members of the Episcopal Church.

I hope and pray that one day we in Dallas can do the same.

It was a really nice convention. After enduring the previous 3 conventions, it was nice to not need something for stomach ulcers.
It was a diverse crowd and evenly balanced. I will say the new standing committee is more liberal. The delegates to GC are 3-1 liberal. Diocesan Council has about an equal representation. I have found it refreshing to be able to sit at a table with conservatives and not get sick. No we don't all agree on everything including GLTB or paths of salvation but we're still family.

People were laughing and of course eating. The culture of suspicion, hatching battle strategies and name calling was nowhere to be found. Thanks for the prayers.

"It was a really nice convention. After enduring the previous 3 conventions, it was nice to not need something for stomach ulcers."

What you describe is how the first Diocese of Virginia Annual Council after the departure of Minns, Guernsey, Yates, et alia, felt. My stomach didn't clench when the group was asked to comment, and I did NOT miss the phoney-respectful whining voices saying, "Please, Bishop, what about ..."

Prayers with you all.

"have found it refreshing to be able to sit at a table with conservatives and not get sick."

(sarcams alert)But, but, but.... surely this is a mistake. I mean, after the departure of the Holy Ones, isn't the entire diocese made up of faithless heathens drawing down the moon and blessing raisin cakes?

Seriously, it must be a welcome relief from all that bile and venom.

Cynthia

That's was the feeling. Our rector, who has a background in psychology said at our district (deanery) meetings, he saw a lot of hurt, suspicion and fear (he was the lone liberal, you'd of thunk it to be the other way around).

Ford: No sarcasm intended, at least I don't think so. I sat across from and transplanted English Evangelical who has said "we probably don't agree on the +Gene Robinson issue, but we can still come to the same table (I presume he meant the communion table).

It will be interesting to see how we get on. The conservative who have stayed have been use to being in total control. This is a new era which we need to talk and work through things.
I do think we'll make it.

"No sarcasm intended, at least I don't think so."

Oh, I intended it, a lot of it. I find it hard not to be sarcastic in the face of the untruth and hypocrisy of the Right. The Pseudorthodox have always claimed that aside from themselves, TEC is full of faithless pagans, worshipping Astarte if they worship anything at all. That silly little 'raisin cake' liturgy that made it onto the TEC website for a couple of days a few years ago still gets trotted out as an example of TEC's paganism, though it was TEC'S own fault, they might have known. So, if the Pseudorthodox are all now safely in the Southern Cone or their new fauxProvince or where-ever, then all that remains in the diocese, by a process of elimination, must be the pagans and the faithless. I mean, GAFCON wouldn't lie about other people's faith now, would they? No. Duncan, Harvey, Iker, et al say you're all faithless pagans, so faithless pagans you must be. But you're in good company, in fact, I'd consider it an honour for one of them to call me a faithless pagan. They have no idea what 'orthodox' means, so they likely don't know what 'pagan' means either.

Ford, Relax-e-vous.

There is always something encouraging about the stories of the 'Faithful Remnant' in the Bible. When the inevitable happens, and they are freed from the hypocrisy of the former 'leaders', many of the Anawim are given space to relax and enjoy their spiritual and material lives - in God.

This Advent, may God give to all the Amawim a great expectation of Love, Joy and Peace, in the kingdom towards which Christ is drawing us all.

The Angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary, and she conceived by the Holy Ghost. Alleluia! Come Lord Jesus, come! Christus Vincit!

I doubt that The Episcopal Church will get peace from the separatists. They won't be competing with mega churches as much as going on and on and on about TEC and trying to recruit from there. You see it with those who have moved over, who continue with criticism instead of getting on with their new organisations.

“I doubt that The Episcopal Church will get peace from the separatists. They won't be competing with mega churches as much as going on and on and on about TEC and trying to recruit from there.” Pluralist

You’ve got it. Just like the trotskyist Spartacist League, hanging around functions, waving their literature and trying to recruit in ones and twos.