Jack Iker has been inhibited from sacramental acts by the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. He now has 60 days to recant his abandonment of the Episcopal Church. If he does not change his mind, the House of Bishops will most likely depose him at their next meeting, which means he will no longer be a bishop of the Episcopal Church. This is what has happened with Robert Duncan, former bishop of Pittsburgh; and John David Schofield, former bishop of San Joaquin.
Please note that deposition is not a punishment for his theological beliefs. It is an acknowledgement that he has chosen to leave our church and can no longer function as a bishop in the Episcopal Church.
These are consequences for the choices he has made, consequences he is well aware of.
These are sad days for those who have faithfully followed their bishop. Please pray for them and for Jack Iker, that they may find the spiritual home that is best for them. If some of them should decide that is the Episcopal Church, we will welcome them home with open arms.
Please pray for those of us who will reorganize the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.
You can read the letter of inhibition here.
6 comments:
Prayer Books coming your way...or something else?...what do you most need?
God forbid that a church actually punish someone for their theological beliefs.
Cheers,
Thurs.
Prayers for the faithful Episcopalians in Fort Worth. Let us know how individuals can help.
Just out of curiosity, Ms. Sherrod, where did the Steering Committee get the copy of the letter it now has posted on it's website? As of 12:21AM Saturday it is not posted on the diocesan website, Bishop Iker has not sent out an ad Clerum on this matter, ENS has no story on it I can find, and the Steering Committee is not on the list of intended recipients of the letter. I assume a bishop with jurisdiction in TEC gave it to them, or perhaps the secretary of the House of Bishops passed it to the Steering Committee? Internet rumor has it that the inhibition was discussed on the HofB/Deputies listserv (I am not party to such things), but I thought those matters were supposed to be kept confidential.
I'm just curious as to how this as yet unofficial gathering of Episcopalians got their hands on what appears to be official correspondence of the hierarchy of TEC. Or is PB Schori already treating the Steering Committee as if it is the Standing Committee of the diocese of Fort Worth and sending them official correspondence? If so, it would be polite of her to tell Bishop Iker and the present Standing Committee, along with the rest of the world, that she has taken this step. Of course, in the end this is an internal TEC matter and I, as an outsider, have a perhaps unjustified curiousity about it.
Sorry about the last "anonymous" post, Ms. Sherrod. The "Texanglican" in the last post is Randall Foster+, Chaplain, St. Vincent's Cathedral Church and School in Bedford. Thanks.
Will be down sometime in Jan. Will any congregations need clergy?
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