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"A Real Human Tragedy is happening in Connecticut"
By Robert S. Munday
Bishop Smith has not simply inhibited a priest; he has declared war on a congregation. He descending by surprise on a parish with canon lawyers, computer hackers, and locksmiths--not bothering to meet with the priest or the vestry beforehand; locking the vestry and the wardens out of their own church; leaving the church secretary and members in tears! What was the Bishop thinking?
This is not the Middle Ages where the Lord Bishop can impose his will on a parish and still expect the faithful to come to Mass, because "without the sacrament there is no salvation." 21st century Americans are going to vote with their feet and worship elsewhere.
If we pass some of the proposed revisions to Title IV of the Canons, it may make it easier for a bishop to do what some have already done in removing the lay leadership of a parish. But who are we kidding? Do we really think people are going to stay around for this--and pay for it?
If the same fate befalls the other five parishes in Connecticut, we are talking about more than 1500 Episcopalians, many of them concerned, committed, contributing members who will simply end up in other (non-Episcopal) churches. The AMiA will probably move into the area and pick up a few hundred members. Our average Sunday attendance and income will continue to decline. And our reputation as a Church will suffer incalculable harm.
In another populous northeastern diocese the Bishop also has several congregations who disagree with his votes at GC 2003 and his participation in the consecration in New Hampshire.
This bishop realizes that he has the overwhelming support of his diocese. Why should he feel threatened by a few dissenting parishes? He has allowed for some sort of alternative episcopal oversight in parishes that have requested it. I don't know if it conforms to the guidelines for DEPO or if it is a less formal arrangement. Either way, he has done it.
I know that what the Connecticut Six parishes asked for goes beyond DEPO. But the bishop could have said, "I can't give you everything you want, but I am giving you DEPO" and endeavored to cultivate a relationship of respect and trust. Instead he appears to have said, "because what you are asking goes beyond DEPO, I am giving you nothing. I am threatening you all with inhibition and deposition. And I am going to pick you off, one by one, as soon as any of you appears vulnerable." How is the Church built up by any of this?
Right now I am working with two dioceses that are involved in church planting projects. In one, the strategy is to plant diocesan missions. In the other, the diocese is working with its strongest parishes to plant parochial missions. As both dioceses are conducting surveys in the neighborhoods where they want to plant churches, the surveyors are reporting that the name "Episcopal" is now seen as a negative factor by those who are surveyed.
People don't want to join that church they read about in the newspapers. Yes, I know that our actions at GC 2003 have caused some new members to join some congregations. But as far as having an outreach in many places, we're finished! Perhaps we'll have to call our new congregations "Community Churches" like others have who found denominational labels to be off-putting.
The way we are acting now will determine whether--in another 10, 20, or 50 years--there will even be an Episcopal Church. Right now, we are killing ourselves slowly-or in Connecticut, not so slowly.
--Robert S. Munday is President and Dean of Nashotah House
