I know nothing about the Episcopal Church. Can you tell me if it is possible for a Bishop to be removed from his position? If so, what sort of offenses would provoke such a disciplinary action?
I would assume it could be done, but I don’t know how. And unfortunately, it seems as though the theological liberals are coming to dominate at the Diocesan level. Supposedly, the Presiding Bishop and much of her clique are not only theologically liberal, but also quite dictatorial in maintaining control.
It seems Pope Benedict’s warnings about a dictatorship of relativism are coming true in the Episcopal Church in a certain way…a dictatorship of relativists. As an Episcopalian layman, it is not too bad (after all, I know what I personally believe…such as Anglican foundational theology and the liturgy of the Eucharist and such are still valid), but issues come up either:
A) If one decides to have children (do you want to have to spend half your time deprogramming the theological mush that will be instilled in their minds?)
B) If one pursues Holy Orders (if one espouses too many theologically conservative ideas, they might cut their discernment cut short)
It appears most of the inter-Anglican ‘defectors’ (whether too a different province…such as the Anglican Church of Kenya, or to an Anglican group that is not in communion with +
Cantuar…such as the Traditional Anglican Communion) seem to be Episcopal Priests who cannot in good conscience adhere to the views of their Bishops and the Episcopal Church as a whole.
I sometimes wonder if a day is going to come where laity who refuse to tow the theologically liberal party line will be forced out of the Episcopal Church. It may seem crazy to worry about that, but as we have seen in other areas, the relativists will tolerate everything except those who wish to adhere to sound doctrine:
Pope Benedict XVI:
Having a clear faith, based on the creed of the church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. … Whereas relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and ‘swept along by every wind of teaching,’ looks like the only attitude acceptable to today’s standards.
That does concern me. After all, I am pretty sure there are some people who would already label me as ‘fundamentalist’.