Archbishop Greg Venables, Primate of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone (South America) has taken in many American parishes that can no longer, in good conscience, remain in the Episcopal Church. He’s even taken in an entire diocese (San Joaquin, CA).
As you might guess, this doesn’t sit will with Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the United States, Whore of Babylon, and Destroyer of the Episcopal Church. Venables was scheduled to go to Fort Worth to meet with the Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker, Bishop of Forth Worth, so she sent him this “nastygram”:
Dear Gregory,
I write to urge you not to bring further discord into The Episcopal Church. Visiting a special convocation of the Diocese of Fort Worth with the expressed purpose of describing removal to the Province of the Southern Cone is an unprecedented and unwarranted invasion of, and meddling in, the internal affairs of this Province. I ask you to consider how you might receive such a visit to your own Province from a fellow primate. The actions contemplated by some leaders in Fort Worth are profoundly uncanonical. They also prevent needed reconciliation from proceeding within this Province.
I urge you to focus your pastoral ministry within your own Province. May your ministry there be fruitful. I remain
Your servant in Christ,
Katharine Jefferts Schori
In response, Bishop Iker sent the following to Kate:
Dear Katharine,
I am shocked and saddened by the rude letter you released yesterday to Archbishop Greg Venables, concerning his visit this weekend to the Diocese of Fort Worth. Far from being “an unwarranted interference,” he is coming at my request as an honored visitor and guest speaker.
You should know that under the canons this does not require either your approval or your support. You have no say in this matter. A diocesan bishop is free to invite other bishops to visit and speak in his diocese.
There are no efforts at reconciliation proceeding within this Province, which is one reason why faithful people continue to leave TEC in droves. Your attitude and actions simply reinforce alienation and bring further discord.
Once again, you are the one meddling in the internal affairs of this diocese, and I ask you to stop your unwelcome intrusions.
Faithfully in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worthcc: The Archbishop of Canterbury
Man… Bishop Iker KICKS ASS! I love that guy! I also love how Rowan Williams was cc’d on the letter! tehehehehehe – you GO Bishop Iker!