There was an interesting flurry of postings online over the last weekend about what might happen to certain dioceses in the USA who are disaffected within The Episcopal Church and where their bishops are seeking to lead them to a more theologically narrow resting place. In particular, the Primate of the Southern Cone (ie bits of South America), The Most Rev Gregory Venables seems to be wanting to welcome them into his province. The Times had the rumour last Saturday that this plan was thought to be very sensible by Rowan Williams.
It is exciting news indeed. If it is indeed Archbishop Rowan’s will that such realignment takes place, we can move fast on the secret plans for diocesan boundary review in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Look out Newcastle and Carlisle – we are coming to get you.
Sodor and Man has only ever been on loan. (We’ll divy that one up between us and the Norwegians, if they make a fuss).
What was on offer in Lindisfarne is the position of Abbot. (One for you Moyra?)
Crab sandwiches? Can I be a deacon (or something or other) with a special ministry for crab sandwiches please!
Umm… methinks not. I believe the role is kind of taken by the vicar.
Elizabeth, as your would-be bishop of Banburgh, I am sure we could work out a pastoral role centred on the relevant cafe. Mission to day-trippers, perhaps?
Moyra
The East and West Midlands have a use as barriers or ‘the badlands’ that separate the South from the enlightened North.
Missionaries will be required to take the good news to Kent.
I do think of myself as a piskie in exile… Kent is a very long way south, though.
And us folks in Orkney could return to the Diocese of Trondheim…at the very least it might put rest to the SEC being referred to as ‘the English Kirk’!
Well, as far as the English were concerned, the consecration of Samuel Seabury was a bit of a Scottish Episcopal raid. But we’re grateful for it in ECUSA, and frankly the more the we see of the C of E, but more we rejoice in our Scottish ecclesiastical heritage.