Faithful Episcopalians Respond to the Bishop of Fort Worth

From Fort Worth Via Media:

We regret that Bishop Iker chose to respond to our event, “Episcopalians for the Future,” with an angry letter of protest posted on the diocesan web site Saturday evening. Sadly, however, we are not surprised, as this has been the pattern of response of our diocesan leadership to any move by the laity to get organized and informed ever since Bp. Iker became bishop coadjutor and then diocesan bishop. In his view, disagreement is disobedience and disrespect. Our diocesan leadership always moves quickly to try to suppress any sign of dissent with intimidation, public shaming, and misinformation.

The bishop’s statement is only the latest example of this. Even though we did not need his permission to invite Bonnie Anderson to Fort Worth, and she did not need his permission to come, as a courtesy we informed him in mid-July of the meeting and invited him to attend. He thanked us for the invitation but declined because he had an ordination on that date. He made no objection to the event at that time...

...After enduring years of his constant denigration of The Episcopal Church – the most current example his references to The Episcopal Church in recent statements as “the General Convention Church” -- we find his complaint that we failed to be reconciling rings hollow.

Neither Bonnie Anderson nor Fort Worth Via Media is the entity that has “sought to further divide the people of this diocese rather than to promote reconciliation.” It is the unyielding demands of our leadership that everyone in the diocese conform to “the stated theological positions of this diocese” and their complete refusal to allow a loyal opposition to function that has led to the divisions here. What they want is capitulation. We are working for reconciliation.

The Executive Committee of
Fort Worth Via Media

It seems to me that Bp. Iker may live to regret his letter. I cannot recall Fort Worth Via Media ever getting this much attention before. Good for them.

J.