Posted by Greg Griffith
The latest story to set the Episcopal wonk-world buzzing is this Living Church article concerning a meeting being held in Los Angeles and hosted by that diocese's far-left bishop J. Jon Bruno, that is reportedly attempting to work out a "final settlement" to the current crisis, most notably, perhaps, as it concerns property.
Comments around the web have run the gamut from skeptical to almost celebratory, the latter no doubt spurred on by a post on David Virtue's site in which he offers his analysis of the Denis Canon (the legislation passed by General Convention in the late 70's stating that church property ultimately belonged to the national church). In it, he makes the case that the Denis Canon was never properly passed by General Convention (legislation of this sort must be approved by two consecutive conventions, not just one, as it appears happened), and that whatever claims of ownership revisionist bishops are making in property disputes with orthodox parishes may in fact be without merit because Denis is not, in fact, the law of ECUSA-land.
This may indeed turn out to be the case; obviously we hope it does. But it is our opinion that optimism surrounding this theory - to say nothing of one that suggests all our property woes will be solved by one meeting of a dozen or so bishops led by one of the left's hard-liners - should be met, at best, with healthy skepticism. It is Stand Firm's recommendation that no parish, mission, or other group should base any of its decisions at this point on theories such as the one David Virtue is advancing. If it turn out to be correct, then there will almost certainly be no rush to take advantage of it, and decisions can be made calmly and deliberately. If it turns out to be incorrect, then actions taken based on a hope that turns out to be false may well put the group at a serious disadvantage it wouldn't otherwise find itself in.
Overly-optimistic speculation surrounding the Windsor Report, and the primates' Dromantine Communique that followed, created expectations that in both cases were dashed when the actual documents were released. While indeed both documents on their face have represented victories for orthodox Episcopalians, their practical effects have been, to say the least, less than satisfying. Also, the dynamics at work on the international scene are not mirrored within ECUSA: Whatever boundaries, pressures, or dangers affect its actions as it navigates the worldwide communion landscape, they are rarely present in purely internal conflicts such as the one over property that's supposedly being addressed in Los Angeles.
We should remember, as we watch this meeting unfold, management guru Peter Drucker's famous saying, "The best indicator of future performance is past performance." Ask yourself what substantive concessions the left has made in this crisis. Think back to what the overly-optimistic speculation about Windsor and Dromantine suggested would happen. Now ask yourself: What is the probability that the outcome of Bruno's meeting will be something which allows the orthodox to sleep peacefully at night, knowing that we won't have any future Midlands or other such episodes haunting our dreams?
Be optimistic, but more than anything, be realistic.
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