Central Florida Bishop and Gay Executive Council Member Face Off Over Glasspool Election

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
March 19, 2010

The evangelical bishop of the Diocese of Central Florida, The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe, and Bruce Garner, a gay Executive Council TEC member, faced off on the Bishops' and Deputies' list over the election of Mary Glasspool, the newly elected lesbian Suffragan Bishop of Los Angeles.

Garner wrote Howe saying "Let's be honest: Bishop Robinson did not drive anyone out of the church. Bishop-elect Glasspool will not drive anyone out of the church. In truth, neither will Kendall (Harmon) or the ABC (Rowan Williams). People will leave, just as they have always left, for whatever excuse suits them. I wish them well. I will keep a seat for them if they wish to return. But they have made decisions to leave of their own volition. Their exclusion is of their own doing."

Bishop Howe replied, "That's an interesting paragraph, Bruce. I concede the point: people make, and are responsible for their own decisions. But most of the people I know who have left TEC have believed they had no alternative for conscience sake.

"I was one of ten bishops invited to a two-day meeting with Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold in September 2003 following the election of the present bishop of New Hampshire (who I consider a friend). We learned that by that time - let alone what has happened since - there was massive fallout in the wake of the General Convention (which had confirmed Bishop Robinson's election the previous month):

• In the Southeast alone: In one diocese seven congregations said they were leaving The Episcopal Church.

• In another, a five million dollar bequest that was to go to TEC was directed elsewhere.

• In still another, a 16 million dollar pledge over the next four years for the acquisition of new property was canceled.

• Capital Campaigns were put "on hold" or canceled.

• In one diocese, the Welcome Wagon stopped including brochures regarding The Episcopal Church because of popular protest.

• One bishop said he lost at least one family in every congregation and eighteen families in one of them.

• In many congregations across the country, wardens, members of vestries, and at least one rector resigned.

• At least one candidate for the priesthood told his bishop he could not go forward with his ordination.

• In one diocese 95% of one of the congregations quit TEC before General Convention even ended. That was all within the first month. Two-thirds of the 38 Provinces of the Communion now say they are in "impaired" or "broken" communion with TEC.

We are now down to less than 700,000 ASA. We have spent - how much is it? $5M, $10M, some estimate $20M in litigation. We are now forcing out congregations who simply believe the Christian Faith as it has always been taught and cannot abide being part of what they believe is now an apostate Church...and selling their buildings to Muslims. I'm glad you will be keeping a seat for those who wish to return. I suspect it will not be many."

Yesterday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams issued a statement from Lambeth Palace calling the Episcopal Church's election of an openly lesbian bishop "regrettable."

"It is regrettable that the appeals from Anglican Communion bodies for continuing gracious restraint have not been heeded. Following the Los Angeles election in December the Archbishop made clear that the outcome of the consent process would have important implications for the Communion. The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion reiterated these concerns in its December resolution, which called for the existing moratoria to be upheld. Further consultation will now take place about the implications and consequences of this decision."

END

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