+Iker to Schori

Once again, I am glad to say that Bishop Iker is my bishop.

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 Worth

cc: The Archbishop of Canterbury

View Source (Found Here)

Which is response to this letter.

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

View Source

He is certainly more patient than I am. I would take a cue from my son, George, and I would blow a raspberry at her.

George's Fascination with his Crucifix

George seems quite fond of his crucifix. When we set him down to be changed, he will smile up at it and talk to it. Sometimes, he will even laugh. He normally only smiles when he is looking at someone who is smiling at him. We placed the crucifix over his changing table, because there was no place where he would be able to see it from his crib. My wife and I gave it to him for his baptism, and it was blessed after the service by his godfather Father Matkin. Unfortunately, you really can't see him smiling in the picture. He has a number of different expressions, but they are difficult to capture. His expression usually changes before I can grab the camera.

George's Baptism

My George was baptized on March 22, 2008 at Saint Alban's. It was a truly beautiful service. I think Easter Vigil is one of my favorite services of the year. I think we are truly blessed that George's baptism could be at this service.

We are also truly blessed for having his godfather and godmother. In fact, he was baptized by his godfather, one of parish priests. George was the only baby who didn't cry during the baptism, but he was wide awake.

George's Godfather

A good friend of mine took these pictures with his iPhone. Unfortunately, we brought a film camera, so it will be a while before the pictures are developed.

George's Baptism

Back to Work

Well I am back to work as of this Wednesday. I have to admit I am not thrilled. When I am not super busy, I miss being away from George.

Home at Last

My wife gave birth to our beautiful baby boy on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 8:23 PM. He was 8 pounds 6 ounces and 20 inches long! He has a full head of blonde hair. We are very blessed.

You can view pictures from his first day here!

George's First Day Out

Sitting in the Hospital

Well, I am sitting in the hospital with my wife. She's laying in bed. It shouldn't be too much longer now. I can't say that I am freaking out or even that I am anxious. I am tired and a little bored. I've played around on the internet some. Everyone keeps asking if I am freaking out. I keep telling people no. They seem not to believe me, but honestly, I am not freaked out. Maybe I am just different. I don't know. I am not scared, but I am happy.

Threatening Letters

It's rather disappointing to see a church who is supposedly committed to be open-minded and communication only communicate through threats.

The letter, dated January 9 and received by Iker on January 15, was intended to be a pastoral exchange between the Presiding Bishop and Iker, according to Episcopal Church Public Affairs Officer Neva Rae Fox.

In a short statement posted on the Fort Worth website along with a copy of the letter, Iker termed the letter "a second threatening letter."

Source

Pastoral exchange? Pastoral is pertaining to or consisting of shepherds. It's an appropriate word when speaking of the office of Bishop. They are supposed to be a shepherd to their diocese or their followers (in the case of a primate to his or her bishops.) I've never heard of a shepherd knocking a sheep unconscious and dragging him or her back to the fold. These two interpretations are very much not compatible. You cannot be pastoral and threatening at the same time. There are lots of examples of how a good shepherd is supposed to act in the Bible. In fact, Christ is known as the Good Shepherd, and bishops are supposed to represent Christ on Earth. Therefore bishops are supposed to act pastoral not threatening. I suppose this should seem rather obvious to most people, and I shouldn't have to spell it out, but apparently, there are still some confused people out there.

Let's look at why these letters are threatening. I've already posted the second letter here. There is no doubt in anyone's mind, liberal or conservative, after reading the second letter, that the Presiding Bishop will sue the Fort Worth Diocese and Bishop Iker if the diocese leaves. That seems clearly threatening to me. What is a threat? A threat is a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment in retaliation for some action. Do what you are told, or I will sue you. That doesn't seem very pastoral to me.

If your course does not change, I shall regrettably be compelled to see that appropriate canonical steps are promptly taken to consider whether you have abandoned the Communion of this Church -- by actions and substantive statements, however, they may be phrased -- and whether you have committed canonical offences that warrant disciplinary action.

Source

The first letter is clearly threatening as well. Do not leave TEC, or I will devest you. Recent actions show that these threats are not completely empty. The Presiding Bishop has started the process against two other bishops. I am sure you all know about that already, but here is the link anyway.

I suppose there are shades of grey between threatening and pastoral, and there is a need to call back the lost sheep and even go looking for them. However, I feel that the Fort Worth Diocese is not the lost sheep here. The big question is how will all this play out.