Some of his answers to search committee questions before the election --
- Our greatest challenge is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is also our greatest purpose. We can no longer do things the same old way. The Episcopal Church has been in decline for the past 41 years; the average age of parishioners and clergy hovers at 58. In the next decade, 45% of the clergy in this diocese will retire. Our task is monumental and awe-inspiring. It will take a fresh set of eyes, boundless energy, and creative leadership committed to following Christ in order to turn the tide.
- The first charge to a new bishop is to be one with the apostles, proclaiming Christ's resurrection and interpreting the Gospel. To proclaim a transformational Gospel in a changing culture, we must be intentionally Christian.
- We must unashamedly read and study the Bible.
- We must courageously engage in dialogue with others about Jesus, respecting differing opinions. We must live intentionally spiritual lives as we foster discernment and help craft rules of life for daily living. Our Sunday obligation must expand to include worship throughout the week, with time for contemplation and prayerful conversations.
- We must create loving communities inside and outside of the church.
- We must cloak the poor and the environment with the mercy of Christ, putting the Gospel into action on behalf of others and the world. Younger, innovative, Gospel-oriented leadership must be involved in transforming our churches into places where belonging leads to believing, dialogue leads to commitment, and stewardship leads to changing the world for Christ’s sake.
- I believe that the bishop's responsibility to the Church is to conserve the faith, unity and discipline and represent the whole of Christ's body. It does not seek to preserve any one special interest.
- Anglicanism values communion as a guiding principle and bases decisions upon scripture, tradition, and reason. The Communion is clear about its teaching on sexuality. The Lambeth Conference has reaffirmed this historic teaching. The General Convention of The Episcopal Church has not changed its teaching on sexuality. The Diocese of Texas is clear in its canons regarding the definition of marriage. Therefore, I will not ordain non-celibate individuals, whether heterosexual, gay, or lesbian. I will not give permission to celebrate unions in the Diocese of Texas. As bishop, I will hold true to the canons of the Diocese of Texas. While some would see me as a Windsor bishop, my goal is to be a faithful and discerning bishop. I will not be anxious or have a problem leading the diocese through this time, for I have already been an integral part of the voice and vision.
4 comments:
It isn't true that "The Episcopal Church has not changed its teaching on sexuality."
Apparently Doyle hasn't read Resolution 2003-C051, which states the following:
"1. That our life together as a community of faith is grounded in the saving work of Jesus Christ and expressed in the principles of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral: Holy Scripture, the historic Creeds of the Church, the two dominical Sacraments, and the Historic Episcopate.
2. That we reaffirm Resolution A069 of the 65th General Convention (1976) that "homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church."
3. That, in our understanding of homosexual persons, differences exist among us about how best to care pastorally for those who intend to live in monogamous, non-celibate unions; and what is, or should be, required, permitted, or prohibited by the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church concerning the blessing of the same.
4. That we reaffirm Resolution D039 of the 73rd General Convention (2000), that "We expect such relationships will be characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God," and that such relationships exist throughout the church.
5. That we recognize that local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions."
And so on.
I trust and pray that Bishop Doyle will follow the principles in the first seven paragraphs of his list. He cannot do so and long adhere to the policies he announces in the eighth.
Hard to argue with bls, here. The Resolutions as he mentions here are a clear and official change of the Episcopal Churches teaching on sexuality.
However, as Article 21 of the Articles of Religion wisely reminds us, with regard to general councils: "..They may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God."
True.
Of course, that obviously implies that perhaps previous councils have were in error on this issue. Like - oh, I don't know - Lambeth 1998?
Well, we'll just have to see, won't we? (But in any case, we have by far the better arguments.)
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