Cognitive Dissonance

by John M Gessell

One of the highlights of the 172nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee held in Nashville, January 30-31, 2004, was the Bishop's Address at the Eucharist.

It was fairly upbeat even though the Bishop rehearsed in detail the fallout around the Anglican world as a result of the Minneapolis General Convention's consent to the election of then Canon Gene Robinson as coadjutor of New Hampshire. These are things we need to know.

About half way through his address, like a knell, Bishop Herlong segued into a personal statement. He urged inclusiveness upon us. Those who agree and those who disagree with that consent should not exclude one another.

Then quite suddenly, he claimed that the actions of General Convention "are wrong" including the "consecration of Gene Robinson. I do not recognize him as a Bishop and have declared that my communion with the Diocese of New Hampshire is impaired."

Now this is quite astonishing. Nowhere in the Canons for the Episcopal Church is there provision for the declaration of a state of "impaired communion" nor for the excommunication of one bishop by another. No bishop has that unilateral authority. Such action is an affront to the polity and unity of the Church, and is, in short, lawless.

But there is a canon (IV.9.1) which provides for the disciplining of any who by their words and actions have abandoned the communion of this Church.

[COVENANT, Number 17, June 2004]

The Revd John M Gessell is professor emeritus of Christian Ethics, School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee, and a consultant for this journal.