While some unofficial tallies show that Kevin Thew Forrester will not receive the canonically required consents to his ordination as bishop of the Diocese of Northern Michigan, he said June 5 that he and the diocese will "respect" the entire 120-day consent period.
"I continue to respect that 120 days," Thew Forrester told ENS. "The process has a wisdom and integrity of its own. The diocese and I have respected that all the way through and will continue to do that. When the process concludes, I will have something more to say."
Thew Forrester, chosen during a special convention on February 21 to succeed James Kelsey who died in June, 2007, has come under intense scrutiny since his election.
Initially, concern centered on Thew Forrester's status as the only candidate at the convention and the question of whether his practice of Zen Buddhist meditation has diluted his commitment to the Christian faith, making him unsuitable to serve as a bishop. That attention led to the internet publication of some of Thew Forrester's sermons and writings along with a revision he made to the Episcopal Church's baptismal liturgy, raising further concern among some about his theology.
Under the canons of the Episcopal Church (III.11.4 (a)) that apply for all episcopal elections, a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to Thew Forrester's ordination as bishop within 120 days from the day after notice of his election was sent to them. In Thew Forrester's case, standing committees have until July 19 and bishops with jurisdiction have until July 25.
The Rev. Canon Charles Robertson, canon to the Presiding Bishop, told ENS that the consent process for a bishop-elect lasts the full 120 days as prescribed by the canons of the church, unless that person receives the required majority of consents before the period is over, at which time an announcement can be made. Until the required number of consents is received, or the 120 day period ends, bishops and standing committees are able to change their vote, he said.
Fifty-six diocesan standing committees and 52 bishops with jurisdiction must give their consents for Thew Forrester to be ordained. The lesser number of bishops is due to the fact that some diocesan sees are vacant or currently filled by assisting bishops who are not eligible to vote.
There are at least three unofficial running tallies of consent votes being updated on the internet. One is being compiled by Frank Lockwood, the religion editor of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, on his BibleBeltBlogger website. Another is on the Stand Firm in Faith website. Another, tallied by writer David Virtue is here.
more here-
http://www.episcopal-life.org/79901_109244_ENG_HTM.htm
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