Three Dioceses Question Title IV Changes

From Anglicans United-

With varying degrees of force, three dioceses – Dallas, South Carolina and Western Louisiana – have expressed their concerns about revisions to Title IV of the Episcopal Church’s canons. All three dioceses express concerns about the revised Title IV granting greater authority to the church’s presiding bishop over other bishops, and to diocesan bishops over their clergy, amid accusations of misconduct.

The Diocese of South Carolina adopted seven resolutions that either delete references to the Episcopal Church’s canons, or specify that the diocese recognizes those canons only through 2006.

The annual convention of the Diocese of Dallas voted to study revisions to Title IV for the next several months and to reconvene in early summer to act on conclusions of that study.

“The more we looked at Title IV, we began to realize what we have here is a constitutional crisis,” said the Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton, Bishop of Dallas. “Much of our concern has to do with due process for clergy and protections for clergy.”

Bishop Stanton said his vocation has been guided by a principle he heard in a seminary course with the Rev. Dr. Massey H. Shepherd: “Canon law exists to protect the people from their clergy and the clergy from their bishops.”

“When you are liable to be charged for failing to report something that may have been an offense, you’re opening the door to all kinds proceedings,” Stanton added. “I think it’s important for every diocese, and clergy especially, to look very carefully at this.”

The Diocese of Western Louisiana adopted a canon that places the diocese in conformity with the new Title IV, but also called on General Convention to reconsider the revisions to Title IV.

More here-

http://www.anglicansunited.com/?p=8954