Ignorance is Bliss

The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), the meeting of mostly evangelical Anglican primates held in Jerusalem last week, finished its business Saturday and the primates issued a statement outlining their future intentions. While their statement makes clear the primates do not recognize the authority of apostate primates in the west nor, any longer, that of the Archbishop of Canterbury owing to his aggressively lethargic stance dealing with the apostates, they do seem to genuinely regret having to take that action.

"Regret" is not a word that comes to mind when reading the statement released yesterday by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, in response to the GAFCON statement. The words "sputtering, incoherent rage," however, do readily come to mind:

Much of the Anglican world must be lamenting the latest emission from GAFCON. Anglicanism has always been broader than some find comfortable. This statement does not represent the end of Anglicanism, merely another chapter in a centuries-old struggle for dominance by those who consider themselves the only true believers. Anglicans will continue to worship God in their churches, serve the hungry and needy in their communities, and build missional relationships with others across the globe, despite the desire of a few leaders to narrow the influence of the gospel. We look forward to the opportunities of the Lambeth Conference for constructive conversation, inspired prayer, and relational encounters.

Not surprisingly, many Anglican conservatives are upset at what they see as the patronization and downright rudeness of Ms. Schori's response (her use of the word "emission" is a particularly nice touch) but I, for one, am willing to cut her some slack. In her tenure as Presiding Bishop, Ms. Schori has committed so many jaw-dropping gaffes one has to conclude she is simply unaware of her own boorishness. That despite the bedazzling brilliance her supporters insist streams (or emits?) from her, she is quite possibly the dimmest, albeit driven, Presiding Bishop (notwithstanding a lengthy succession of fifteen-watt bulbs in that office) in Episcopal Church history; so dim, she is blissfully unaware of her fearsome ineptitude.

It recalls the famous counsel of Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord, the distinguished German general (and ardent foe of Hitler), on the proper selection and deployment of officers.

I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!

Alas, for the Episcopalians it is far too late to remove Ms. Schori.