Per Christum Catholic Blog

It is being reported that Jeffrey Steenson, Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Rio Grande, is resigning as bishop of that diocese and intends to enter full communion with the Catholic Church. I haven’t been following Anglican events too closely over the last few months, although the big new line in the sand for conservatives, apparently even rivaling all past lines in the sand, is September 30. The Primates of the Communion have given this date as the cut-off point for repentance by the Episcopal church. However, it doesn’t look like the Episcopal church is going to do what it takes to satisfy the demands of the wider Anglican Communion. Fortunately for Episcopal liberals, the symbolic head of the Anglican communion, Dr. Rowan Williams, is acting like a postmodern “buddy parent,” and seems to have indicated that “September 30th” isn’t really a deadline after all.

At any rate, the recent fudging of deadlines, coupled with the trouble many traditional Anglicans have operating in the Episcopal church, has led Bp. Steenson to do the difficult thing and resign. If only other bishops, namely John Spong, would have the integrity to step down when they no longer are able to in good faith defend the doctrines and discipline of the Episcopal church. Bp. Steenson explains his decision well:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This is a very difficult letter to write as your bishop and colleague in the ordained ministry, and I hope that you will receive it in the prayerful spirit in which it is offered. A pastoral letter to the people of the diocese will follow in a few days. At the House of Bishops meeting about to be convened in New Orleans, my intention is to ask them for permission to begin the process to resign as diocesan bishop. The bishops must give their consent, and then I will step down by the end of the year.

The reason for this decision is that my conscience is deeply troubled about where the Episcopal Church is heading, and this has become a crisis for me because of my ordination vow to uphold its doctrine, discipline, and worship. An effective leader cannot be so conflicted about the guiding principles of the Church he serves. It concerns me that this has affected my ability to lead this diocese with a clear and hopeful vision for its mission. I also have sensed how important it is for those of us in this position to model a gracious way to leave the Episcopal Church in a manner respectful of its laws…More

If only other Episcopalians on all sides of the fence were so gracious about those wishing to leave the Episcopal church. If the September 30th deadline-that’s-not-a-deadline passes without any substantial action, I believe we will see some sort of “realignment” that conservatives have been seeking since 2003. However, I think that no matter what happens, the response from Anglican conservatives to this passing date will be highly fractured, with some going Romeward or to Constantinople, others to the Continuum, still others staying within TEC, and others to the “Common Cause” partnership. Unfortunately, I don’t see Anglican “conservatives” as united as they once were.

Either way, welcome Bp. Steenson.