One of my least fond memories from my days at a Protestant theological school (but which also trained ministers) was when students would act “pastoral” or in other words try to either address or solve what they thought was a problem with another person or group. It was probably a nice gesture, but it came across as condescending. But these little bits of pastoral condescension were nothing compared to what Episcopal bishop J. Jon Bruno is attempting.
Several churches had the audacity to leave his diocese and then wanted to keep their properties. Bruno responded by suing. He lost and then appealed. Now the California Supreme Court has ruled that the Diocese is the rightful owner. Fair enough. David here at Per Christum already addressed this aspect of the case earlier.
Now, however, Bishop Bruno is getting all pastoral on us, or at least the departed congregations. He said the issue is now a pastoral one and he wants to meet with the lay and ordained leadership of each congregation to try to reconcile them with the Episcopal Church. Â He noted that his offer of dialogue carries no preconditions
….Now that you’ve stopped guffawing…
What a model for reconciliation. Take a group that thinks they’ve been excluded by the diocese and national Church (rightly so) and decides to leave, sue them for their property, lose and appeal, win what is likely the final round, and then seek reconciliation. It’s kind of like someone saying “I know I just kicked the crap out of you, but let’s be friends.” Yeah, I’m sure these parish leaders want to return to the diocese and Church that drove them out and sued them. But hey, isn’t it nice of Bishop Bruno to actively try to reconcile with them? And without setting preconditions? What a stand up guy.
Hat tip: Kendall Harmon at TitusOneNine
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I totally just had an unpleasant protestant seminary flashback when I read your first sentence. Actually, that kind of thing was not uncommon at my evangelical undergrad as well. yuk.
Bruno makes my skin crawl.
Illuminating and entertaining! I’ve added your web log to my “reading material.” Please keep me updated!