Another Episcopal Bishop Disaster In Louisiana?

While the world is looking at the Episcopal election in Los Angeles in many ways I was more concerned what was happening in my own State. The State is divided into two Episcopal Diocese . The Diocese of Louisiana (see map above) that is pretty much everything east of the Mississippi River (Baton Rouge New Orleans, and the Florida Parishes) and takes in a small part of the Cajun Bayou Country west of the River. The rest is the Diocese of Western Louisiana.

The Diocese of Louisiana had their election for Bishop this week. The person elected in my view was not a great choice.

Red Stick Rant has a post on this at We Have A New Pointy Hat! (UPDATED).

One of comments I think is correct

"If the bishop elect promotes the gay agenda or brings in a practicing gay priest to the diocese, you can say good bye to the Episcopal Church in eastern Louisiana. Most of Baton Rouge will never financially support it and New Orleans simply can not stand alone as a diocese."

The new Bishop is in fact a Episcopal convert. Note one of the new female Bishops in L.A that was elected was a former Catholic. The new Bishop Rev. Thompson is originally from Cleveland, Mississippi. He received his M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and attended University of the South and Lexington Theological Seminary.

What makes me nervous is how some people are celebrating his election. Wounded Bird for instance seems on board. Wounded Bird praised him for being a moderate but look at this post. See Even More On Bishop-Elect Morris Thompson .

That a candidate was elected who voted in favor of opening all ordained ministries to all the baptized and in favor preparing rites for same-sex unions is a milestone here in Louisiana. Those of you from other areas of the country may not fully realize the election as the break-through that it is.It pains me to see that Morris Thompson is being trashed on the conservative websites, not only as a "revisionist", but as a "heretic", and that few on the progressive side even take note of the election of a fine man who will be an excellent addition to the House of Bishops.

If advocating same sex unions ,opening up the Priesthood and the office of Bishop to openly gay Bishops that endorse the lifestyle and are in same sex unions is a sign of a "moderate" then what is a liberal Bishop!!

Of course the proponents of such moves very much understand the language and power of morals. If the above is a correct view then all things against it are wrong. If gay marriage is correct and from God than all things against are of the anti Christ.

That is why a powerful Episcopal Bishop can threaten Canon Law sanctions against anyone that refuses to seat the new Lesbian Same Sex Union Bishop on the West Coast under something called the Baptism covenant . See MCJ's post HOUSTON, WE HAVE A LESBIAN for details on that. Who knew something as innocent sounding as "Baptism Covenant" could have such consequences.

Other people in the AMEN corner on this are Eruptions At The Foot Of The Volcano . See their post see Heterosexual priest SPEEDILY ELECTED: The Very Reverend Thompson was elected 11th bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana Saturday! Not a word from ++Rowan

So we shall see what shall happen. However I am not too hopeful. One cannot hide the hard choices that are about to have to be made under "moderate" language. In my language "moderate" language is use quite well to force people out. Choices will have to be made and the new Bishop of Louisiana will be a part of that. He cannot just vote "present".

However I wish him and the DIcoese of Louisiana the best. I just hope in six years we are not looking at a civil war down there.