He's Baaack...

A statement from Bishop William Love of Albany on the restoration of Bishop Dan Herzog to active ministry in the diocese, announced today, April 30:

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

As most of you are aware, shortly after his retirement as the Eighth Bishop of Albany, Bishop Herzog resigned his Holy Orders.  In so doing, he made one of the most difficult decisions of his life, one that he has struggled with these past three years.  He did so in obedience to his understanding of what he believed the Lord was calling him to do at the time in preparation for returning to the Roman Catholic Church, which was the church of his youth.

For the past three years, Bishop Dan and I have maintained our friendship and have talked on several occasions about his decision to return to the Catholic Church.  After much thought and prayer he has discovered that his heart is still very much with the people and Diocese of Albany whom he truly loves and committed his entire 36 years of ordained ministry serving.  Earlier this Spring, Bishop Dan asked if I would be open to him returning to an active ministry as a priest in the Diocese of Albany.  I asked him, if possible, would he consider coming back not only as a priest but as a bishop in order to assist me in ministering to the Diocese.

On Maundy Thurday, Bishop Dan and I went to New York to meet with The Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Shori [sic].  Bishop Dan rescinded his renunciation, and The Presiding Bishop, with the advice and consent of her Advisory Council, accepted and restored Bishop Herzog effective April 28, 2010.

Though he has never really been absent from our common life, I invite you to join me in formally welcoming Bishop Dan and Carol back to the full communion of the diocese and the wider Church.  During the past three years, they have continued to support the work of the diocese and to participate in a non-ordained capacity.  His restored role will be of help in carrying out the work of the Church, and I will be asking him to assist in this Diocese under my direction as is true of any retired bishop.

Similarly, Bishop David Ball has been assisting me in various ways these past three years, and by the grace of God will continue to do so.  I am very appreciative to Bishop Ball and now Bishop Herzog for their willingness to join me in ministering to the people of the Diocese of Albany.

All baptized Christians, both laity and clergy, have a share in the apostolic mission the Lord holds for the Church, and I am delighted that Bishop Dan and Carol can officially take their place among us again in the Diocese of Albany.  I ask your prayers for all who labor for Christ and His Kingdom across these nineteen counties.

Faithfully Yours in Christ,
+Bill

A statement from the Rt. Rev. Daniel W. Herzog on his restoration:

I want to extend my deep appreciation to Bishop Love and to The Presiding Bishop for their kindness and pastoral solicitude.  Carol and I are grateful for the continuing opportunity to serve our Lord and His Church in the Diocese of Albany.  My only plan is to assist in any way Bishop Bill directs.  We are honored to resume a fuller place among the clergy and laity of the diocese.

Your Brother in Christ,
+Dan

Comments

[Allison de Kanel]

I for one am thrilled that Bishop Herzog will be available to assist Bishop Love. Our diocese is not by any means the largest geographically (think of Alaska!) but travel from one corner to another must either go through or around the Adirondack park. If Bishop Herzog had not returned, our diocese would either be preparing to select a Bishop Suffragan or finding a retired Bishop from another diocese to assist Bishop Love. Or, at the least, hiring a full-time driver for Bishop Love.

[Harriet W. Graham]

I'm completely confused by Bishop Herzog's desire to return to the Episcopal Church. We seem to be awash in former bishops in this diocese. It is to be hoped that they can find useful work that does not increase the divisiveness that frequently foams in the wake of those who relinquish formal power whilst hanging about their former haunts. In my experience, priests of good will who retire, leave their former parishs just to avoid that situation. What is purpose of the two extraneous bishops in sticking around?

[Robert Claus]

I'm all for Christian love and turning the other cheek. However, given his past actions concerning the TEC and its place in the Anglican Communion, his obvious leanings toward 'traditional' attitudes and his work in establishing the Network, I fear that by reinstating Bishop Dan, we may have let a fox into the hen house.

[John White]

It has been pointed out by a careful reader that the name of the Presiding Bishop - Katharine Jefferts Schori - was misspelled in the original diocesan communication, reprinted in this blog. I have indicated this mistake by a inserting [sic] into the post.

[Robert Dodd]

I am more puzzled by Bp. Herzog's reappearance in the Episcopal Church than enthusiastic about it. I thought he and Bp. Bena showed integrity when they left TEC three years ago. They were clearly at odds with it then. Bena still is and he makes no secret of it.

What happened since 2007 to turn Bp. Dan back toward the Episcopal Church? That Church is, if anything, more progressive than it was when he left it. Did the RCC disappoint him in some way?

Absent knowledge of the why of Bp. Dan's decision, I am unsure what to make of it. Will it be good for our overworked Diocesan? Probably. For the Diocese of Albany? For TEC?

Time will tell.

Robert Dodd

[Fr. Christopher Brown]

No denigration was intended in my words about the Presiding Bishop. I give her full credit and I was impressed. The fact that her part in this affair was in her interest does not take away from its graciousness. Actually, mean-spiritness often undermines our interest.

I am happy to say "Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori" -- it is just that it takes up 38 characters and 4 spaces, so I am inclinded to shorten for convenience. Again, no slight intended.

So far as "special knowledge" is concerned, Bishop Herzog spoke of his conversation with the Presiding Bishop at his anouncement at the priests retreat.

[Suzanne Smith]

I am disappointed that Fr. Brown chose to denigrate the generosity of our Presidng Bishop by asserting that it was in her own "interest" to be gracious.

Maybe. Or maybe she is simply a devout Christian who takes forgiveness, generoisty of spirit and hospitality -- all Christin values -- seriously.

As for Bishop Herzog -- Never my favorite but that's okay -- Welcome back to the fold!

[Jeff Claus]

Fr Brown, you wrote

"As a general observation: somehow we must all find a way to stand up for our convictions without resorting to a "winner take all" mentally."

I agree with that sentiment whole-heartedly. That said, a comment that refers to "Bishop Love" and "Bishop Herzog" should, as a matter of respect, refer to the Presiding Bishop as "Presiding Bishop Schori."

C'mon. I know you can do it.

[Joseph M. Liotta]

Evidently Father Brown has greater knowledge of what took place between Bishop Love, Presiding Bishop Shori and Retired Bishop Herzog than the rest of of us.

[Fr. Christopher Brown]

The Presiding Bishop WAS gracious with Bishop Herzog. While I have often been disturbed by her actions (and the words, "loving, kind and forgiving," do not come to mind) one must not force those with whom we disagree into too narrow a box (to use Bishop Schori’s own phrase). People are far more multifaceted than we are inclined to recognize.

Bishop Dan and Bishop Schori had a candid and yet friendly conversation. There was no "groveling" nor any demand for a quid pro quo.

For what is it is worth, it was in Bishop Schori’s interest to be gracious, since it lends strength to her claims regarding the theological diversity of the Episcopal Church; as she told Bishop Dan, she certainly hoped that the Episcopal Church was to diverse enough for someone of Bishop Herzog's theologically traditional outlook.

The whole episode is a testimony to Bishop Love’s ability to maintain a cordial relationship with Katherine Schori and his “progressive colleagues, since it was Bishop Bill who laid the groundwork.

As a general observation: somehow we must all find a way to stand up for our convictions without resorting to a "winner take all" mentally.

[William F. Hammond]

Welcome back to Bishop Herzog!

-- Bill

P.S. I find no fault with his statement.

[Joseph M. Liotta]

What a great Presiding Bishop we have. She is loving, kind and forgiving, She shows real Christian virtues in these actions. She is a genuine leader of Christians.

She shows how to turn the other cheek when slapped in the face.

In Bishop Dan Herzog's short comment he extends deep appreciation to Bishop Love and the Presiding Bishop. This is incomplete, The correct and better sentence should have included the Presiding Bishop's name. She is a real person. The sentence should have read "I want to extend my deep appreciation to Bishop Love and Presiding Bishop Schori". Even better - it should have been Bishop Bill Love and Presiding Bishop Katherine Jeffords Schori - there is more of a warmth to that way of stating deep appreciation.