Albany Via Media (AVM) board member Joseph Liotta has brought to our attention the fact that the diocesan website does not include a list of priests licensed to officiate in the diocese. He points out that it has in the past been a useful resource for parishes, clergy and laypersons alike. Mr. Liotta writes:
After months of trying to find out what happened to the List of Licensed Priests in the Diocese (it used to be on the Diocesan website but hasn’t been there for many months now) I emailed Canon Haskell. Below is the text of my email to him and his answer to me:
Dear Canon Haskell:
Recently the List of Licensed Priests in the Diocese was removed from the Diocesan website. This list was not a duplicate of Canonically Resident Priests or Canonically Resident Deacons but a separate list. What was the reason for its removal? Will it be restored? Does this list still exist?
Joseph Liotta
Canon Haskell responded:
Dear Mr. Liotta:
Thank you for bringing to our attention the absence of a list of licensed priests on the Diocesan website. We will work on getting the list posted, although, with the Christmas season approaching, it will not be before January.
(The Rev.) Robert F Haskell
Be looking for this “mysteriously disappeared” list on the Diocesan website in January. I cannot believe that no one else in the Diocese of Albany has noticed this, especially the powers that be such as the Bishop, the Canon to the Ordinary, the Standing Committee members, the priests on that list, or vestries and churches trying to get a supply priest. It doesn’t make sense to me. I even brought this up at the AVM annual meeting and no one seemed to know anything about this issue, or that it was an issue.
I’m sure we all look forward to the return of the list of licensed priests. Let's hope that it reappears sooner, not later.
“Too long for the website”? The Resources section of the Diocesan website already includes documents easily as long as the Journal. 100 pages uses only a small fraction of available storage space. In fact, several annual convention journals could be saved on a remote server and linked to from the Diocesan webpage. I would be happy to volunteer to save and manage such an archive. If the Diocese does not wish the Journal to be made widely available, another reason needs to be presented than lack of space on the website.
Posted by: John White | December 20, 2011 at 10:40 PM
Let me try again - The Journal is over 100 pages long - too long for the website - it is the actions of Convention and the clergy list and the list of canons of the diocese - and the financial records of the diocese - and a bunch of other stuff - each deputy to convention gets one - that means that each parish has at least 3 - just ask to see it - If your priest won't show it to you, ask a convention deputy.
Posted by: Father Mike Waverly-Shank | December 18, 2011 at 06:04 AM
If the Diocesan Journal isn't a sercret then the documents contained therein should be published on the diocesan website for all to see. Doing this would be a sure sign of transparency something the leadership of this Diocese hasn't caught onto.
Posted by: Dennis Wisnom | December 17, 2011 at 04:50 PM
Each parish has at least 3 copies of the Diocesan Journal - Just ask your priest to show it to you - It is not a secret.
Posted by: Father Mike Waverly-Shank | December 17, 2011 at 08:04 AM
Is there a reason the Diocesan Journal is not published on the website of the Diocese? For example, is it considered "confidential" or "for official use only"?
Posted by: William F. Hammond | December 13, 2011 at 11:32 PM
FYI - The Diocesan Journal still has the licensed clergy list in it.
Posted by: Father Mike Waverly-Shank | December 13, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Our Bishop and those he surrounds himself with seem to believe that (i) "mystery" is more of an Anglican value than transparency and (ii) the Holy Spirit works more effectively through power and control than through fellowship and dialogue.
Posted by: (The Rev.) Glen Michaels | December 12, 2011 at 10:02 AM