Dallas, Fort Worth Dioceses Expand Oversight Provisions

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=3159

[The Living Church] 28 Mar 2007--Two Texas bishops have expanded an 11-year-old plan for alternate episcopal oversight.

In place since 1996, the “Dallas Plan,” praised recently by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference, provides for women in the Diocese of Fort Worth who seek ordination to the priesthood to be referred to the Bishop of Dallas. Citing “pastoral concern” for one of his parishes, Bishop James M. Stanton of Dallas approached Bishop Jack Leo Iker of Fort Worth late last year to amend their agreement so that aspirants and parishes in Diocese of Dallas who do not approve the ordination of women might come under Bishop Iker’s episcopal care.

The bishops have notified the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Panel of Reference of the amendments to the plan. The arrangement is similar to the “good-neighbor-bishop” solution that the panel recently recommended to the Diocese of Florida, Bishop Iker noted. In a March 26 announcement to his clergy, he said, “Bishop Stanton and I believe this is a very important step forward, and it provides a model for other parts of the church that remain divided on this issue.”