Hmm -- Is There A Pattern Here?

Two features that most people cite as common to the various branches of the Continuum are use of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and the refusal to ordain women. But I keep seeing a third feature, and I think this is an overriding one: the clergy in the Continuum are at the margins of Anglicanism. In some cases, as we saw yesterday with the Very Rev Fr Barlow, if they're still incardinated in the Anglican Communion, they claim degrees from unaccredited institutions, and they came in through one or another side door, like the Philippine Independent Church. Others, from Louis Falk to Anthony Morello to William Martin, left Anglican Communion denominations due to scandal. Still others, like Stephen Strawn or Brian Marsh, were never ordained, and probably never eligible for ordination, in Anglican Communion denominations.

In other words, when you travel with the Continuum, you're traveling third class. If there's a part of the St Mary of the Angels story that hasn't been fully elaborated here, I think it's that the clergy who'd been there while the parish was in the Patrimony had degrees, both BA and MDiv, from accredited institutions, and in the case of the more senior priests, had had credible careers in The Episcopal Church. The two more senior were pushed out by Stephen Strawn and Anthony Morello, who had neither, and anyone the ACA has brought in, or appears to be considering, is nowhere near the level of Kelley, Ledbetter, or Bartus.

This applies equally to the major "journalist" covering the Continuum, David Virtue, "DD". As I was questioning his qualifications the other week, someone suggested I look into a place in Florida called Laud Hall. This is an unaccredited institution that, according to its website, offers "non-residential mode" (i.e., mail order), low tuition, and user-friendly lesson plans and examinations. Whew! And they say the Ivy League is overrated! Diploma, Master’s and Doctoral Degrees available!

I'm told that "Dr" Virtue has some connection with this place. This is what we're dealing with, folks. One hand is washing the other throughout this sorry mess -- no wonder Virtue treats the likes of Morello and Marsh with such respect.