Those hoping that the U.S. Episcopal Church's nine-member court would issue a quick decision following the February 27 heresy hearing of retired bishop Walter Righter have been disappointed. But John W. Howe, Episcopal bishop of Central Florida, regards the delay as a positive sign.

Conservatives in the church have charged that Righter violated church doctrine in 1990 when he ordained Barry Stopfel, an openly practicing homosexual, as a deacon (CT, Oct. 2, 1995, p. 107). According to Howe, four of the nine bishops who make up the court "have a predisposition to dismiss the case." Howe says, "The delay may be an indication that the court is taking the charges very seriously and that their decision is not a foregone conclusion."

DOCTRINE OR DISCIPLINE? At issue is whether the homosexual ordination is a matter of church order or church doctrine. Pittsburgh bishop Alden Hathaway says church order is subject to change based on the missions-related needs of the church, while doctrine constitutes "right teaching," in this case, regarding biblical norms as they relate to homosexuality.

Initially, a follow-up to the February 27 hearing had been scheduled for late March. Instead, attorneys from both sides have been asked to submit memoranda focusing on the distinctions between church doctrine and discipline. The imminent court decision on whether to dismiss the case or to recommend a full heresy trial of Righter could be a defining moment for the denomination.

Both Hathaway and Howe regret that the issue of homosexual ordination has had to be addressed in the context of the church's legal system. "This has been a disaster," Hathaway says, "but it represents the disaster that our church is in." Howe adds, "I wish it weren't a trial situation. ...