‘Flying Bishops’ off the agenda for Episcopals

WASHINGTON — Bishops of the Episcopal Church will not consider a proposal to allow conservative parishes to seek oversight from like-minded bishops when they meet in Texas in March.

The church’s presiding bishop, Frank T. Griswold, had said in December that the bishops would consider ways to provide “sustained pastoral care” to churches who feel alienated from their bishops.

Griswold, however, didn’t specify how the system might work. Some church conservatives would like to see a system of “flying bishops” similar to that in the Church of England which allows conservative parishes to petition for alternative oversight. Griswold traditionally has been cool to the idea, even though some 40 conservative parishes have left the church during his tenure.