Episcopal Delegates Adopt Resolution (AP)
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
Episcopal delegates approved a last-ditch attempt by their chief pastor Wednesday to salvage worldwide Anglican unity, voting to adopt a resolution that calls on U.S. church leaders to “exercise restraint” when considering gay candidates for bishop.
The nonbinding measure stops far short of the moratorium on gay bishops that Anglican leaders demanded to calm conservative outrage over the 2003 consecration of Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who lives with his longtime male partner.
But it may leave open the chance for discussion between leaders of the Episcopal Church and other members of the Anglican Communion, who are badly at odds over gay clergy. Traditionalists hold that the Bible specifically prohibits gay sex.
The legislation passed in the final hours of an anguished nine-day General Convention. It asks Episcopal leaders to “exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration” of candidates for bishop “whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church.”
The House of Deputies, comprised of more than 800 lay people and clergy, voted for the compromise resolution, one day after killing stronger legislation that would have urged dioceses to refrain from choosing bishops in same-gender relationships.
First Person: Peter Frank
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
This is the last first person of General Convention 2006. I decided after arm-twisting everyone else into doing it, I should offer one myself. I wrote this today.
Rain is falling on the Convention Center roof right now. The press room is quiet. This General Convention is quickly winding down.
As for me, I’m just happy that I’m still on my feet. Every one of us from Pittsburgh, bishops, deputies, alternates (and me) have worked more than one 16-hour day. We have worshipped together. We have eaten together. We have joked together. Now and then, we’ve gotten a little prickly. But through it all, I’ve been amazed as a General Convention first-timer how those around me have just kept going.
Spending time in the press room has been fascinating. Rumors run through this place like flash floods. This morning, the House of Bishops passed a very limited resolution responding to the Windsor Report. Bishop Duncan stepped out with a few other bishops for a moment after the vote. Someone saw that and all of the sudden the press room started whispering and people started heading toward the doors thinking there had been a walk-out. The funny thing is that people here assumed I knew what was going on. They reacted rather oddly when I told them that I didn’t know what is happening.
All and all, I have been amazed by the grace and good humor shown by most here. We are in a desperate disagreement about things that matter most. With many others, I am less convinced after General Convention than I was before that this gap is bridgeable. I’m not sure I have ever seen so much political maneuvering and spin control (it makes me weep when I really internalize that this is a church convention).
But all those things said, these people are not my enemies. I do not hate them and they do not hate me. We are by and large doing what we think we must do to be true to what we think we must believe. It is such a sad thing that our understanding of God is different enough for that action to bring us into such deep conflict.
Whenever I get an email from someone “on the other side” who has obviously been hurt by something we in Pittsburgh have said or done, often part of my response to them is simply to ask them to keep praying for us, even though they think we are terribly wrong. As we drive away from Columbus tomorrow, I think I’m going to take my own advice. Whatever else all who gathered here for the last week and-a-half may be, they are all those for whom Christ died.
That is, someone just like me.
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8 NKJV)
May God redeem the time.
Statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
Archbishop of Canterbury: statement at the conclusion of deliberations on the Windsor Report and the Anglican Communion at the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America
“I am grateful to the Bishops and Deputies of the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (USA) for the exceptional seriousness with which they have responded to the request of the Primates of the Anglican Communion that they should address the recommendations of the Windsor Report relating to the tensions arising from the decisions associated with the 74th General Convention in 2003.
“There is much to appreciate in the hard and devoted work done by General Convention, and before that, by the Special Commission on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, in crafting the resolutions. This and the actions taken today show how strong is their concern to seek reconciliation and conversation with the rest of the Communion.
“It is not yet clear how far the resolutions passed this week and today represent the adoption by the Episcopal Church of all the proposals set out in the Windsor Report. The wider Communion will therefore need to reflect carefully on the significance of what has been decided before we respond more fully.
“I am grateful that the JSC of the Primates and ACC has already appointed a small working group to assist this process of reflection and to advise me on these matters in the months leading up to the next Primates’ Meeting.
“I intend to offer fuller comments on the situation in the next few days. The members of Convention and the whole of the Episcopal Church remain very much in our prayers.”
B033 Passed in the House, By the Way
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
I’ve had a busy afternoon. I wasn’t here when the House of Deputies passed B033. However, they did do so.
Windsor Bishops Issue Statement
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
A number of other names have been added to this. I’ll try to complete the list shortly.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
TO THE FAITHFUL IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD:
We, the undersigned, Bishops of the Episcopal Church make the following statement:
In the wake of the action by this House granting consent to the consecration of Canon V. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, many of us in this House made an appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates of the Anglican Communion “to intervene in the pastoral emergency that has overtaken us.” That appeal was heard and the Archbishop called for an extraordinary meeting of the Primates on 15-16 October, 2003. The Primates spoke forthrightly and unanimously about the consequences that would ensue across the Communion in the event that the consecration went forward, warning that it would “tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level.” They also called for the formation, under a mandate given by the Archbishop, of the Lambeth Commission on Communion. This General Convention has now given its response to the recommendations of the work of that Commission, known as the Windsor Report.
Now, once again, we find the need to speak candidly. The responses which the Convention has given to the clear and simple requests of the Lambeth Commission, the clear and simple requests indeed of the Anglican Communion, are clearly and simply inadequate. We reaffirm our conviction that the Windsor Report provides the way forward for the entire Anglican Communion, the ecumenical relationships of the Communion, and the common life of a faithful Episcopal Church. Further, we have agreed to submit ourselves to the Windsor Report’s requirements, both in what it teaches and in the discipline it enjoins. We have not changed in our commitment.
Sadly, because of statements made by members of this House at this Convention, we must question whether this General Convention is misleading the rest of the Communion by giving a false perception that they intend actually to comply with the recommendations of the Windsor Report. We therefore disassociate ourselves from those acts of this Convention that do not fully comply with the Windsor Report.
It is our intention not only to point to the inadequacies of the General Convention’s responses, but to declare to our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the Communion that we continue as The Episcopal Church in this country who uphold and propagate the historic faith and order we have come to know through the Anglican heritage of apostolic teaching and biblical faith; who desire to be fully a constituent member of the Anglican Communion; and who are ready to embrace and live under the Windsor Report without equivocation. Accordingly, we repudiate the actions of the General Convention of 2003 which have breached the bonds of affection within the Communion. We bishops have committed to withhold consents for any persons living in same gender relationships who may be put forward for consecration as a bishop of the Church. And we have refused to grant authority for the blessing of sexual relationships outside Christian Marriage in our jurisdictions. We intend to go forward in the Communion confidently and unreservedly.
Our chief concern now is to fulfill our charge as bishops of the Church of God in the Anglican tradition to “guard the faith, unity and discipline” of the Church. Pastoral care and apostolic teaching must not only be given to our own dioceses, but to all the faithful in this country who seek apostolic oversight and support. We will take counsel together to fulfill our service on behalf of faithful Anglicans in this country, both clergy and laity, and to proclaim the Gospel and build up the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we seek the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates and Bishops of the Anglican Communion as we do so.
Signed . . .
The Rt. Rev. Keith Lynn Ackerman, Diocese of Quincy
The Rt. Rev. James M. Adams Jr., Diocese of Western Kansas
The Rt. Rev. Peter H. Beckwith, Diocese of Springfield
The Rt. Rev. Robert Wm. Duncan, Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Rt. Rev. Daniel W. Herzog, Diocese of Albany
The Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker, DD, Diocese of Fort Worth
The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr., Diocese of South Carolina*
The Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield, Diocese of San Joaquin
The Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton, Diocese of Dallas*
The Rt. Rev. Henry W. Scriven, Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Rt. Rev. William J. Skilton, Diocese of South Carolina
The Rt. Rev. William J. Cox, Retired
The Rt. Rev. Alex D. Dickson, Retired
* Drafters of the original statement
House of Bishops Approves B-033
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
After beating back an attempt to water B-033 down even more, the House of Bishops has approved. It is worth noting that it appears that the House of Bishops will not be making any statement on the requested moratorium on same-sex blessings.
Resolution B-033
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
Here is the full text of what is being considered by the House of Bishops and House of Deputies right now.
RESOLUTION B-033
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, that the 75th General Convention receive and embrace The Windsor Report’s invitation to engage in a process of heaing and reconcilation; and be it further
Resolved, that this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecreation of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.
Joint Session Completed
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
Well, that didn’t take long. The Joint Session is over. Matt Kennedy has a description of what was done and said. The bottom line is that there will be one more attempt by both houses to pass a very stripped down resolution that will simply say that the 75th General Convention “receives and embraces” Bishop Gene Robinson and calls upon standing committees etc. to excercise restration in consecrating people whose manner of life may pose a difficulty in the broader Anglican Communion.
I’ll go try to find the actual text. While they may well be able to pass this, it falls far, far short of the moratoria called for in the Windsor Report.
Our Mother Jesus: Bishop Schori’s Sermon this Morning
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
Our mother Jesus gives birth to a new creation and we are his children. We are going to have to give up fear. Do not be afraid. God is with you. You are God’s beloved and God is well pleased with you. When we know ourselves as beloved. We can recognise another beloved in a homeless man, a rhetorical opponent. We can reach beyond the defences of others. Our invitation in the last work of this convention is to lay down our fear and love the world. Lay down our shield and sword, lay down our narrow self interest. Lay down our need for power and control, and bow to God’s image in the weakest, poorest and most excluded.
We children of Jesus can continue to squabble over our inheritance. We must share the name beloved with the whole world.
Anglican Essentials Canada Expresses Solidarity
June 21st, 2006 by Peter Frank
PRESS RELEASE
June 21, 2006
Anglican Essentials Canada expresses solidarity and empathy with our orthodox brothers and sisters in the U.S. who are grieving the actions of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church (TEC formerly ECUSA) this week. These actions make clear the intention of TEC to “walk apart” or separate from the global Anglican Communion.
While we hoped and prayed that they would repent and accept the recommendations of the Windsor Report, we are thankful for the clarity given by their actions.
In defeating Motion A161, TEC not only refused to express any regret for their actions which have “torn the fabric of the Communion at its deepest level”, but they have also clearly and unequivocally rejected the recommendations of the Windsor Report. The recommendations of the Windsor Report were made to help heal this wounded Communion, but instead TEC has further destabilized it with this vote.
In addition, the election of Presiding Bishop-Elect, Katharine Jefferts Schori, whose theological position is well known and contrary to the expressed position of the Anglican Communion on issues of human sexuality will exacerbate further the current tensions in the Communion and in the ongoing Ecumenical dialogue with other Christian denominations.
We are deeply grateful for the biblical stand taken by faithful individuals and organizations throughout the proceedings of the General Convention, particularly Bishop Robert Duncan, Canon David Anderson, Canon Kendall Harmon, the Anglican Communion Network and the American Anglican Council.
The actions of the Episcopal Church this week have increased greatly our concern for the Anglican Church of Canada, which has also been called to address and respond to the recommendations of the Windsor Report at our General Synod in 2007. Anglican Essentials Canada is strengthened in our resolve to remain in full communion with the global Anglican Communion and we pray that the Anglican Church of Canada will not vote to “walk apart” from that Communion as TEC has done.