Bishops Statement of Objection to the Consecration of the Rev. Can. V. Gene Robinson

Titusonenine ^ | 2 November 2003 | multiple

[ahadams2]

Bishops Statement of Objection to the Consecration of the Rev. Can. V. Gene Robinson

In keeping with our consecration pledge to guard the faith, we, the undersigned bishops are registering our objection to the consecration of a person whose "chosen lifestyle" is incompatible with Scripture and the teaching of this church.

We endorse the assessment of the Primates of the Communion who wrote that as a result of this consecration:

"...The future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy. In this case, the ministry of this one bishop will not be recognised by most of the Anglican world, and many provinces are likely to consider themselves to be out of Communion with the Episcopal Church (USA). This will tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level, and may lead to further division on this and further issues as provinces have to decide in consequence whether they can remain in communion with provinces that choose not to break communion with the Episcopal Church (USA)."

All Christians, and bishops in particular, are called to guard the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God... [to grow] "to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

It is impossible to affirm a candidate for bishop and symbol of unity whose very consecration is dividing the whole Anglican Communion.

We also join with the Primates in re-affirming the resolutions made by the bishops of the Anglican Communion gathered at the Lambeth Conference in 1998 on issues of human sexuality as having moral force and commanding the respect of the Communion as its present position on these issues. Proceeding with this consecration clearly stands at odds with that teaching.

This consecration poses a dramatic contradiction to the historic faith and discipline of the Church. We join with the majority of the bishops in the Communion and will not recognize it. We also declare our grief at the actions of those who are engaging in this schismatic act. This action is a departure from Holy Scripture, from the clear historic teaching of the Church, from the moral imperative of Lambeth Conference of Bishops 1998, and from the fervent plea of the Primates of the Communion.

Signed,

William Anderson, Bishop of Caledonia

Andrew Atagotaaluk, Bishop of the Arctic

Benjamin Arreak, Suffragan Bishop of Nunavik (Arctic)

Charles Arthurson, Suffragan Bishop of Saskatchewan

Anthony Burton, Bishop of Saskatchewan

Terrence Buckle, Bishop of the Yukon

Ronald Ferris, Bishop of Algoma

Donald Harvey, Bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador

Paul Idlout, Suffragan Bishop of Keewatin and the High Arctic

Larry Robertson, Suffragan Bishop for the Western and Central Arctic

Keith Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy

James Adams, Bishop of Western Kansas

Peter Beckwith, Bishop of Springfield

David Bena, Bishop Suffragan of Albany

Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh

Bertram Herlong, Bishop of Tennessee

Daniel Herzog, Bishop of Albany

John W. Howe, Bishop of Central Florida

Gethin Hughes, Bishop of San Diego

Jack Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth

Russell Jacobus, Bishop of Fond du Lac

Stephen Jecko, Bishop of Florida

Terence Kelshaw, Bishop of Rio Grande

John Lipscomb, Bishop of Southwest Florida

Hugo Pina-Lopez, Assisting Bishop of Central Florida

Edward Salmon, Bishop of South Carolina

John-David Schofield, Bishop of San Joaquin

Henry Scriven, Assistant Bishop of Pittsburgh

William Skilton, Bishop Suffragen of South Carolina

James Stanton, Bishop of Dallas

C. Fitzsimmons Alison, South Carolina (retired)

C. William Frey, Colorado (retired)

Philip Elder, Windward Islands (retired)

Alden Hathaway, Pittsburgh (retired)

Edward MacBurney, Quincy (retired)

Earl McArthur, West Texas (retired)

Donald Parsons, Quincy (retired)

William Wantland, Eau Clare (retired)

[ahadams2]

Ping.

[secret garden]

I'm grateful my bishop had the strength of character to attach his name to this document. Way to go Bishop Herlong!

[livius]

Interesting. I was surprised by some of the names (or at any rate, the locations).

Best wishes and prayers for you all!

[Eala]

I am glad to see Bishop Schofield signed this.

[Credo]

How long until the Global South Primates declare ECUSA out of communion. It's now now early Monday AM in Africa. By the time we wake up?

[ahadams2]

You wrote "How long until the Global South Primates declare ECUSA out of communion. It's now now early Monday AM in Africa. By the time we wake up?"

I expect we'll have something by late tonight our time, and certainly no later than tomorrow noon, God Willing and my mail server comes back up...mumble,grumble, mumble...

[Salvation]

I looked for "Oregon" but did not find it. Surprising since there are several very conservative Anglican Churches. I guess it all depends on the bishop -- which if my memory serves me correctly is not in Oregon.

[denco]

I also looked for New Mexico. I don't think the Bishop is from here also. It is such a shame to see a denomination fall to pieces because not enough Christians rose to the challenge and stood on the scriptures. Denco

[xJones]

I see that Bishop Wimberly of Texas wimped out on signing. He voted against Robinson, decried his election afterwards, and then dropped out of sight. You were right about him.