orthodox [Anglican] Bishops to Outline Need for Adequate Episcopal Oversight

AAC News ^ | 17 March 2004 | Cynthia Brust

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Orthodox Bishops to Outline Need for Adequate Episcopal Oversight at House of Bishops Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 17, 2004

Contacts: Cynthia Brust, 202-296-5360, 202-412-8721 (cell)

As Episcopal Church (ECUSA) bishops stand poised for their first meeting since the consecration and investiture of V. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire, some of the bishops associated with the Anglican Communion Network will attend, hoping to convince the Episcopal Church to provide Adequate Episcopal Oversight (AEO) to orthodox minorities in revisionist dioceses. The House of Bishops, scheduled to meet March 19-25, 2004 at Camp Allen in Texas, will discuss the Presiding Bishop’s proposed plan for Supplemental Pastoral Care.

“The decision to attend this week’s meeting was difficult for many conservative bishops following the damaging actions of the 2003 General Convention,” explained Bishop Robert W. Duncan, Diocese of Pittsburgh. “Some bishops have decided they cannot in good conscience attend the meeting. Others have agreed to be present only for those sessions in which AEO will be discussed.”

The Rev. Canon David C. Anderson, President of the American Anglican Council, commented, “It is clear that the bishops’ purpose in attending is to outline and emphasize the critical crisis in our Church and to address the urgent need for Adequate Episcopal Oversight. They are well prepared to present specific ‘facts on the ground’ defining the grave situation we have before us. The recurring theme that ‘all is well’ being disseminated from 815 is simply a fallacy.”

The Presiding Bishop’s Supplemental Pastoral Care Plan in draft form has been reviewed and in its present state has been found unacceptable by many of the clergy and laity of the churches whom the bishops are attempting to represent. The draft plan does not fulfill the intent of the Anglican Communion Primates in their Statement of October 2003. Following the historic meeting at Lambeth Palace, the Primates issued a unanimous statement in which they expressed their “particular concern for those who in all conscience feel bound to dissent from the teaching and practice of their province in such matters.” [References actions regarding sexuality at ECUSA’s General Convention last summer and in New Westminster, Canada.]

The Primates called on the provinces concerned “to make adequate provision for episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities within their own area of pastoral care in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates.” Under such provision, orthodox Episcopalians unable to accept leadership in revisionist dioceses, many of whom are experiencing harassment for their beliefs, would be able to receive oversight from a bishop other than their diocesan.

“Both publicly and privately, we have expressed our grave concerns regarding oversight to the Presiding Bishop and others,” said Bishop Duncan. “We have clearly and repeatedly outlined our need for adequate episcopal oversight based upon discussions with orthodox churches and individual members in revisionist dioceses as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury,” said Bishop Duncan.

“Any plan that requires the local diocesan bishop to remain as Ordinary for the congregation is not acceptable to individuals in those dioceses,” said Canon Anderson. “The term ‘adequate’ must be defined and accepted by those who are to receive it, and any solution must include an override of the local bishop if he or she will not agree to cooperate with ‘adequate’ oversight. This is clearly the intent of the Primates in their statement which Bishop Griswold signed in October,” he continued.

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