Anglican Communion Network Council
April 18 – 20, 2005
Communiqué
The Anglican Communion Network (ACN) met in Council April 18-20, 2005 in Bedford, Texas. As we celebrated the strong growth, momentum and vital ministry of the ACN; the gathering focused on critical issues such as church planting, global mission, ministry to youth, and outreach to the poor. The crisis of the Anglican Communion also figured predominantly in our discussions. We reaffirmed our unequivocal commitment to the Anglican Communion and the faith and practice of historic Anglicanism. We agreed to the following statements as representing the mind of the house:
We give gives thanks for the Primates’ Communiqué reaffirming the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10 as the present position of the Anglican Communion, and we urge the General Convention to repent of its actions which have alienated the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Communion and to affirm its intention to remain a constituent member of the Anglican Communion by complying with the primates’ requests (paragraph 17).
The primates of the Anglican Communion at their meeting in Newry called “as a matter of urgency” for a panel of reference (paragraph 15), and yet as of this date, the panel has not been organized. We implore the Archbishop of Canterbury to organize this panel immediately to help ensure the protection of beleaguered parishes and clergy of the Episcopal Church.
We requested that ACN Moderator Robert Duncan send a letter to Pope Benedict XVI expressing our greetings and support, thanking him for upholding the historic teaching and faith of the Church. We anticipate with joy his continued efforts to build bridges between the separated branches of God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
We express our urgent desire that the Anglican Communion Network continue to work diligently to build formal relationships with Anglican jurisdictions not currently in communion with Canterbury, to solidify those relationships, and to work for structural unity with them.
We denounce the response of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church to send a full delegation to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting in Nottingham as further evidence of the arrogance of our church and a direct refusal to comply with the letter and the spirit of the Primates’ Communiqué issued at the Newry meeting.
Six priests of the diocese of Connecticut – the Rev. Allyn Benedict, Christ Church, Watertown; the Rev. Ronald S. Gauss, Bishop Seabury, Groton; the Rev. Mark Hansen, St. John’s, Bristol; the Rev. Donald Helmandollar, Trinity, Bristol; the Rev. Christopher Leighton, St. Paul’s, Darien; and the Rev. Gil Wilkes, Christ and the Epiphany, East Haven – are under threat of inhibition by Andrew Smith, Bishop of Connecticut. These priests and their congregations have been faithful to Scripture, to the historic faith and order of Anglicanism, and to the communion. Bishop Smith’s charge of “abandonment of communion” is unfounded and unsubstantiated, and his threat of inhibition and ultimate deposition represents an abuse of canonical power. We stand in solidarity with these godly men and the congregations they shepherd. We condemn the actions of Bishop Smith and pledge our ongoing support to the six clergy and churches in Connecticut as well as to all those across the nation who are experiencing harassment and persecution by their bishops.
Everyone present was personally challenged to come up with a 5 or 6 point action plan for the implications of this covenant in their own diocese or convocation in the next 16 months–KSH.
Saint Vincent’s Cathedral, Bedford Texas
April 20, 2005
In order to stand firm in the faith of the one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church…
Windsor Action Covenant—Laity
• I will learn and profess the historic faith;
• I will commit myself to the disciplines of daily prayer, personal evangelism and discipleship;
• I will build solidarity with laypeople, bishops, priests and deacons who profess and practice the Apostolic Faith;
o standing beside parish priests and leaders who are being pressured for adhering to the teaching of the Communion, and;
o standing with those who stand with me regardless of what they feel they must do in their situation;
• I will work with other parish and diocesan leaders to clarify our response to the Windsor report ;
• I will challenge my vestry with the clear choice to become a Windsor parish;
• I will seek spiritual oversight and direction only from bishops who teach the historic faith;
• I will build a personal relationship with, and encourage the building of a parish relationship, with an overseas parish and diocese;
• I will develop a missionary attitude and practice in my personal and pastoral life;
• I will remain committed to a life of personal holiness as embodied in my baptismal vows, and where applicable, my marriage vows, family commitments, and daily disciplines.
If General Convention chooses finally to walk apart from the Anglican Communion, I will not follow, but will remain a faithful Anglican, God being my helper.
Windsor Action Covenant—Priests, Deacons
• I will teach and preach the historic faith, actively supporting only those seminaries that teach the historic faith;
• I will commit myself to pray the daily office, practice personal evangelism and discipleship;
• I will build solidarity with laypeople, bishops, priests and deacons who profess and practice the Apostolic Faith;
o standing beside parish priests and leaders who are being pressured for adhering to the teaching of the Communion, and;
o standing with those who stand with me regardless of what they feel they must do in their situation;
• I will seek spiritual care and guidance only from those who teach and practice the Apostolic Faith;
• I will work with other clergy and diocesan leaders to clarify our response to the Windsor report;
• I will build a personal and parish relationship with an overseas parish and diocese;
• I will build a team with another priest and parish in a non-Windsor diocese;
• I will develop a missionary attitude and practice in my personal and pastoral life;
• I will remain committed to a life of personal holiness as embodied in my ordination vows, and where applicable, marriage vows, family commitments, and daily disciplines.
If General Convention chooses finally to walk apart from the Anglican Communion, I will not follow, but will remain a faithful Anglican, God being my helper.
Windsor Action Covenant—Bishops
• I will teach and preach the historic faith, actively supporting only those seminaries that teach the historic faith;
• I will commit myself to pray the daily office, practice personal evangelism and discipleship;
• I will build solidarity with laypeople, bishops, priests and deacons who profess and practice the Apostolic Faith;
o standing beside bishops, parish priests and leaders who are being pressured for adhering to the teaching of the Communion, and;
o standing with those who stand with me, regardless of what they feel they must do in their situation;
• I will work with other clergy and diocesan leaders to clarify our response to the Windsor report;
• I will build a personal and diocesan relationship with an overseas diocese;
• I will develop a missionary attitude and practice in my personal and pastoral life;
• I will remain committed to a life of personal holiness as embodied in my ordination vows, and where applicable, marriage vows, family commitments, and daily disciplines;
If General Convention chooses finally to walk apart from the Anglican Communion, I will not follow, but will remain a faithful Anglican, God being my helper.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.