Episcopal Press and News
Diocese of Ft. Worth, Pittsburgh and South Carolina Repudiate Actions of General Convention
Episcopal News Service. October 3, 2003 [031003-1]
James Solheim
In special conventions, the Dioceses of Ft. Worth, Pittsburgh and South Carolina have repudiated the decisions of the Minneapolis General Convention to confirm the election of Gene Robinson as the church's first openly gay bishop and to recognize that the blessing of same-gender relationships in some dioceses is "within the bounds of our common life."
The Ft. Worth meeting September 27 passed a resolution that said the General Convention exceeded its authority and violated the church's constitution in approving the election of Robinson. "We cannot remain silent," said Bishop Jack Iker to a packed church in Arlington. "We must speak up and we will be heard."
Iker received a standing ovation after a sermon in which he said that the diocese must deal with the decisions of General Convention that "have precipitated a serious crisis in the Anglican Communion and have created a pastoral emergency in the United States and abroad."
By the General Convention actions, "the Episcopal Church has separated itself from the teachings of the Anglican Communion and the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, and these acts are held null and void, and of no effect in the Diocese of Fort Worth."
Appeal to Anglican primates
Another resolution appealed for "intervention and recognition by Anglican Communion Primates...as the legitimate expression of the Episcopal Church in the USA, and with those other dioceses, bishops, clergy and congregations who uphold and propagate the historic Faith and Order..." Another resolution asked the primates to "address the matter of episcopal oversight and care for clergy and congregations who are committed to the historic Faith and Order of the Church in those dioceses where the actions" of General Convention "may be approved or implemented."
The diocese also said that it was committing itself to "funding and supporting those missionary agencies, dioceses, and structures that serve to uphold and propagate the historic Faith and Order, especially in those missionary areas adversely affected by reduced national church resources."
For several years congregations have been allowed to determine the percentage of annual assessments that is sent on to support the budget and programs of the national church. According to diocesan sources, there are only 12 churches in the diocese that continue to specify percentages to be passed on to General Convention, with amounts ranging from 10 percent to the full 16.5 percent for 2000-2003. These churches will now be asked to consider withdrawing any and all financial support from General Convention, allowing the diocese to redirect this money-estimated at $80,000-to other Anglican jurisdictions in need of support.
The true church?
On the same day, the Diocese of Pittsburgh also passed by a margin of 239 to 69 votes a resolution that declared the actions of General Convention "null and void". In six resolutions passed by an overwhelming margin, the diocese asked the primates of the Anglican Communion to recognize conservatives in the Episcopal Church who uphold traditional values as the true Anglican church in the United States.
"We are trying to call the Episcopal Church back to its senses and asking the worldwide Communion to help us," said Bishop Robert Duncan. "The majority in this diocese will never accept what the General Convention has done, nor will the whole Christian church throughout the world," he said in his address to the special diocesan convention on September 27.
"I'm not leaving. Nor are those who vote for these resolutions. Nor is the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh," he said. "We are engaged in the renewal and realignment of North American Anglicanism."
One resolution authorizes the diocese to divert its $120,000 annual assessment for the work of the national church to other mission projects, although Duncan said individual parishes could continue the contribution and even receive oversight from a more liberal bishop.
On the issue of property, a resolution asserted that congregations own their buildings and that neither the diocese nor the national church could claim them if a parish decides to leave. Opponents argued that the resolution contradicts both canon and civil law and could mire parishes in lawsuits. Duncan said that the next two diocesan conventions would seek to amend the diocesan canons on church property and said that the diocese could prevent lawsuits through actions such as selling church buildings to a congregation for a nominal amount of money.
Rationale for a split?
In criticizing the resolutions, the Rev. Harold Lewis said that the resolutions create a "legal fiction" and are worded in such a way that they create a rationale for a split from the Episcopal Church. Yet supporters said that the resolutions offered liberal parishes in the diocese a type of freedom and respect often denied conservative parishes in liberal dioceses.
"This is only the first battle in the struggle to maintain the integrity of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh," according to a statement by Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh. The statement said that the resolutions "are fundamentally illegal... They are symbolic, intended to bring pressure on the Anglican Primates and to encourage the schismatic conservatives who dominate this diocese and who steadfastly support Bishop Duncan." The battle will continue, according to the statement, at the diocesan convention November 7.
The statement also predicted that, when the diocese attempts to implement the resolutions, "PEP will be joined by the Episcopal Church USA and local attorneys to protect church property."
In an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Duncan said, "Although we have different opinions on human sexuality, we are absolutely united on the fact that this issue should not divide the church. The issue of whether to stay or leave has never come up. We will always be Episcopalians."
New religion?
The Diocese of South Carolina, in its special convention October 2, echoed the strong convictions of Ft. Worth and Pittsburgh in condemning the confirmation of Robinson and seeking assistance from the Anglican primates.
"This is an extremely serious crisis and we've made it clear we repudiate what happened in Minneapolis," said the Rev. Kendall Harmon, canon theologian for the diocese. "But we also know we need emergency intervention by the primates. It's up to them to decide what to do."
"This is not just another crisis around issues that time will cure," Bishop Edward Salmon told over 300 clergy and lay representatives to the convention. "The General Convention has endorsed a new religion." He said that the differences are so sharp and the impasse so deep that more conversation is pointless and the church needs outside intervention.
One resolution asks the primates, when they meet in London October 15-16, to recognize those who opposed the actions of General Convention as "the legitimate expression of the Anglican Communion and Faith in the United States." And it asks the primates to intervene and provide oversight for conservatives in dioceses that approved Robinson's election.
Another resolutions expressed "profound disappointment" with what it said was lobbying before General Convention by Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold for approval of Robinson's election.
A third resolution promises to help church leaders in other parts of the world who lose financial support for speaking against the approval of Robinson. It deplores "increasing reports" of what it said is "financial intimidation by leaders in the Episcopal Church toward Anglican leaders" in the Southern hemisphere who have been critics of the theological liberalism of the American church.
Church politics?
"I think people are very, very concerned," said Steve Skardon who was a lay deputy at convention. "It's tearing every parish apart," he told the Charleston Post and Courier before the meeting. "What worries me is these resolutions give the green light for the diocese to pull away from the Episcopal Church, if not sever ties completely. None of us wants to leave the Episcopal Church," he said in announcing he was voting against the resolutions.
Andy Brack, a lay deputy and member of the vestry at St. Stephen's, said, "This is nonsense church politics and not a focus on what is really biblical and religious. We are going to continue to be St. Stephen's and loyal members of the Episcopal Church USA, I hope."
Attempts to head off an unnecessary confrontation were not successful and all the resolutions passed easily. "The conversation needs to continue," said the Rev. Richard Lindsey of All Saints in Hilton Head. "The diocese is hurting. We need to come closer together even if we don't want to, to share the love of Christ."