Forward in Faith UK profoundly regrets the consecration of Canon Gene Robinson as a Bishop in the Church of God. We note that this arrogant and divisive act was performed by a Presiding Bishop who had so recently signed the joint Statement of the Primates Meeting deploring it.

The ordination as bishop of a divorced man living with another in an unchaste relationship gives notice to the Anglican Communion that the Episcopal Church of the United States of America has wilfully departed from the clear teaching of the Church Catholic, in obedience to the Lord’s Word about the permanence and sanctity of Christian marriage.

The Episcopal Church has acted after due and patient admonition, in the full and certain knowledge of the Communion-wide consequences of that action. We note that this is an action consequent upon other serious deviations from Catholic truth over a long period of time. We hold that this is an ecclesial matter and that the response to it should be ecclesial and not personal to the newly consecrated bishop, to the presiding bishop and to the co-consecrators. The consecration of a bishop is an action of the whole Episcopal Church.

Therefore:

1.         We call upon the Houses of Bishops of the Provinces which reject this action to sever the bonds of communion which presently bind them in collegiality to the bishops of ECUSA, and to signify as much to the Archbishop of Canterbury by indicating their unwillingness to be present at any future Lambeth Conference or gathering of Primates at which bishops of the Episcopal Church are present.

2.         We call upon the Diocesan Conventions of dioceses in ECUSA opposed to this action, to withdraw themselves from the Episcopal Church and to petition the Archbishop of Canterbury to receive them as duly constituted extra-provincial dioceses of the Anglican Communion, under his authority.

3.         We call upon parishes of ECUSA situated in dioceses which do not so dissociate, to take immediate steps to indicate their need of, and desire for, Alternative Episcopal Oversight; and we call upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, in consultation with other Primates and church leaders, to provide that oversight speedily and without reference to the diocesan authorities in question.

We believe that clear and decisive action, such as we trust will now follow, is the only context in which the Archbishop’s Commission chaired by the Most Reverend Robin Eames can or will produce recommendations which will be observed by the majority in the Communion.