The last seven days have been eventful ones for the worldwide Anglican Communion. The future of our 500-hundred year fellowship has been focused on The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops (HOB). The worldwide Anglican Communion has been looking for clarity, praying for unity, and searching for Christ and His will in our lives. Unfortunately, the HOB has failed the Communion; their continued ambiguity, questioning of basic Christian beliefs, and rejection of obvious Scriptural teaching has widened the gap between them and biblical Christianity.
The Primates’ Dar es Salaam Communiqué required that The Episcopal Church:
- End same-sex blessings at all levels.
- Confirm that no more non-celibate homosexuals will be consecrated bishop.
- Provide alternative Primatial oversight for those who do not agree with The Episcopal Church’s leadership.
- End all lawsuits against parishes and vestries.
To our disappointment, the House of Bishops (HOB) did not meet the request but offered a carefully crafted response that appears to comply but actually maintains the status quo.
- The HOB refused to address the widespread practice of same-sex blessings. Instead, they restated their long-standing position.
- The HOB clarified Resolution B033 as applying to “non-celibate gay(s) and lesbian(s) [among others]”; however, the bishops agree only, for now, to “exercise restraint.”
- The HOB rejected the Primates’ plan for pastoral oversight and offered their own inadequate alternative.
- The HOB ignored the request to end lawsuits against parishes and vestries. To this day, churches and individuals face litigation funded by The Episcopal Church, and guided by its chancellor.
- Fully half of the response is concerned with matters not raised by the Communion that nonetheless press forward The Episcopal Church’s agenda.
We, with others gathered in Pittsburgh for the Common Cause Council of Bishops, are committed to remaining within biblical Christianity even as The Episcopal Church once again has chosen to continue on its own tragic course. We trust that in the weeks and months ahead God will guide us and the entire Anglican Communion in continuing and deepening a faithful path forward.
Issued by the ehree orthodox Anglican groups: the American Anglican Council, the Anglican Communion Network, and Forward in Faith North America
