|
Thank you very much for your letter of 5 March to the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was passed on to me by the Bishop at Lambeth before he set off to accompany the Archbishop on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land last week. I apologise for my negligence in not replying sooner, but this was to ensure that I took proper advice before replying to your letter, at the Archbishop's request.
I can assure you that Archbishop George stands very firmly behind the spirit and letter of the Act of Synod which provided for extended episcopal care to Church of England parishes; and he will do everything necessary to uphold its provisions.
No one needs to tell you that ECUSA is different from the Church of England. It might rightly be considered injudicious to try exporting or coercing this arrangement upon other Provinces of the Communion. It ought really to be left to them, given their own history and experience to come to the conclusion as to whether or not they should provide the latitude within their collective episkope for 'orthodox' parishes to enjoy the oversight of 'orthodox' bishops.
Archbishop George has already said on several occasions that such an arrangement would go a long way in reconciling the inner tensions that exist in ECUSA. However, it will not be appropriate for him to begin commenting on particular cases in the United States where a priest's relationship with his Bishop is severely impaired. More so, since ECUSA's House of Bishops has just this month made some provision for dealing with such situations as the one on which you now seek the Archbishop's comments.
He was very pleased that you had been in direct contact both with Bishop Bennison and the Presiding Bishop and expressed your views so clearly.
Know that anything that the Archbishop himself can possibly do, is being done in liaison with ECUSA's leadership. Know too of his deep concern for the life of ECUSA and prayers for your ministry.
I am forwarding a copy of this message to Bishop Richard Llewellin as he has asked.
Sincerely,
Herman
The Revd Canon Herman Browne
The Archbishop of Canterbury's Officer for the Anglican Communion
Return to Moyer/Bennison archive
|
