Statement after the Robinson Consecration

Statement from the Rector to Church of the Apostles following the consecration of Gene Robinson by The Rev. David Harper

November 8, 2003

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last month, the top leadership of the Anglican Church—known as the Primates—met in London to confer together about the crisis the Episcopal and Canadian churches have created for the Anglican Communion. They warned us with these words:

[W]e must make clear that recent actions in New Westminster and in the Episcopal Church (USA) do not express the mind of our Communion as a whole, and these decisions jeopardise our sacramental fellowship with each other. We have a particular concern for those who in all conscience feel bound to dissent from the teaching and practice of their province in such matters.

If [Gene Robinson’s] consecration proceeds, we recognise that we have reached a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion and we have had to conclude that the future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy. In this case, the ministry of this one bishop will not be recognised by most of the Anglican world, and many provinces are likely to consider themselves to be out of Communion with the Episcopal Church (USA).

The Primates stopped short of forming a legally recognized Anglican entity in the USA, comprising member dioceses and parishes affiliated with the American Anglican Council. They did call, however, for the provision of alternative episcopal oversight of parishes who can no longer accept the ministry of their bishop; and they established a commission to study the legal and canonical issues involved in a realignment of the Communion.

I encourage you to get the tape of our congregational meeting on October 19, where we explored the implications of the Primates’ statement.

Last Sunday, a new development occurred. In defiance of the Primates’ solemn warning, Gene Robinson was consecrated as a coadjutor bishop in the diocese of New Hampshire. That prompted the Primates from the Global South (Africa, Asia, and Latin America) to issue a further and even stronger statement that same day. The full text is available on the web. Here is an excerpt:

As ECUSA has wilfully disregarded the strong warnings given at Lambeth that such an action would “tear the fabric of the communion at its deepest level,” we can now have no basis whatsoever for any further confidence that ECUSA will pay any regard to the findings of the recently announced Commission set up by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

We urge the Archbishop of Canterbury to bring forward urgently a mechanism to guarantee ‘adequate provision of episcopal oversight’ for parishes and clergy within ECUSA dioceses and the Diocese of New Westminster with whom we remain in fellowship. We also call on those persons who have already placed lawsuits that further tear the fabric of our common life to withdraw their destructive worldly actions.

As Primates who represent over fifty million Anglicans, we have a solemn stewardship to steadfastly uphold and promote the historic and universal Apostolic Faith and Order of the Church throughout the ages as well as to protect those who are one with us in this same. We therefore affirm the ministry of the bishops, clergy and laity in ECUSA who have, as a matter of principle, and in fidelity to the historic teaching of the Church, opposed the actions taken at General Convention and objected to the consecration. We will continue to recognize and support their membership within the worldwide Communion fellowship and promise them our solidarity and episcopal support. We will now do everything that is necessary to uphold historic Anglicanism and advance our common faith, life, mission, and ministry.

There are three clear actions these faithful Primates are demanding:

  • Because they have no confidence that ECUSA will abide by the findings of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission, they want “[t]o bring forward urgently a mechanism to guarantee ‘adequate provision of episcopal oversight’” for stranded parishes and clergy.
  • Where lawsuits are pending, they want these dropped.
  • They are pledging their support of the bishops, clergy, and laity who have opposed the actions of General Convention and Gene Robinson’s consecration. They promise us their solidarity and episcopal support.

At a time when little might seem to be happening, when the process of realignment of the Church might appear to have foundered, and when our patience may be wearing thin, there is cause for great encouragement.

  1. Both the global south Primates, as well as our own AAC leadership, recognize that it is unacceptable to wait a year until the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission presents its findings.
  2. The AAC has told the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, that “something must happen by December.” Conversations are currently taking place about how to create an alternative Anglican province within the USA. Lawyers from around the Communion are conferring with each other.
  3. We can be confident that a realignment is definitely occurring within the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. At present, the principal focus is working out the details of alternative episcopal oversight. This provision would give parishes the option of going outside their diocese to invite a faithful bishop to provide canonical and pastoral oversight. Canon David Anderson, President of the AAC, is holding conversations with Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold to try to accomplish this goal.

Here is my counsel to you, our Church of the Apostles family:

Persevere

In 2 Thess. 1:4-5, Paul writes: “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”

I commend the Eucharists on the first Sunday of each month, sponsored by the Emerging Network of Confessing Laity and Clergy. The next will be held on Sunday evening, December 7, at Church of the Epiphany, Herndon. I also encourage you to attend the ”Plano East” conference, which will be held at Hylton Chapel, Woodbridge, January 9-10, 2004.

Practice patience

Proverbs 16:32 says: “Better someone who is patient than a warrior, one who controls his temper than one who takes a city.” And James 5:8, addressing a suffering church, says: “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” We have inherited great riches in the Anglican Communion. These we wish to preserve, not jettison.

Pray

James 5:16 says: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

In our prayers, we must always begin with confession, lest our justifiable outrage over the wider Church become self-righteousness and pride.

We must pray for Archbishop Rowan Williams, and for the AAC as they labor on our behalf to create a new place for us to stand, a place where we can love and serve the Lord within a faithful Church, and where we can apply all our passion and energy into fulfilling the Great Commission.

Let us pray that God will sustain us, and enable us and our AAC partners to become a Church that will bring glory to His name.

Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2003