wfn.org | [ENS] Statement from the Diocese of New Hampshire

["mika larson" <mini.mika@verizon.net>]

10/17/2003 

Statement from the Diocese of New Hampshire
 
[The Diocese of New Hampshire] The Bishop and Standing Committee of the
Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire met today in response to the London
meeting of the Primates from the 38 autonomous Provinces of the
worldwide Anglican Communion for prayer, bible study and discussion. We
acknowledge and affirm the wisdom of the Primates of the Anglican
Communion in their statement. We echo their affirmation that "what we
hold in common is much greater than that which divides us in proclaiming
Good News to the world." 

We commend their resolve to follow the 1998 Lambeth resolution calling
for the Church to "listen to the experience of homosexual persons, and
... to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised,
believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are
full members of the Body of Christ."  

We warmly invite the Primates, and anyone else in the Anglican
Communion, to come to New Hampshire and experience our shared communion
here.  We invite them to join us in worshiping, praying, studying
scripture, breaking bread and celebrating our unity in God's love and
mercy. We grieve that others in the Anglican Communion have felt deep
pain with these issues. Despite our differences, we pray that we can
move forward together in service to our Lord.  Much energy and many
resources have been expended over the issues of sexuality in the life of
the Church.  We long for a time when the Church can focus her ministries
on the many urgent needs in so many other places.  

We reaffirm our belief that the Diocese of New Hampshire faithfully and
prayerfully considered and followed a Spirit-led process for the
election of our new bishop. Canon Robinson was elected based on his
nearly three decades of ministry in the diocese, his considerable
pastoral skills, and his vision for ministry.  His sexuality was
incidental to his call to serve as our bishop. We look forward to
focusing on our mission and ministry, addressing the pressing needs
within and beyond the Diocese of New Hampshire. We look forward to the
consecration of Bishop-elect Robinson on November 2, believing that God
has called him to this ministry, a call confirmed by diocesan election
and by the consent of General Convention, in accordance with the
Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church. We believe the Spirit
is calling us forward into an ever-deepening relationship with Our Lord
Jesus Christ, so that we might reach out to all of God's children, and
become God's loving arms in a world that hungers for that relationship.

The Bishop of New Hampshire
The Bishop Coadjutor-elect of New Hampshire
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of New Hampshire