wfn.org | ACNS3735 Statement from the Province of the Southern Cone

[Anglican Communion News Service <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3735     |     SOUTHERN CONE     |     12 JANUARY 2004 

Statement from the Province of the Southern Cone

To ECUSA and the churches of the Anglican Communion, from the House of
Bishops of the Province of the Southern Cone of America.

In the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The recent unilateral actions of the Episcopal Church in the United
States (ECUSA) in consecrating a bishop who is sexually active outside
marriage, and the recognition of same-sex blessings have created a
deeply painful and divisive situation and has devastated our Christian
witness. In the light of Tradition, it reveals a misinterpretation of
the clear witness of God's Word and a deaf ear to the heartfelt pleas of
the entire Communion. When the economically powerful church in America
acts, it attracts worldwide attention; and despite repeated warnings,
ECUSA's leaders have shown selfish indifference to the difficulties and
confusion their actions have now brought this and other provinces. 

Their action is a clear departure from the moral teaching, practice and
common understanding of the Anglican Communion, clearly expressed by the
Lambeth Conference of 1998. Following the example of Jesus we are open
to all people, but we reject as sin those acts which separate us from
God and from each other. ECUSA's action has forced painful division in
the Communion and is a schism of their own making. Because by its
precipitous action it has fomented needless division and denied the
Tradition of the Church catholic, we believe that ECUSA cannot represent
the Anglican Communion in any legitimate or moral sense. 

As a consequence, this Province now shares only a profoundly impaired
communion with ECUSA and, in faithfulness to the Word of God, we cannot
accept this consecration as a valid one. Impaired communion means that
we cannot share fellowship, ministry, Eucharist or gifts with those who
have affirmed or participated in the consecration of Gene Robinson, nor
with those who perform or permit blessings of same-sex unions outside
historic Christian marriage, nor with any clergy who are sexually active
outside marriage.

We give thanks to God for the bishops, clergy and laity of ECUSA who
have stood firm against these unacceptable acts. We remain in full
fellowship, ministry and Eucharistic celebration with them. At the same
time we are deeply concerned about increasing reports of pressure and
persecution against those who hold fast to the Scriptures and the
historic faith through retributive applications of canonical and secular
legal procedures. Missionaries desiring to serve in our Province must
reject the erroneous decisions of ECUSA and must affirm traditional
scriptural norms.

It is our hope and earnest prayer that ECUSA will come to its senses,
repent and turn back from its schismatic actions; but without renouncing
their present position there is little hope of it. As a Province we
believe institutional unity is meaningless unless it is based in the
truth of the Holy Scriptures.

May God have compassion on His church.

___________________________________________________________________
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