wfn.org | [ENS] Presiding Bishop welcomes appointment of Panel of Reference

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Presiding Bishop welcomes appointment of Panel of Reference chair

by Jan Nunley

ENS 051105-2

[Episcopal News Service] -- Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has welcomed
the
appointment of the Most Rev. Peter Carnley of Australia to serve as
chair of
the Panel of Reference created by Archbishop Rowan Williams in response
to
the request of the Primates Meeting in February.

Carnley, the Archbishop of Perth, is also Anglican co-chairman of the
Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and served as
spokesperson for the primates at their last meeting in Newry, Northern
Ireland.

"It is my expectation that the Panel of Reference will bring the whole
question of delegated episcopal oversight objectivity and
fair-mindedness,"
said Griswold. "This will help dispel misrepresentations regarding the
willingness of bishops and congregations under their care to make use of
Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight.

"It is also my hope that one of the consequences of the clarity that
will be
provided by the Panel of Reference will be the redirection of our
energies
in the service of Christ's continuing mission in the world."

The panel is being created to "enquire into, consider and report" to the
Archbishop of Canterbury on situations involving "groups in serious
theological dispute with their diocesan bishop, or dioceses in dispute
with
their Provinces," as well as to make recommendations with his consent
and
report to him on any responses. "At the request of any Primate" the
panel is
directed to "provide a facility for mediation and to assist in the
implementation" of mediation plans within the primate's own province,
but it
has not been given the power to administrate them.

According to a directive issued by Williams, the panel is to consist of
not
less than nine people "qualified by professional and pastoral skills and
experience and appointed by myself as necessary from time to time." Its
term
of service will be five years, or until Williams, in consultation with
the
Primates' Standing Committee, determines that its function has been
fulfilled. Names of the members are to be announced next week.

The directive calls on each primate with a plan for delegated or
extended
episcopal oversight to send the plan to Williams within 14 days and to
notify him within 28 days if any changes are made to the plan. Williams
also
called on "each bishop of the Communion to respect fully and in
accordance
with its spirit" plans established for their own provinces, and on each
parish in conflict with its bishop to work within its own province for
delegated or extended episcopal oversight.

"The bishops of the Episcopal Church are committed to the provision of
such
pastoral care to those of various perspectives and have established a
means
of being certain it is provided which is described in Caring for all the
Churches: Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight," Griswold said in
February
following the primates' meeting. "I am also pleased by the commitment
made
by the primates 'neither to encourage nor to initiate cross-boundary
violations.'"

The Archbishop of Canterbury's directive can be found online at:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/39/75/acns3977.cfm

--The Rev. Jan Nunley is Deputy for Communication for the Episcopal
Church.

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