wfn.org | [ACNS] Archbishop Carnley to lead Communion's Panel of

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ACNS 3977     |     LAMBETH	|     11 MAY 2005

Archbishop Peter Carnley to lead Communion's Panel of Reference

A senior Primate, the Most Revd Peter Carnley of Australia, has accepted
the Archbishop of Canterbury's request to serve as chair of "The Panel
of Reference" created by Archbishop Williams in response to the request
of the Primates Meeting in February.

Dr Carnley is the Archbishop of Perth, Anglican Co-Chairman of Anglican
Roman Catholic International Commission, a member of the original "Eames
Commission" on Women in the Episcopate and was spokesperson for the
Primates at their recent meeting in Ireland.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued the following directive in the
forming of the panel:

Rowan Douglas by Divine Providence Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and
Metropolitan to all to whom these presents shall come Greeting

Whereas it has been represented to the Primates of the Anglican
Communion meeting in February 2005 that certain parishes have been
unwilling to accept the direct oversight of their diocesan bishops and
that certain dioceses are in dispute with their provincial authorities

And Whereas the Primates have recognised the principled concerns
motivating those parishes and dioceses and acknowledge the various
attempts which have been made to meet their difficulties

And Whereas the Primates have recommended that a body be established to
assist in the resolution of these difficulties

Now in pursuance of the Primates' recommendation:

I direct that:

1.  There shall be an advisory and consultative body to be known as The
Panel of Reference ("the Panel")

2.  The members of the Panel shall consist of not less than nine persons
qualified by professional and pastoral skills and experience and
appointed by myself as necessary from time to time

3.  The functions of the Panel shall be:

3.1 At my request to enquire into, consider and report on situations
drawn to my attention where there is serious dispute concerning the
adequacy of schemes of delegated or extended episcopal oversight or
other extraordinary arrangements which may be needed to provide for
parishes which find it impossible in all conscience to accept the direct
ministry of their own diocesan bishop or for dioceses in dispute with
their provincial authorities

3.2 With my consent to make recommendations to the Primates, dioceses
and provincial and diocesan authorities concerned,  and to report to me
on their response

3.3  At the request of any Primate to provide a facility for mediation
and to assist in the implementation of any such scheme in his own
province

Provided always that the Panel shall in consultation with me have power
to determine  which classes or categories of cases fall within its
competency to consider in line with the concerns expressed by the
primates at their meetings in Dromantine in February 2005 and in Lambeth
Palace in October 2003.

4.  The Panel shall continue in existence for the period of five years
or until I shall determine in consultation with the members of the
Primates' Standing Committee that its functions have been fulfilled
(whichever shall sooner occur)

And I request that:

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion shall make provision for
secretarial and administrative support to the Panel of Reference and its
Chair to enable them to undertake this work

And I call upon:

1.  Each Primate or Moderator of the Communion which has such a scheme
of delegation or extended episcopal oversight to lodge with me a copy of
such scheme within 14 days of receiving this document and to notify me
within 28 days following any change to such scheme

2.  Each bishop of the Communion to respect fully and in accordance with
its spirit any scheme of delegation or extended oversight established in
his or her province

3.  Each parish of the Communion which considers that in all conscience
it cannot accept the direct oversight of its bishop to work with him or
her in the first instance towards finding some appropriate means for
delegated or extended episcopal oversight within the diocese and
Province in which the parish is situated

4.  The Instruments of Unity of the Communion to work tirelessly towards
reconciliation and healing "that the world may believe"

Dated this sixth day of May in the Year of Our Lord Two thousand and
five

Rowan Cantuar:

NAMES TO BE ANNOUNCED
The names of the members of the panel will be issued next week from the
Anglican Communion Office and Lambeth Palace.

ENDS

Contact: J M ROSENTHAL	0780 389 4751
LAMBETH PALACE PRESS OFFICE  0207 898 1280

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