wfn.org | Episcopalians: Consultation blasts 'serious breach of order'

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

July 10, 2002

2002-172

Episcopalians: Consultation blasts 'serious breach of order'

by James Solheim

(ENS) A consultation on the Future of Anglicanism, meeting June 
29-July 5 at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford, England, concluded with a 
declaration that blasted what it called "a serious breach of 
Anglican order" in recent decisions to bless same-gender 
relationships, action that has created "a widening circle of 
scandal and distress."

Pointing to the June 14 decision by a synod meeting in the 
Diocese of New Westminster (British Columbia), and a recent 
decision by the bishop of the Diocese of Kansas to create a rite 
for blessing relationships outside of marriage, the Oxford 
Declaration said that the developments involved "substantial 
departures from the Biblical understanding of our human 
sexuality as created by God and confusion about our identity as 
male and female as understood in Christian tradition."

In his sermon at St. Aldgate's Church in Oxford, Archbishop 
of Canterbury George L. Carey expressed his own "sympathy and 
concern" for those in New Westminster who opposed the decision 
opening the way for a rite of blessing. He said that "the issue 
is a most serious one," raising two problems. "It first of all 
undermines marriage. And secondly, it is schismatic," because 
"it divides the Communion. It also makes us a very embarrassing 
partner in ecumenical circles as well."

Carey said that he had written to Bishop Michael Ingham of 
New Westminster, asking for clarification, and also to all the 
primates of the Anglican Communion "offering them some advice on 
what we should be doing and asking them to tell me what they 
believe the issues are and what I ought to be taking to the 
Standing Committee of the Primates when we meet in September."

Some participants in the consultation--mostly theologians and 
bishops, including several primates--signed a "letter of 
solidarity" endorsing Carey's request for clarification on "the 
legality of the decision" in New Westminster, the "adequacy of 
the proposal for an episcopal visitor" for those parishes 
opposed to the decision," as well as "safeguards for clergy and 
laity dissenting from the innovation." The letter also asked 
about the "role and mind of the Canadian House of Bishops and 
the degree of consultation with the wider Anglican Communion in 
the process of the decision."

The primates who signed the letter "expressed their intention 
to arrange a pastoral visit to the concerned parishes of New 
Westminster."

The action in Canada, as well as in a number of dioceses in 
the Episcopal Church USA, "violate the commitments to the 
historic faith and order of Anglican Christianity," are 
"unfaithful to 2,000 years of Christian teaching," and 
"specifically contradict the resolutions of the 1998 Lambeth 
Conference and the subsequent advice of the Primates' Meetings," 
the declaration argued.

Sexuality issues and standards of behavior mask "the 
underlying causes [related] to deeper and wider theological and 
ethical questions. Their effects upon the mission, unity and 
pastoral competence of the church are also correspondingly more 
serious. We find ourselves at a critical moment when Anglican 
witness to Biblical teaching on Christian marriage and sexual 
ethics is seriously compromised and pastoral care of the 
sexually broken is obstructed," the declaration concluded.

The declaration thanked Carey for his comments and asked him 
and the primates "to authorize such emergency measures as will 
enable threatened parishes and clergy to continue their life and 
ministry with a quiet conscience within their dioceses

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--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.