us, or we put our trust in something else. Stating that “the meaning of the Pre- ops’ media briefing officer for the March
TEC Alliance has opted for the second amble to the Constitution of The Epis- 20 sessions was the Rt Revd Catherine
course, rolling the dice for the current fad copal Church is determined solely by Roskam, bishop suffragan of the Diocese
of a faithless age. Anglicanism, in con- the General Convention,” the resolution of New York.
tradistinction, seems to have sided with also declares that “the House of Bishops “The spirit of the House was thoughtful
the first, with the revelation given us by believes the proposed Pastoral Scheme and collegial,” Roskam said. “As we delib-
Christ. Given that we stand or fall by such of the Dar es Salaam Communiqué of erated we had on our hearts and on our
fidelity, it takes little imagination to gauge February 19, 2007 would be injurious to minds our Anglican brothers and sisters
the future success of TEC and its friends. The Episcopal Church and urges that the and the people in our dioceses whom we
The Anglican Church of Canada alone is Executive Council decline to participate serve. While this was not dealt with by
losing 13,000 members annually and can in it.” resolution, great concern was expressed
boast a handsome Sunday attendance of The Primates’ “pastoral scheme” about human rights violations for gay
around 630,000 souls, TEC garners a little seeks to establish a pastoral council and and lesbians, particularly in Nigeria, and
more – by all means have a local option but a primatial vicar whom the Episcopal the need for us as Anglicans and Chris-
be sure that it will be very local indeed. Church’s Presiding Bishop would name to tians to advocate against it.”
Fr Michael Heidt provide alternative oversight of dioceses - Recapping the 20th March agenda,
seven of the Episcopal Church’s 111 - that Roskam said: “The Anglican Commun-
have requested such a provision. ion was very much in our consciousness
America
A third resolution enumerates four this morning as we began our day with a
reasons why the bishops, hoping “we will report from bishops who had attended the
Need to meet face to face
continue to be welcome in the councils” recent meeting of TEAM, ‘Toward Effec-
of the Anglican Communion “neverthe- tive Anglican Mission’ in South Africa.
R
esponding to the recent Anglican less decline to participate in the Primates’ “More than 400 people from 32 prov-
Primates’ Communiqué, the Episco- Pastoral scheme for many reasons.” The inces gathered in Boksburg to engage
pal Church’s House of Bishops, meeting reasons cite violation of church law and conversation and mutual exchange con-
March 20 in Navasota, Texas, expressed founding principles of the Episcopal cerning mission in the Anglican Com-
“an urgent need for us to meet face to face Church, fundamental change to the char- munion, especially as expressed through
with the Archbishop of Canterbury and acter of the Windsor process and pro- the Millennium Development Goals.
the members of the Primates’ Standing posed Anglican Covenant design process, It was a moving presentation bringing
Committee.” and departure from English Reformation us face to face once again with our own
The request came as the second of three heritage and “the generous orthodoxy of affluence as a nation and the abject pov-
“mind of the house” resolutions adopted our Prayer Book tradition.” erty of other parts of this world.
by the bishops on 20th March. The reso- The resolution further calls the scheme “We appreciated once more the gift of
lutions were debated during the business “spiritually unsound” for its encourage- our Anglican partners as companions on
session scheduled during the House of ment of “one of the worst tendencies of the way serving God’s mission. We also
Bishops’ annual spring retreat meeting. our Western culture, which is to break heard a report from TEAC (Theological
In the afternoon’s first resolution, relationships when we find them difficult Education in the Anglican Communion)
addressed to the Episcopal Church’s instead of doing the hard work necessary which stressed the importance of theo-
Executive Council, the House of Bish- to repair them and be instruments of rec- logical education, especially with regard
ops “affirms its desire that The Episcopal onciliation.” to the Anglican tradition. While we have
Church remain a part of the councils of Further context around the resolu- many resources to share with many parts
the Anglican Communion” and “pledges tions and the House of Bishops’ full of the Anglican Communion, we also
itself to continue to work to find ways of six-day meeting will be provided in a need to look to our Anglican brothers
meeting the pastoral concerns of the Pri- written letter to be released by the House and sisters in the developing world for
mates that are compatible with our own on March 21, when a news conference theological reflection in their contexts.
polity and canons.” is also scheduled. The House of Bish- “Bishops for a Just Society reported on
its work of advocacy for justice and peace.
Ebbsfleet Festival of Faith
We were brought up to date in particular
on the farm bill and encouraged to keep
apprised of legislation through the Public
Bristol Cathedral
Policy Network. We discussed ways to
make the work of Bishops for a Just Soci-
(By kind permission of the Dean and Chapter)
ety more integral to our meetings.
“The afternoon business session began
Saturday 12th May
with acknowledgement of bishops in
transition, including a report from the
Mass at 12 noon
Church Pension Group regarding retired
clergy. We acknowledged the most senior
bishop present, and remembered four
Principal Celebrant and Preacher:
who had died. Then we spent the rest
The Bishop of Ebbsfleet
of the afternoon considering resolutions
addressing issues raised by the Primates’
Packed lunch Drinks provided
Communiqué and the reports of the Cov-
enant Committee which we had received
Children’s activities Evensong 3.30 pm
the previous day.”
Episcopal News Service
22
■
newdirections
■
April 2007
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36