AAC Press Release on October 2003 Statement by Primates

AAC Press Release

Worldwide Anglican Leaders Affirm Holy Scripture and Rebuke Episcopal Church; Warn ECUSA Against Proceeding With Consecration of Homosexual Bishop

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 17, 2003

American Anglican Council applauds bold stand of the mainstream Anglican Primates

The worldwide Anglican leaders (Primates) yesterday sent a stern rebuke to the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) over the decision of its General Convention to give consent to the election of an actively homosexual man as bishop in New Hampshire.  The leaders said that they "deeply regret" ECUSA's actions and that the actions "do not express the mind of our Communion" but rather "jeopardize our sacramental fellowship with each other." They also warned that if ECUSA proceeds with the consecration, "many provinces are likely to consider themselves to be out of Communion with ECUSA" and that the consecration would "tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level."

"The Anglican Primates have issued a clear rebuke to the leadership of the Episcopal Church," said the Rev. Canon David C. Anderson, American Anglican Council (AAC) President.  "ECUSA has now been put on notice – with warnings. We are grateful for this action and applaud the mainstream Anglican Primates for boldly standing firm for the Gospel."

In their statement the Primates re-affirmed the landmark 1998 Lambeth Conference resolutions on human sexuality, which said that homosexual practice is incompatible with scripture, and they commended the resolutions to the entire Anglican Communion, stating that the resolutions have "moral force."

"In reaffirming the Lambeth Resolutions on human sexuality, the Primates have solidly affirmed that orthodox Episcopalians represent the mainstream of theology and practice in the Anglican Communion," said the Rev. Canon Martyn Minns, AAC Board member and Rector of Truro Church, Fairfax, VA. "The Primates stated clearly that Holy Scripture is central to the life and witness of the Anglican Communion."

The Primates also signaled their commitment to insure that provinces such as ECUSA make "adequate provision for episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates."  This means that orthodox Episcopalians experiencing harassment for their beliefs would be able to receive appropriate pastoral care and oversight from non-hostile bishops instead of from their own diocesan bishop.

Additionally, the Primates asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to establish a commission (as requested by the Lambeth 1998 conference) to "consider his own role in maintaining communion within and between provinces." But they further extended the duties of that commission to include "deep theological and legal reflection" on how the actions of ECUSA and other similar actions of Provinces or dioceses "will have to be addressed." The commission is to report back to the Primates within 12 months.

"This commission represents the beginning of the development of a mechanism for discipline within the Anglican Communion," said Canon Anderson.  "This is an unprecedented but essential step that will help insure that provinces will no longer be able to shatter the Communion with reckless unilateral and unbiblical actions."

In the wake of the release of the Primates' statement, the American Anglican Council praised the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury has shown a deep commitment to lead the Anglican Communion in affirming both received truth and Gospel unity," said the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh and Chairman of the AAC Bishops Network. "The AAC is grateful for Archbishop Williams' leadership and we continue to pray for healing in our Church."

The AAC Board of Directors will convene next week for a special meeting to begin to assess how the Primates statement will impact orthodox parishes and dioceses in the Episcopal Church.  

The American Anglican Council is a network of individuals, parishes, specialized ministries and Episcopal Bishops who affirm Biblical authority and mainstream Anglican orthodoxy within the Episcopal Church. For more information on the AAC, and to register for the Plano Meeting, please visit our website at http://www.americananglican.org.

Date: 10/17/2003