To be read at all services in every congregation of the Diocese of Florida, on Sunday, August 17, 2003 (Title III, Canon 24.5)

The 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the USA (ECUSA) is history.  The Convention consented to the consecration and ordination of an openly non-celibate homosexual as the next Bishop of New Hampshire.  The Convention also recognized that "local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions."  These decisions are choices that depart from the teaching of the Apostle's, the Church's traditional teaching on sexual morality and marriage, and violate canon law regarding the Bishop's role as Chief Pastor and Liturgical Officer in a Diocese.  These actions are contrary to our own Constitution, which commits members of ECUSA to "upholding and propagating the Historic Faith and Order" of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.  These decisions have solved nothing and left this Church more divided than ever before.

This has been an emotional and stressful time for your Bishop, your Deputies, your ECW Triennial delegates and other Florida visitors in Minneapolis.  Back in Florida, some rejoice, but most (according to my mail) grieve deeply for our Church.  Ninety-nine percent support us.

Increasingly, individuals have chosen to leave, or to withhold funds that will impact local ministries.   We have a unique ministry to the 28 federal, state and local prisons in our Diocese.  When a Layman and a Deacon went to Baker Correctional Institution last week, the prisoners turned them away, not wanting association with the Episcopal Church.  After some conversation, and reassurance of the position of the Diocese of Florida, the visitors were allowed in.  One of the prime teaching tools of our Great Commission Diocese is the annual "Perspectives" course for Missions.  Leaders are required to sign the Lausanne Covenant regarding the authority of the Bible in the lives of Christians.  Canon Wait, our Diocesan Coordinator, has had to reaffirm this commitment to national "Perspectives" leadership, in order for us to continue using this excellent tool in the Diocese.  A professional forensic psychologist, a devout Christian believer, has removed his children from one of our top Diocesan parochial schools.  Anecdotal events, yes.  Trivial events, no.

Some have accused traditional Episcopalians of creating schism.  We are neither creating nor suggesting schism.  Christian unity must be based on the revealed truth of God in Holy Scripture.  The Anglican position was clearly stated in 1888 at the Lambeth Conference of Bishops. Anglican and ecumenical unity is based on "The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as 'containing all things necessary to salvation,' and being the rule and ultimate standard of faith."

(Resolution 11(a), see our BCP p.877).  Until August 5, 2003 nothing had changed.  The General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the USA has seriously erred.  The ripple effects will seriously impact not only the Anglican Communion, but will strain relationships among our major ecumenical partners.  We will not remain silent when the General Convention has repudiated the plain teaching of Scripture, our Anglican formularies, and placed our membership in the Anglican Communion at great risk.

 At this time I am aware of the following next steps: 1) The Archbishop of Canterbury has called a meeting of the 38 Primates of the Anglican Communion on October 15-16th in London, to address the actions taken at the General Convention.  2) A nationwide gathering of orthodox ECUSA leadership is planned for October 7-9th at Christ Church in Plano, Texas to determine a common ground for addressing the current Constitutional crisis in ECUSA.  3) I am planning a "Diocesan conversation" around these issues, set for Saturday, September 27th, at the Cerveny Conference Center.  4) The Bishops of the five Florida

Dioceses will meet September 16-18th in Naples, where we will address the consequences for us in the State of Florida.  5) The regular meeting of Diocesan Council scheduled for September 13th will address these issues.

 A special convention may be called.  6) I am gathering the Clergy of the Diocese at the Cerveny Conference Center on Thursday, September 4th to discuss these matters.  7) I have a fiduciary responsibility to Diocesan financial integrity; to the budgeted salaries of our mission Clergy, and to the support of other Diocese ministries.  In fairness to individual and parochial consciences, I have instructed the Treasurer of the Diocese to escrow all funds that would normally be sent as our

Diocesan pledge to the General Convention budget until such time as we, as a Diocese, can determine the best and most faithful way to direct those funds.

As I have said on many occasions, these issues do not for a moment excuse us from relating to and ministering with homosexual members of our Diocese.  While well-meaning activists have made specious gains on their behalf, the issues have not gone away, and the Church remains seriously divided.  There is much pain on all sides.  The matter is now in the open and can honestly be addressed as never before.  Read Paul's advice to the Ephesians, 4:1-6, 14-16.  Our Lord calls us to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind, and our neighbors as ourselves.  As we have paraphrased it in the Diocese of Florida: "Live aggressively in love, and stand humbly for the Truth."

The Episcopal Church is in the midst of a constitutional and pastoral crisis, but the Church over the centuries has never been a stranger to crisis.  The current crisis requires a behavioral response that goes beyond words.  It will not happen overnight, and it will take time.  It will need to be "prayed" into place.  There is every reason to hope, for God does not abandon his people.  He knows the future and his plans for us are good and full of hope.  Read Jeremiah 29:11-14a, the prophet's proclamation of God's word to Jewish exiles in Babylon.  He asks that they be faithful.  He asks us to be faithful.  I urge all congregations, and all individual members to remain courageous in their faith and hope as continuing members of the Diocese of Florida.  God bless you all.