GEORGIA: Convention affirms Windsor process, hears bishop talk of 'roomy denomination'
Episcopal News Service. February 7, 2007 [020707-04]
Mary Frances Schjonberg
The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, meeting February 1-3 in its 185th annual Convention, committed itself to the Windsor Report and the development of an Anglican covenant.
Bishop Henry Louttit recalled in his address descriptions of clergy that he has known since coming to the diocese; clergy whom he said had differing theological views and who all contributed to the ministry of the diocese and the Episcopal Church.
"Some people want to believe that in the past everyone in our church agreed on theology and that all orthodox people would use exactly the same language all the time," Louttit said. "The truth is Elizabeth, the Great, Queen of England, allowed the development of a church in which the test of membership was worshiping together, not agreeing to theological unanimity."
Calling the Anglican tradition a "roomy denomination," he said he has "every confidence that Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit and in the Father is leading our church."
"Mistakes of theology or morality will be corrected in the life of the church, though other errors will arise through the sin and partial vision of our human leaders," Louttit said.
The complete text of Louttit's address is available here.
The Convention adopted a resolution to encourage parishes to take up an offering for the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals and said that the money should go "directly to a specified charity, donated to Episcopal Relief and Development, or otherwise disbursed in a manner that seems to that parish most fully in harmony with the essence and purpose of the MDGs."
After much debate, the Convention passed a resolution stating that:
- the diocese and the Episcopal Church are "constituent members of the Anglican Communion,"
- it endorses and supports the Windsor Report and its subsequent process,
- it supports "the active involvement of the Episcopal Church in the potential development of an Anglican Covenant as a vehicle to strengthen the bonds of affection that unite us to one another in Christ," and
- the diocese "commit[s] and abide[s] by the covenant as it leads and binds us in the Anglican Communion in matters of theology, biblical understanding, and moral values."
Additional information about Convention is available here.
The Diocese of Georgia comprises about 18,000 Episcopalians worshipping in 72 congregations.