Episcopal Bishops Begin 'New Day' of Collegiality
Episcopal News Service. March 17, 2005 [031705-2]
Bob Williams, , Director of Communication for the Episcopal Church
The bishops of the Episcopal Church say a "new day" of collegiality has begun among them as an outcome of their annual spring meeting devoted to private consultation and spiritual reflection.
Their Covenant Statement adopted March 15 "represents continued growth in new and healthier behavior," Nevada Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said following the six-day meeting at the Camp Allen conference center in rural eastern Texas.
In a unanimously adopted "Word to the Church," the House of Bishops together called the Covenant Statement a "reflection of a fresh spirit of mutual forbearance and reconciliation among us" and "the beginning of a new day in our life together."
[Full texts of both documents are posted online at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_60016_ENG_HTM.htm and http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_60048_ENG_HTM.htm]
The Covenant Statement responds to the Anglican Communion's Windsor Report and Primates' Meeting February communiqué. Both documents call for ways forward amid divided opinion created by the General Convention's 2003 approval of the election of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire, and the Anglican Church of Canada's Diocese of New Westminster's adoption of rites for the blessing of same-gender unions.
In their Covenant Statement -- which drew praise March 16 from the Archbishop of Canterbury as a "constructive response" showing "a real willingness to engage with the challenges posed" -- the bishops pledge themselves to withhold consent to all elections of bishops until the General Convention meets in 2006 in Columbus, Ohio.
Five dioceses -- South Carolina, Southern Ohio, Southwest Florida, Tennessee, and West Texas (suffragan) -- have all agreed to reschedule their elections from 2005 to 2006 so that consents will be addressed by General Convention, according to Bishop Clay Matthews of the Office of Pastoral Development within the Office of the Presiding Bishop.
Three additional dioceses -- California (San Francisco Bay Area), Eastern Michigan, and Northern California -- have already scheduled elections for 2006, and consents will therefore come to General Convention, Matthews said.
An additional three elections are pending and have not yet been publicly announced, Matthews said. He added that consents to the election earlier this year of a new bishop of the Virgin Islands are not impacted by the Covenant Statement.
The process of General Convention consenting, during its 2006 proceedings, to potentially 11 elections is not unlike the Convention's work in 2003 to achieve consent to a total of 10 elections, Matthews noted.
Bishops note resilience, honesty
Arriving at the Covenant Statement was not an easy process, Bishop Tom Ely of Vermont said after the House of Bishops' meeting adjourned. "I found myself working very hard to get myself to a place of support for the Covenant," he said, reflecting his commitment to full inclusion of gay and lesbian persons in the life of the church. His own wrestling with the Covenant "put me in mind of a lot of the bishops who voted no to the election of Gene Robinson and worked to stay in the church. I'm grateful for that."
The Covenant Statement was adopted by a strong-majority show of hands among the 130 bishops assembled in the House on the afternoon of March 15. One account places the number of bishops dissenting at six, another at nine. No minority report emerged as it might have otherwise from dissenting bishops who affirmed the election of the Bishop of New Hampshire and favor the blessing of same-gender unions.
New York Bishop Mark Sisk, also speaking after the meeting adjourned, said it was significant that the Covenant Statement was adopted after the House heard an exchange of viewpoints expressed during a Monday-night session by Robinson and Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan, leader of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Congregations.
"A direct encounter from the people who represent different dimensions provided an opportunity for us to work toward a deeper level of honesty," Sisk said.
Bishop Victor Scantlebury, suffragan of Chicago, said after the meeting that the exchange should be "kept in perspective," noting that the House is resilient and fully competent in meeting conflict as it arises.
Bishop Jon Bruno of Los Angeles said the ways in which conflicts were addressed represented "catalysts for positive change." Bruno joined Bishop John Lipscomb of Southwest Florida, among other bishops, in sitting down with Duncan and Robinson in conversations touching on "what unites them" in addition to ways in which they differ.
Bishop Edward Little of Northern Indiana said, reflecting on the meeting, that he "experienced a remarkable generosity of spirit that I had not experienced before in the House." He agreed "that some hopeful bridges have been built."
Texas Bishop Suffragan Rayford High concurred: "I experienced corporately and individually the Holy Spirit moving us from a beginning time to when there was certain suspicion and concern and anger, to a point of coming to learn to live together."
'Sabbath space' will aid education
New York's Bishop Sisk, who chairs the planning committee for the House of Bishops, added that the space created by the Covenant Statement will enhance the church's further learning around human sexuality, an educational process called for by the Windsor Report.
"I'm hopeful that the theology statement called for in the Windsor Report will be the foundation for further conversations in the House and for the whole church," said Matthews of the Pastoral Development Office.
"One of the main purposes of this sort of Sabbath time is to get into a process of study," Sisk said. "There are a number of parts of the church that will be working to help us to do that."
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold agreed: "There are times when something occurs and then the community has to reflect more deeply -- I think that Sabbath space provides just such an opportunity to reflect, and also to recognize that we are part of a larger conversation."
Throughout the meeting, Griswold called for a "realignment of energy that allows us to ask what is the mission, what are we asked to do for the sake of our world."
Mission underscored
Bishop Nigel McCullough of Manchester, England, who had been invited by the Presiding Bishop to attend the meeting, said he "picked up a great sense of the bishops seeing beyond the issue of sexuality to Christ's mission in its broadest sense to which we are all called."
McCullough said he sensed among the bishops "a deep sense of belonging to the Anglican Communion," adding that adoption of the Covenant Statement was "costly to all sides." He said he was impressed by "the sight of the drafting group" of "people encompassing every range of opinion, and the very diverse culture that shapes the Anglican Communion."
The bishops shared in celebrating the Eucharist daily with Lenten reflections on the nearing Paschal mysteries of Holy Week and Easter. They voiced appreciation for a variety of sermons and meditations offered by priests Michael Battle and Mark McIntosh, chaplains to the House of Bishops, and for two homilies preached by the Presiding Bishop.
The bishops also commended the increasing use of Spanish-language communication in the House sessions, where two translators assisted.
In other business, the bishops reviewed proposed revisions to Title IV of Episcopal Church canons addressing "fitness for ministry, accountability and ecclesiastical ministry," and changes to Title III proposed by the Standing Commission on Ministry Development. Consideration was also given to role of Christian formation.
Environmental concerns were addressed in a resolution calling on the U.S. Senate not to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for fossil fuel drilling (see related story at: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_59990_ENG_HTM.htm).
Important 'meta-narrative'
Reflecting on the meeting, Bishop Chilton Knudsen of Maine said there is a compelling "meta-narrative" behind the story of how the Covenant Statement was drafted.
She cited the work of a grass-roots group of at least 18 bishops -- many of whom are known to have differing theological points of view -- whose work began with informal Sunday-afternoon discussion around patio tables. The conversation led to 19 bishops standing before House colleagues with a proposed plan of action.
"When I saw the group at work on Sunday, I stood back and prayed for them," Knudsen said. "The Holy Spirit was clearly moving among them."
The Presiding Bishop said the same, pointing to the group's "self-organizing" initiative.
Of the whole meeting, Griswold said: "Our discourse has been a blessing to me, to us, and to the entire Episcopal Church. I am deeply appreciative of the diversity of voices among this House of Bishops.
"We very carefully sorted out the energies among us and dealt with them in a deliberate and respectful way," Griswold said.
Rhode Island Bishop Geralyn Wolf said the Covenant Statement "revealed to us a way in which we can live together without winners and losers."
Retired Bishop Robert Johnson of Western North Carolina said he appreciated Indianapolis Bishop Catherine Waynick's observation that the Covenant Statement represents "a significant moment in terms of turning the other cheek and going the extra mile."
Kansas Bishop Dean Wolfe praised the bishops' ability "to work together and come to a compromise position" reflected in their Covenant Statement. "It indicates a real desire to give us all some time to reflect and pray, and to be sensitive to the Primates' Communiqué and last fall's Windsor Report. I look forward very much to seeing where this opening door may lead us as we go forward."