Presiding Bishop Welcomes Appointment of Panel of Reference Chair
Episcopal News Service. May 11, 2005 [051105-2]
Jan Nunley
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has welcomed the appointment of the Most Rev. Peter Carnley of Australia to serve as chair of the Panel of Reference created by Archbishop Rowan Williams in response to the request of the Primates Meeting in February.
Carnley, the Archbishop of Perth, is also Anglican co-chairman of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and served as spokesperson for the primates at their last meeting in Newry, Northern Ireland.
"It is my expectation that the Panel of Reference will bring the whole question of delegated episcopal oversight objectivity and fair-mindedness," said Griswold. "This will help dispel misrepresentations regarding the willingness of bishops and congregations under their care to make use of Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight.
"It is also my hope that one of the consequences of the clarity that will be provided by the Panel of Reference will be the redirection of our energies in the service of Christ's continuing mission in the world."
The panel is being created to "enquire into, consider and report" to the Archbishop of Canterbury on situations involving "groups in serious theological dispute with their diocesan bishop, or dioceses in dispute with their Provinces," as well as to make recommendations with his consent and report to him on any responses. "At the request of any Primate" the panel is directed to "provide a facility for mediation and to assist in the implementation" of mediation plans within the primate's own province, but it has not been given the power to administrate them.
According to a directive issued by Williams, the panel is to consist of not less than nine people "qualified by professional and pastoral skills and experience and appointed by myself as necessary from time to time." Its term of service will be five years, or until Williams, in consultation with the Primates' Standing Committee, determines that its function has been fulfilled. Names of the members are to be announced next week.
The directive calls on each primate with a plan for delegated or extended episcopal oversight to send the plan to Williams within 14 days and to notify him within 28 days if any changes are made to the plan. Williams also called on "each bishop of the Communion to respect fully and in accordance with its spirit" plans established for their own provinces, and on each parish in conflict with its bishop to work within its own province for delegated or extended episcopal oversight.
"The bishops of the Episcopal Church are committed to the provision of such pastoral care to those of various perspectives and have established a means of being certain it is provided which is described in Caring for all the Churches: Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight," Griswold said in February following the primates' meeting. "I am also pleased by the commitment made by the primates 'neither to encourage nor to initiate cross-boundary violations.'"
The Archbishop of Canterbury's directive can be found online at: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/39/75/acns3977.cfm