Fort Worth Boycotts Provincial Synod Over Same-sex Blessings
Episcopal News Service. August 28, 2002 [2002-196-7]
Bishop Jack Iker and the standing committee of the Diocese of Fort Worth have refused to join other members of Province VII for their annual synod in October because of Kansas bishop William Smalley's decision to authorize the blessing of relationships other than heterosexual marriage. Smalley is chair of Province VII, of which Fort Worth is a part.
'The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth and I want to express our alarm and dismay over your decision to authorize the blessing of same sex unions and of other persons living in 'committed relationships' other than marriage,' Iker wrote in a letter dated August 19. 'This decision repudiates the clear teaching of Holy Scripture, the witness of the Christian Tradition over the ages, and the mind of the Anglican Communion as expressed in the Lambeth Conference of 1998.
'Your decision is a serious departure from Christian faith and practice, which violates our communion as Christians. It is divisive and schismatic. By your action, you have seriously compromised our relationship with you, and we wish to go on record as repudiating this new policy. As a consequence of this, no representatives from this Diocese will be present for the Province VII Synod, which you are to Chair in October.
'We call upon you to rescind this action in the interest of preserving the peace and unity of our Church,' the letter concluded.