Let's see if I've got this right. First, there was the statement called "A Place to Stand," published by the American Anglican Council. It was followed by the Kuala Lumpur Statement, which came from the Anglican Encounter of the South. Then came the "Good Shepherd Declaration" of the Episcopal Synod of America. A few weeks ago, "A First Promise," rapidly becoming known as the Pawleys Island Statement, was produced by a group of rectors of mostly large parishes. And now we have the Dallas Statement, distributed at a gathering organized by Ekklesia in late September. Confused? You're not alone.

All five are, in one way or another, aimed at conservative Episcopalians who are concerned by developments in the national church. The statements come across as sort of a place to hang your hat. Almost like a creed. The trouble is, they often sound very much alike. An Episcopalian who espouses traditional theology is likely to be baffled when five different documents are throwing around phrases like "biblical standards" and "Anglican orthodoxy."

A brief look at the statements is in order:

A Place to Stand - Produced by the American Anglican Council in 1996, its complete title is "A Place to Stand: A Call to Mission." It is intended to be a statement of faith for the AAC and addresses a number of topics, including sexuality: "All Christians are called to chastity: husbands and wives by exclusive sexual fidelity to one another and single persons by abstinence from sexual intercourse."

Kuala Lumpur Statement - A 12-point document passed unanimously by the second Anglican Encounter of the South in February 1997 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The heart of the statement is the provision which rejects ordination of non-celibate homosexual persons and blessing of same-sex relationships.

Good Shepherd Declaration - Issued by the council of the Episcopal Synod of America in July, following General Convention. Takes its name from Good Shepherd Church, Rosemont, Pa., where the document was drawn up. Addresses "biblical standards of sexual morality" and "persecution of those who cannot accept the ordination of women as priests and deacons." Also establishes a non-geographic province.

Pawleys Island Statement - Titled "The First Promise," produced by a group of clergy meeting at All Saints' Church, Pawleys Island, S.C., last month. Advocates a series of nine actions in response to actions of General Convention, those actions including failure to uphold and require "a biblical sexual ethic" and mandatory enforcement of ordination of women.

Dallas Statement - Produced by 50 bishops and archbishops from 16 nations gathered in Dallas last month [p. 6]. Addresses issues facing the Anglican Communion within the context of areas to be addressed at the Lambeth Conference in 1998, especially international debt and human sexuality.

What are conservative Episcopalians to make of all this? It seems to me that if somehow those who drew up these documents could get together and issue something more unifying, they'd find themselves with an abundance of supporters. As it is, they've left a lot of people perplexed.

David Kalvelage, editor