The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop, released a communiqué of a meeting which took place between himself and a group representing what they believe is the mainstream of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The meeting occurred at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City May 15.

The statement represents no clear agreement on solutions to conflicts between opposing parties in the Episcopal Church, but behind the words is a warning, according to some of the participants.

The most pressing situation is the dispute over the call of a traditionalist priest, the Rev. Samuel Edwards, to be rector of Christ Church, Accokeek, Md. The Rt. Rev. Jane Dixon, Bishop Pro Tempore of Washington, has rejected the call.

The Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth, said the meeting was "successful and productive" in that it allowed bishops of Forward in Faith North America (FIFNA) and a leader from the American Anglican Council (AAC) "to articulate our concerns and say what we would like to see happen" in a number of areas which have recently come under the scrutiny of the primates of the Anglican Communion.

The three areas that were discussed are: (1) Accokeek, (2) the establishment of alternative episcopal oversight, and (3) the visits of task forces to the remaining three dioceses that oppose the ordination of women.

Despite the fact the meeting was called just to gain FIFNA first hearing ever with a Presiding Bishop, the discussions led to a positive outcome, according to Bishop Iker, as well as the Rev. David Moyer, FIFNA president and another participant.

One of the suggestions at the May 15 meeting was that Bishop Dixon should accept Fr. Edwards' written promise that he would not try to take the parish out of the Episcopal Church in return for her promise to "back off" from her rejection of his call to the parish.

The bishops also warned the Presiding Bishop that if the situation in Accokeek is not settled satisfactorily, it could lead to the very outcome Bishop Dixon has said she most fears.

"We will do everything we can to support Sam Edwards. Everything," Fr. Moyer said. "We will not walk away from this under any circumstances."

The communiqué also focused on the need to establish alternative episcopal care in the Episcopal Church. "We want the Presiding Bishop to come up with a plan" for alternative episcopal oversight, or flying bishops, Bishop Iker said. "The plan should explain how a congregation can go about seeking and obtaining pastoral care, "even in a diocese that says no."

The plan will have to be worked out in the House of Bishops, because the Presiding Bishop could not unilaterally issue a policy "that every bishop is compelled to obey," according to Bishop Iker.

Bishop Iker reports that the three FIFNA diocesan bishops -- himself, the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy, and the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield, Bishop of San Joaquin -- were asked at the meeting for comments about pending visits from task forces established by the Executive Council and created as the result of Resolution A045 at last year's General Convention. The convener for the Resolution A045 Task Force is the Rt. Rev. Peter Lee, Bishop of Virginia.

The communiqué was written by Bishop Lee, who attended the meeting at the request of Bishop Griswold. It appears intended primarily to state the concerns of the five traditionalist bishops affiliated with FIFNA, and a sixth bishop, the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, who heads the American Anglican Council (AAC).

Others present at the meeting were the Rt. Rev. Donald Parsons, retired Bishop of Quincy; the Rt. Rev. Douglas Theuner, Bishop of New Hampshire and chairman of the Presiding Bishop's Council of Advice; Fr. Moyer, rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, Pa.; Charles Nalls, executive director of the Canon Law Institute and attorney for Christ Church, Accokeek, and David Booth Beers, chancellor to the Presiding Bishop.