Pittsburgh Convention Approves Nullification of National Actions: Bishop Threatens Parishes with Expulsion
Episcopal News Service. November 8, 2004 [110804-1]
Matthew Davies
[Episcopal News Service] The convention of the Diocese of Pittsburgh voted November 5 to permit nullification of decisions of the Episcopal Church's General Convention with which a majority of the diocese disagrees.
The convention also failed to reelect the Very Rev. George Werner, former dean of Trinity Cathedral, Pittsburgh, and president of the House of Deputies, as one of its eight deputies to the General Convention.
And in a surprise move, diocesan bishop Robert Duncan announced that next year's convention will be asked to consider dissolving its relationship with two congregations that have challenged diocesan leaders in court.
The constitutional amendment effectively repeals the unconditional accession made by the diocese to the authority of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and to the national General Convention. The amendment to Article 1, Section 1 of the diocesan constitution, introduced at its 2003 convention, passed on the second reading at the 139th diocesan convention, held November 5-6, 2004.
The amendment declares that when Pittsburgh's diocesan convention determines that General Convention's decisions are "contrary to the historic faith and order of the one holy catholic and apostolic church ... the local determination shall prevail."
Among clergy, 79 voted in favor, 14 against, and 8 abstained. Lay delegates also passed the constitutional amendment by a lopsided margin, with 124 in favor, 45 against and 3 abstentions.
Moderate and liberal members of the diocese, including the Via Media -affiliated group Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh (PEP), expressed dismay at the outcome of the vote. A PEP release stated that, rather than heed the call of the recently released Windsor Report on communion for a moratorium on "provocative actions," the diocese has "charged ahead on a divisive course."
Conflict and disagreements
Discontent with General Convention roiled the largely conservative diocese even before August 2003, when the General Convention voted to confirm the election of Gene Robinson, a priest in a committed relationship with another man, as Bishop of New Hampshire, and adopted a resolution that recognized the blessing of same-gender unions as "operating within the bounds of [the] common life" of the Episcopal Church.
In his opening address to the convention, Duncan acknowledged that "there will be conflict ... because we have a fundamental disagreement about the will and word and work of Jesus ... We are in the early stages of a profound reformation of the church in the West."
Referring to the Windsor Report, which makes recommendations for healing and reconciliation throughout the 77-million-member Anglican Communion, Duncan said it is "abundantly clear" that the blessing of same-gender unions and the ordination and consecration of individuals living in same-gender partnerships are outside the limits of Anglican diversity. "The Episcopal Church has erred, just as we have held locally," he said.
Duncan, who is also the moderator of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes (NACDAP), assured the convention that the Network bishops and a wider group of bishops who voted "no" to the consecration of Gene Robinson "will do everything within our power to act to bring the whole of the Episcopal Church back into line." A meeting of the 42 bishops who voted against Robinson's election is set for the end of November.
A second constitutional amendment was also passed allowing canonically resident clergy the right to vote in diocesan elections, whether or not they actually reside in the diocese.
Property issues
In a surprise announcement during the final minutes of the convention, Duncan informed delegates that, with the advice and consent of the diocesan standing committee, the agenda of next year's convention would feature the possible dissolution of two congregations' ties with the diocese. Duncan added that he hoped this would move forward a process of "reconciliation and restoration" in the diocese.
Such an action could proceed under Article 15.6 of the diocese's constitution, which allows the convention to dissolve its union with any parish by a two-thirds vote if notice is given in the preceding annual convention.
The congregations – Calvary in East Liberty and St. Stephen's in Wilkinsburg -- filed suit last October against Duncan and other diocesan leaders, claiming that the passage of a resolution at a special diocesan convention refuting the holding of all diocesan property in trust for the entire Episcopal Church, as well as the constitutional amendment allowing nullification, endanger "the unity and integrity" of the property of the Episcopal Church.
Diocesan officials withdrew the property trust resolution after the suit was filed, and attempted to have the suit dismissed in March, but the court ruled that it could continue. The diocese asked the court on October 24 to force Calvary to release parish assessment funds that have been paid into an escrow account since the filing of the suit. The motion stated that Calvary's assessment of $118,399 amounts to 10.5% of the diocese's assessment income for 2004. The court has not yet acted on the motion.
"We are fully confident that such expulsion would never be upheld by either the National Church or the Court," said a statement released from Calvary's leadership on November 8. "Actually, the Bishop's very assertion shows the legitimacy of Calvary's and St. Stephen's concern that the constitution and canons of the National Church will not be respected in this Diocese. In fact, the current Diocesan Convention enacted an amendment to the constitution and canons of the Pittsburgh Diocese, providing that the Diocese has the power to disregard the constitution and canons of the National Church and the resolutions of the National Church's General Convention.
"It is the ultimate irony that in the same Convention where the Diocese decides it can disregard the constitution and canons of the National Church and actions of the General Convention of the National Church, the Bishop also threatens with expulsion (for not following church order) two parishes that are attempting to require respect for the laws of the National Church and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," the statement concluded.
PEP president Lionel Deimel of Mount Lebanon said that he was "appalled that our bishop wrapped in the rhetoric of 'reconciliation' the intimidation of and threats against two loyal Episcopal Church parishes." In a November 6 news release, PEP affirmed that although "we are uncertain how events will unfold, [we are] certain to support these two parishes. We will continue to pray for true reconciliation and healing in the diocese of Pittsburgh and beyond."
Werner 'blessed' to serve
Dean Werner, who was attending a meeting of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council in Boise, Idaho, during the convention, announced that although he was not reelected as a deputy his term as president of the House of Deputies will run until the adjournment of the 75th General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, in 2006.
In a statement released November 6, Werner said, "I have been singularly blessed to have represented the Diocese of Pittsburgh during the last eight General Conventions of the Episcopal Church. I have treasured this ministry and give deep thanks for these opportunities to serve this part of the Body of Christ.
"I am deeply moved and humbled by the example of such love by veteran deputies Jim Simons, Scott Quinn, Elizabeth Hobbs and Bill Roemer who chose to stand up for me in a difficult place and a difficult moment of history," he added. "These brothers and sisters in Christ have put aside our significant differences in the current struggle, to graciously urge my re-election."
Finally, Werner offered gratitude to "our Bishop and my brothers and sisters throughout the diocese for my many blessings in serving here. May God bless us all on our pilgrimage to the Kingdom."
Ugandan partnership affirmed
The convention welcomed as guests Archbishop Henry Orombi, primate of the Church of Uganda and bishop of Kampala, and Bishop John Muhanguzi of the Ugandan diocese of North Ankole.
During the opening session, the convention resolved to "embrace a special partnership for mission and ministry to the Ugandan Christian University." A proposed amendment to the resolution asking the Church of Uganda to cease all crossing of jurisdictional boundaries, honoring the recommendations of the Windsor Report, did not pass. Orombi told ENS that the Ugandan province would continue to offer alternative oversight to parishes within the Episcopal Church that cannot accept the authority of their bishop. "If you see someone drenched in the rain ... you don't take a stick and chase them away," he said.
As keynote speaker at the convention banquet, Orombi offered an overview of the church in Uganda, describing ways in which it is preparing for the future. "The biggest thing as we look to the future is leadership," he said. "There is such a need for leaders, who are educated, who know what it means to be built on Christian morals, who know how to walk in the will of God."
Expressing gratitude to the diocese, Orombi said that the partnership with the Ugandan Christian University would help men and women to "speak the truth, the good, for justice and the prosperity of our people."
"Thank you for helping us to prepare young people for the future," he said. "We believe that the university will be a center for excellence in Africa."
During discussion of the diocesan budget, concerns were raised about there being no provision for the diocese to make direct financial contributions to the national church and that these decisions have been shifted to the parishes instead.
Sue Boulden, a parishioner from St. Thomas' Church, Oakmont, and co-convener of PEP, announced that $255,000 has not been given to the Episcopal Church over the last few years. "This is blackmail," she said. "I wonder what hypocrisy we are exercising by sending deputies to General Convention."
On the second day of convention, time was given to elections and reports of organizations, committees and institutions, resulting in the abandonment of six resolutions that had been proposed by members of the diocese. These included a resolution asking the diocese to recognize that it is a "constituent and inseparable part" of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. Other resolutions asked for recognition of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, Episcopal Relief and Development, and women clergy, and called on the diocese to affirm its commitment "to listen to the experiences of LGBT persons and to minister pastorally and sensitively to all persons irrespective of sexual orientation."
Other diocesan conventions
The Dioceses of Atlanta, Fort Worth, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts also held diocesan conventions this past weekend.
In Fort Worth a resolution was passed urging the House of Bishops to "accept and implement the recommendations of the Windsor Report through repentance of their actions against God and his church" in consecrating Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
The Diocese of Atlanta voted to give .7% of the diocesan budget toward the Millennium Development Goals. Its convention rejected a package of resolutions calling for repudiation of the actions of General Convention 2003, affirmation of Resolution 1.10 from Lambeth 1998, and reaffirmation of a diocesan policy -- currently under review -- prohibiting the ordination of lesbians and gays and the blessing of same-gender unions. The convention approved resolutions affirming that the Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation, and forming a study committee to consider same-gender unions and the liturgies to bless them, and tabled a resolution urging endorsement of the Windsor Report.
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