Anglican Communion Institute (ACI)

Conciliation Accord: What It Means

The recent Conciliation "Accord" announced between several bishops and their accusers over charges they violated canons in filing an amicus brief in Texas is a minor event. But it does fit well into a larger and disturbing pattern of TEC's current leadership. That complaints were filed and charges brought against the bishops in the first place, such as to make this conciliation process necessary, represents gross misconduct on the part of the complainants in Fort Worth and of the Presiding Bishop's office.

Bishops and Civil Partnerships II: Still More Questions Than Answers

Two weeks since the House of Bishops' decision on civil partnerships finally hit the headlines, many questions (such as those raised in my earlier article, written before media interest in the story) remain unanswered. Some of the processes are, however, beginning to become clearer, though these in turn often provide more questions than answers. What follows attempts to map what has happened, read between the lines to highlight key questions that remain, and point to some of the contextual factors that may have shaped the decision.

Church of England Bishops and Civil Partnerships

Tucked away within a wider press release just before Christmas it has been announced that at their December meeting the Church of England's House of Bishops decided that "the House does not intend to issue a further pastoral statement on civil partnerships" and that "the requirements in the 2005 statement concerning the eligibility for ordination of those in civil partnerships whose relationships are consistent with the teaching of the Church of England apply equally in relation to the episcopate".

Open Letter to the Bishops of The Episcopal Church

available in printable format (PDF) To the Bishops of the Episcopal Church: Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This is a painful letter. It is painful because it concerns un-canonical (and perhaps even unlawful) actions on the part of our Presiding Bishop and her associates. These actions, detailed in the attached appendix and summarized in the bullet points below, have already undermined the good order and spiritual health of our church. We write to you our Bishops because of your responsibility for that good order.

South Carolina: A Communion Response

Yesterday Bishop Christopher Hill of Guildford, the chairman of the Church of England's Council for Christian Unity, advised that church's General Synod of developments in South Carolina: On Saturday, a Special Diocesan Convention endorsed the South Carolina withdrawal from The Episcopal Church. The Bishop has stated that their position would be to remain within the Anglican Communion as an extra-provincial Diocese. The Episcopal Church on the other hand maintains that General Convention consent is necessary for any withdrawal.

Consumed By Litigation: TEC In South Carolina (Part Two)

The Reverend Canon Professor Christopher Seitz The Reverend Dr. Philip Turner The Reverend Dr. Ephraim Radner Mark McCall, Esq.

Consumed By Litigation: TEC In South Carolina

It is becoming increasingly apparent as we witness developments unfolding in The Episcopal Church that secular litigation objectives are paramount, trumping other principles such as the fundamental norms of Christian conduct, the canonical integrity of the church, ancient standards of catholic ecclesiology and even the pastoral care of TEC’s own people.

Polity Politics or The Rule Of Law? A Response To Bishop Whalon

Bishop Pierre Whalon's recent essay, "Polity Politics," offers a critique of the amicus curiae brief submitted to the Texas Supreme Court by ACI and seven bishops of The Episcopal Church. Surprisingly, there is much with which we agree in this essay, especially the conclusion Bishop Whalon reaches at the mid-point that "on the face of it, the seven bishops are right." He goes on to assert that although we are right "on the face of it," we are nonetheless ultimately wrong in light of his interpretation of TEC's history, Constitution (which he never quotes) and ordination vows.

Title IV Under Review

The recent General Convention passed two resolutions calling for fundamental review of the new Title IV.

Same Sex Blessings: What Did General Convention Do?

Every bishop, priest and deacon undertakes at ordination "to conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church." The recent action by General Convention purporting to authorize bishops to authorize a rite for blessing same sex couples raises in an acute way the question of what exactly is the worship of The Episcopal Church to which all clergy promise to conform. We look carefully at this question below.