Crisis in Communion

Webmaster | 1 August 2006

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Nine US Dioceses seek way out

Nine American dioceses have formally expressed displeasure with their own US Anglican branch over its advocacy of homosexuals in ministry, and are looking for a new way to stay in communion with the Anglican world.

Bishop of Dallas James Stanton says he has written to the Archbishop of Canterbury, asking for a ‘strengthened pastoral relationship’. Bishop Iker of Fort Worth says the recent General Convention of the US Episcopal Church ‘signals… support for the ordination of practicing homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions, practices which have divided the Episcopal Church, impaired our relationship with a majority of other Provinces, and brought the Anglican Communion to a breaking point’.

The Dioceses of Pittsburg, North Carolina, Central Florida, Dallas, Forth Worth, Rio Grande (Texas), Springfield (Illinois), Quincy (Illinois) and San Joaquin (California) have all written to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Stanton says he plans to visit every parish in his diocese to determine which ones want to leave the Episcopal Church. Meanwhile, he adds, he wants a closer link to the Anglican Communion.

“My request, basically,” the Dallas bishop explains, “is that the Archbishop give us his support for our mission here and assure us of our connection and our commitment to the Anglican Communion, just as we’ve assured him of ours.” Like many other conservatives in the denomination, he says he is distancing himself from the Episcopal Church, not from Anglicanism.

“We’re concerned to uphold historic Christianity, biblical faith—what I call the Apostles’ teaching,” Stanton contends. “We’re here to proclaim Christ and the power of Christ to transform lives. I’m not always sure what the message is that is coming out of the leadership of the Episcopal Church, but it seems to be oriented to a number of what are identified as social justice issues.”

The Episcopal Diocese of Dallas is just the latest body in the ECUSA to reject Bishop-elect Schori as the denomination’s new leader because of her pro-homosexual stances and perceived revisionist views. Members of the Dioceses of Fort Worth, Texas, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as well as dioceses in Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, and California have similarly expressed disapproval with Schori and her election as head bishop. In addition, ECUSA’s largest congregation announced earlier this month it was leaving the denomination over the issue of homosexual ordination and a general disregard for scripture.

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