Fr. Greg's Anglo-Catholic Rants

This is where I get to post my thoughts about Jesus Christ, the Anglican Communion and the world we live in. All opinions are welcomed. P.S. This is a work in progress. Pax et Bonum

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Fw: ACNS 4227 Statement from The House of Bishops, Tanzania

 
ACNS 4227     |     TANZANIA     |     12 DECEMBER 2006

Statement from The House of Bishops, Tanzania

A statement concerning the current situation in the Episcopal Church
(USA), in light of their June 2006 General Convention.

1. Mindful of the fact that the Anglican Church of Tanzania issued
statements in 2003 following the election, confirmation and eventual
consecration to the Episcopate of Gene Robinson a practising homosexual
clergyman, whereby we declared that henceforth we are not in communion,
namely, communio in sacris, with:

i. Bishops who consecrate homosexuals to the episcopate and those
Bishops who ordain such persons to the priesthood and the deaconate or
license them to minister in their dioceses;

ii. Bishops who permit the blessing of same sex unions in their
dioceses;

iii. Gay priests and deacons;

iv. Priests who bless same sex unions;

2. And because in their June 2006 General Convention, the Episcopal
Church (USA) did not adequately respond to the requirement made to them
by the Anglican Communion through the Windsor Report by their failure to
register honest repentance for their actions that were contrary to the
dictates of the Holy Scripture and the teaching of the Anglican Church
as expressed in Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference and
thereby indicating that they were deliberately choosing to walk apart
from the rest of the Anglican Communion;

3. Therefore after its meeting on 7th December 2006 in Dar es Salaam,
the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Tanzania hereby declares
that its communion with the Episcopal Church (USA) is severely impaired
but the Anglican Church of Tanzania remains in communion with those who
are faithful to Biblical Christianity and authority of Scripture who
remain in the Episcopal Church (USA) or have left or are considering
leaving that church body for the same reasons that we have stated above.

4. Further to the consequent state of the severely impaired communion,
the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Tanzania declares that
henceforth the Anglican Church of Tanzania shall not knowingly accept
financial and material aid from Dioceses, parishes, Bishops, priests,
individuals and institutions in the Episcopal Church (USA) that condone
homosexual practice or bless same sex unions.

5. The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Tanzania declares that
we are committed to concerted prayer for renewal in the Anglican
Communion that will further the mission of Jesus Christ and will render
greater glory to God.

6. Finally, the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Tanzania
hereby mandates the Primate of the Anglican Church of Tanzania to
forward this statement to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
(USA), to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to all the Primates of the
Anglican Communion.

Dar Es Salaam

>From The Anglican Church of Tanzania

___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is
distributed to more than 8,000 journalists and other readers around
the world.

WOODBRIDGE, VA: Episcopal Church sees first defection

WOODBRIDGE, VA: Episcopal Church sees first defection

By Julia Duin
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
December 12, 2006

All Saints Episcopal Church in Dale City, whose members voted 402-6 on Sunday to leave the Episcopal Church, has become the first Northern Virginia church to flee the denomination out of several expected defections.

The 500-member church was one of nine churches to vote last weekend whether to leave the Episcopal Church over disagreements on biblical authority and the 2003 consecration of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, a practicing homosexual.

All Saints' vote ratified an agreement its leaders had struck last month with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia to cede their property to the diocese, then rent it back for five years until the church completes a new 800-seat sanctuary near Potomac Mills Shopping Center in Prince William County.

"We are heartened by the congregation's vote to move forward with our mission to be a church overflowing with God's love and healing power," said the Rev. John Guernsey, rector of All Saints. "We are grateful to the diocese that we were able to reach an amicable settlement and we pray that this may be a model for others in the [Episcopal] Church."

Virginia Bishop Peter J. Lee released a statement yesterday mourning the loss of All Saints.

"As the first of several churches to vote, I am disappointed with the result at All Saints and I sincerely hope that the result in the other congregations will be different," he said.

The remaining eight churches are keeping their polls open throughout the week and will announce their voting results Sunday.

At Truro Episcopal Church in Fairfax, a sign proclaiming "God's Church, Our Future, Your Vote" was posted by the front door on Sunday. At the Falls Church Episcopal in Falls Church, parishioners gathered in a sun-filled downstairs reception area to cast their ballots into yellow boxes covered with daisy patterns. Roped-off aisles led into the voting area, which resembled a precinct polling spot with election volunteers seated at multiple desks.

Some were poll judges who answered questions or ascertained membership qualifications; others directed parishioners how to fill out the two-part ballot. The first vote would separate the church from the denomination and the diocese; the second would empower the parish to fight to keep its multimillion-dollar historic property.

Posted in the voting area was a sign informing parishioners that the parish's rector and vestry, or governing board, "recommend a yes vote on both resolutions."

Stacked by church entrances was a booklet, "I Will Welcome You," about how the parish, if members decide to split, will go about "finding a new home in the Anglican Communion."

Russ Randle, the former head of the diocesan standing committee, which advises Bishop Lee, questioned whether diocesan canon law allows for multiple days of voting.

"While I am sympathetic to the difficulties of voting in a large congregation," he wrote in an e-mail, "it would appear that the voting procedures adopted are facially invalid and any vote taken by this means open to serious procedural challenge.

I have called this deficiency to the attention of some in leadership at one of these parishes, but no correction has been made."

Jim Pierobon, spokesman for both the Falls Church and Truro, said both churches are conducting their votes legally within the confines of a parish meeting, which can be called and recessed throughout the week.

http://tinyurl.com/y3g9ut

END

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