As Anglican leaders prepare to gather with the American Episcopal arm of the Church in mid-September to resolve the conservative-liberal divide over homosexuality in the Church, the U.S. Episcopal Church’s presiding bishop has issued a statement of clarification on the upcoming meeting.
"I have become aware of a great deal of speculation regarding a meeting that will take place in New York in mid-September," said Bishop Frank T. Griswold in his statement released Tuesday.Following the Anglican Communion Network's annual council meeting earlier this month where conservative Anglican leaders appealed for an "alternative primatial oversight" in opposition to the Episcopal Church’s stance on homosexuality, next month's summit will address the difficulty of responding to the appeal.
Calling the upcoming meeting "an opportunity for those of differing perspectives to come together in a spirit of mutual respect to exchange views," Griswold offered a few clarifying words on how the gathering was scheduled.
After the Episcopal Church USA's 75th General Convention in June, Kenneth Kearon, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, informed Griswold of the conversations he had with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, regarding the notion of "alternative primatial oversight." Bishop Robert Duncan, head of the ACN, had commented earlier that the Anglican Communion would lose shape as a unified body unless Williams addressed the concerns of the U.S. conservatives.
It was made clear, however, that Williams, who is “first among equals” in the worldwide Anglican Communion, "has no direct authority over the internal life of the Provinces that make up the Communion."
"Canon Kearon's point was that such requests needed to be discussed and a resolution be sought within the Episcopal Church itself," stated Griswold. "We agreed that the most helpful next step might be to have a candid conversation to include the Presiding Bishop-elect (Katharine Jefferts Schori) and me together with bishops who have expressed a need for 'alternative primatial oversight.'"In addition to himself, Griswold confirmed the participation of Kearon; Jefferts Schori; Bishop Jack Iker of Fort Worth, Texas; Bishop Robert Duncan, head of the Anglican Communion Network; Bishops Edward Salmon of South Carolina; James Stanton of Dallas; Don Wimberly of Texas; Dorsey Henderson of upper South Carolina; Rob O'Neill of Colorado; Mark Sisk of New York; John Lipscomb of Southwest Florida; and Peter Lee of Virginia, who told The Associated Press, "We're trying to hold together people who have differing views and to respect those differing views."
Lillian Kwon
Christian Today Correspondent
