Date: Sat, 2 Aug 1997 13:32:36 -0400
From: "Roger A. Boltz"
<anglican@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Subject: PRESS RELEASE FROM AAC
In a measured statement that avoided inflammatory rhetoric, The Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton, Bishop of Dallas and President of the American Anglican Council, informed the House of Bishops on the last morning of the General Convention that "many are alarmed and concerned" by "continuing divisions" in the Episcopal Church. Bishop Stanton raised two divisions that may appear serious enough to constitute an impaired communion within the Episcopal Church and between it and other provinces of the Anglican Communion: coercion of women's ordination and affirmation of homosexual unions.
At the same time, AAC leaders point to surprising strength demonstrated by this coalition that is less than a year old. "We believe God is raising up a movement of orthodox Episcopalians who will defend biblical faith and practice in the conventions and councils of the church" said Diane Knippers, Treasurer of AAC and President of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington D.C. "One of the thrills of the General Convention was to watch dozens and dozens of Episcopalians testifying on behalf of biblical values in all the major committees on most of the major issues."
The most positive thing to come out of the convention was a definition of doctrine. For the first time, the convention inserted into the canons (church law) a definition of the "core doctrine" of the Episcopal Church. The new canon defines doctrine as "the basic and essential teachings of the church... found in the canons of Holy Scripture, as understood in the Apostles and Nicene creeds, and in the sacramental rites, ordinal and catechism in the Book of Common Prayer."
This effectively repudiates the vague definition of "core doctrine" used by the Court for the Trial of a Bishop to dismiss heresy charges in 1995 against the Rt. Rev. Walter Righter. In its decision, that court asked the 1997 General Convention to clarify the meaning of "doctrine" in order to avoid such ambiguity in the future.
In a stunning defeat of the homosexual agenda, the House of Deputies voted down the most closely watched resolution of the Convention, one which called for the development of rites for the blessing of same sex unions. It had been widely predicted that this measure would easily pass in the House of Deputies. Its rejection marked a decisive reversal of the trend toward endorsement of homosexual practice.
The convention passed resolutions introduced or supported by AAC members dealing with Marriage and Family Ministries, Father Absence, Pornography, Faith-based ministries to the poor, Dialogue with the National Association of Evangelicals, Partial Birth Abortion, Human Rights in Christian-Muslim Dialogue, and an "End of Life" issues study.
The House fo Bishops elected The Rt. Rev. Frank T. Griswold III by a narrow 110-96 vote as the new Presiding Bishop of the church. Griswold has ordained non-celibate homosexuals and encourages the blessing of their unions. Many parishes consider their communion with their own diocesan bishop to be impaired over this issue. Bishop Stanton said, "To the many faithful congregations, clergy and laity of this Church, moreover, who are anguished by the apparent willingness of some in the leadership of this Church to bless, condone and promote sexual practices clearly at odds with the whole of the Biblical pattern, and with historic Christian teaching - a teaching which is still the norm, be it noted, of this Church and of other provinces of the Anglican Communion - we pledge that we will stand with you."
In other action the General Convention amended the canons to require all bishops and clergy to accept the ordination of women. Women's ordination is not even accepted in all provinces of the Anglican Communion. In doing so, the convention rejected the advice of 91 women priests who had argued against coercion and for patience in a spirit of reconciliation. Expressing gratitude for the courageous leadership of these clergy women, Bishop Stanton said, "...we declare that -- come what may -- we will continue to be in solidarity with these women and at the same time maintain communion with those bishops who, on the basis of their conscience, cannot ordain or license [them]."
The AAC has a vital concern for holding the Episcopal Church together and at the same time maintaining its relationships with the other provinces of the Anglican Communion. At least one such relationship, that with the Province of Southeast Asia, may now be impaired, since
the House of Bishops failed to affirm the Statement on Human Sexuality approved by the "Second Anglican Encounter in the South" at Kuala Lumpur earlier this year. The Province of Southeast Asia has declared that they are in communion with other Anglicans who affirm the principles of that statement and not otherwise.
The Board of Trustees of American Anglican Council has unanimously affirmed the Kuala Lumpur Statement. Bishop Stanton said in the House of Bishops, "The unity we seek is the unity that is God's gift alone, built on the sure foundation of God's revealed will and purpose. We [the AAC bishops] will not abandon... our determination to guard the faith once delivered to the saints."
The convention approved health care benefits for "domestic partners" without defining the term. While this administrative action did not determine that same sex partnerships are moral, the action was widely seen to be a victory for "justice" for clergy and lay employees in same sex relationships.
Immediately following the General Convention, the AAC Board (American Anglican Council, a conservative group, similar to Forward in Faith, but does not disallow the ordination of women) affirmed its support of biblically orthodox women priests and also with those who do not recognize the priesthood of women. "We will resist any action that would coerce violation of biblically informed conscience on the subject of women's ordination, and we will not recognize any penalties imposed by any juridical body to that end," said Roger Boltz, Administrative Director.
The AAC Board agreed to establish a deliberate and orderly process by which it will assist parishes that find themselves unable to receive ministry from a doctrinally compromised bishop. "We will first seek to provide sacramental support through official channels," said Boltz. "We are prayerfully committed to providing episcopal ministry and oversight to parishes in need. To this end, we will take council with other Anglicans to develop specific guidelines that will meet the needs of parishes and preserve catholic order. Faithful proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the spiritual needs of the people take precedence over geographical boundaries."
Finally, the AAC Board addressed the question of financial stewardship. Parishes and their vestries are encouraged by the AAC to fund faithful ministry and mission, both domestic and forign, of the Episcopal Church. "We encourage enthusiastic funding of dioceses and agencies of the national church that are pursuing such godly ministry," said Roger Boltz. "At the same time, we support those who seek ways to direct their tithes away from projects and purposes that are clearly contradictory to Holy Scripture."
Roger Boltz reiterated the founding purpose of the American Anglican Council - to provide an orthodox place to stand within the church and to enable Episcopalians to fulfill the church's mission. That mission, he reminded the Board, is to make disciples for Jesus Christ by sharing God's revealed truth with our unbelieving culture.
"Although our church has reached a state of crisis, we do not despair," said Bishop Stanton. "We saw tremendous unity among orthodox believers working at the General Convention. And we have seen the beginning of a serious challenge to the entrenched power structure."
"We are prepared to get on with the work of ministry, with or without
the support of the General Convention, the National Church Office or the
Presiding Bishop," Boltz said. "As more and more parishes, bishops and
ministries are coming to stand with us, we are excited about what the Lord
is doing, and we are ready to get on with the Great Commission."
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