PROGRESSIVE
EPISCOPALIANS OF PITTSBURGH
Contact:
Joan R. Gundersen, President
Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh
Telephone: +1 (412) 799-0440
E-mail:
jrgunder@hotmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pittsburgh Diocese Moves Closer to Final Break with Episcopal Church
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — November 3, 2006 — The Diocese of
Pittsburgh took another big step today toward making a final break with The
Episcopal Church. At its annual convention, the diocese adopted a resolution
calling for “alternative Primatial oversight” for the diocese and for its “withdrawal
of consent for inclusion” in Province III, a regional grouping of Episcopal
dioceses. The measure endorsed the substance of a June 28 resolution of Bishop
Robert Duncan and his standing committee.
The divide between the powerful, self-styled “orthodox” of the diocese and
those committed to the more progressive Episcopal Church was evidenced by the remarks
of the first speaker to rise in opposition to the resolution. The Very Reverend
George Werner, retired Dean of Trinity Cathedral and past president of The
Episcopal Church’s House of Deputies, observed that, “Moses brought everyone
into the promised land, not just the commandos.” The strategy pursued by the
Pittsburgh Diocese, he said, has made him an “outsider.”
The tension between parties in the diocese could be seen early in the meeting.
Bishop Duncan, echoing the conference theme of “Embracing Fruitfulness,” spoke
in his annual address of the need for pruning to encourage fruitfulness, which
did not comfort those who oppose the bishop’s priorities. The budget approved
at the meeting reduces diocesan commitment to hospital ministry, the Commission
on Racism, and most existing urban ministries. The diocese will continue its
practice of providing no support for The Episcopal Church, and it will now
redirect its Province III dues to the Network of Anglican Communion Diocese and
Parishes (otherwise known as the Anglican Communion Network, or ACN).
The majority turned aside all efforts to accommodate parishes that support The
Episcopal Church. One of these would have allowed parishes that have declined
to be part of the ACN to avoid supporting it through the diocese, a principle
seemingly granted in a signed legal settlement between the diocese and parishes
committed to remaining in The Episcopal Church. In another move, the convention
defeated an amendment that would have created a separate district in the
diocese for parishes wanting to maintain a connection to Province III.
“Today’s actions are clearly illegal under the canon law of our church,”
observed Dr. Joan R. Gundersen, president of Progressive Episcopalians of
Pittsburgh (PEP), the group that led opposition to the resolution. The constitution
and canons of The Episcopal Church allow for only one Presiding Bishop, one
House of Bishops, and require the General Convention to approve any change in provincial
assignments. This diocese is asking individuals outside The Episcopal Church to
intervene where they have no authority,” said Dr. Gundersen.
Despite an opinion rendered by diocesan chancellor Robert Devlin to the
contrary, Dr. Lionel Deimel, a PEP board member who wrote an extended analysis
disputing that the diocese could withdraw from its province, insisted that, “If
the diocese withdraws unilaterally from Province III, it has violated the
canons, since Canon I.9.1 says that the diocese is in Province III. The diocese
claims to have amended its own constitution such that it supercedes that of the
church, however, and this may have been an instance of using the power it has
granted itself.”
The convention continues tomorrow at Trinity Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh. Ironically, while the Pittsburgh convention continues to isolate itself from
The Episcopal Church and the new Presiding Bishop, The Rt. Reverend Katharine
Jefferts Schori, whom the diocesan leadership finds unacceptable, Jefferts
Schori will be installed Saturday in Washington National Cathedral at a
ceremony beginning as the Pittsburgh convention draws to a close.
Contact:
Joan R. Gundersen, President
Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh
Telephone: +1 (412) 799-0440
E-mail: jrgunder@hotmail.com
On the Web:
This document:
http://progressiveepiscopalians.org/html/2006-11-03closer.html
PEP:
http://progressiveepiscopalians.org
Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh:
http://www.pgh.anglican.org
Resolution passed:
http://www.pgh.anglican.org/news/local/resone110306
The Episcopal Church:
http://episcopalchurch.org
Constitution and canons of The Episcopal Church
http://www.churchpublishing.org/general_convention/index.cfm?fuseaction=candc
Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh is an organization of clergy and
laypeople committed to the unity and diversity of The Episcopal Church, and of
the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. It is a member of the Via Media USA
alliance.
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