Committee: Bishop Duncan Has Abandoned Communion of Church

Committee: Bishop Duncan
Has Abandoned Communion of Church

January 16, 2008. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori informed Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan yesterday that the Title IV Review Committee had determined that the bishop had abandoned the communion of The Episcopal Church. The three senior bishops of the church with jurisdiction, Bishops Frade, Lee, and Wimberly did not all consent to Bishop Duncan’s being inhibited. Although he can still perform as bishop, the House of Bishops will vote, at some unspecified future time, on whether he should be deposed by the Presiding Bishop. Read the ENS story here.

ENS followed up with a story today, “Pittsburgh’s Duncan, Progressive Episcopalians react to Review Committee’s certification.” The story quotes from a brief statement on the diocese’s Web site, according to which Bishop Duncan has responded, “Few bishops have been more loyal to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church. I have not abandoned the Communion of this Church. I will continue to serve and minister as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.” The story also quotes extensively from the PEP press release.