Letter from the Presiding Bishop to Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan
The Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan
Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Dear Bob,
There have been numerous public references in recent weeks regarding resolutions to be introduced at your forthcoming diocesan convention. Those resolutions, if adopted, would amend several of your diocesan canons and begin the process of amending one or more provisions of your diocesan Constitution. I have reviewed a number of these proposed resolutions, and it is evident to me that they would violate the Constitutional requirement that the Diocese conform to the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church. It is apparent from your pre-convention report that you endorse these proposed changes. I am also aware of other of your statements and actions in recent months that demonstrate an intention to lead your diocese into a position that would purportedly permit it to depart from The Episcopal Church. All these efforts, in my view, display a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship between The Episcopal Church and its dioceses. Our Constitution explicitly provides that a diocese must accede to the Constitution and Canons of the Church...
[snip]
Your servant in Christ,
Katharine Jefferts Schor
According to the StandFirminFaith website, there has been a reply:
The Most Revd Katharine Jefferts Schori
Episcopal Church Center
New York, New York
Dear Katharine,
Here I stand. I can do no other. I will neither compromise the Faith once delivered to the saints, nor will I abandon the sheep who elected me to protect them.
Pax et bonum in Christ Jesus our Lord,
+Bob Pittsburgh
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/7316/
And from the diocese official website:
http://www.pgh.anglican.org/news/local/pbresponse110207
Sounds vaguely familiar...
Here is a response to + + Jefferts- Schori from TEC's Bishop of Central Florida:
Central Florida Bishop Rips PB Schori Over Her Letter to Pittsburgh Bishop
The Presiding Bishop
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Dear Katharine,
I have read with great sadness your letter to Bishop Bob Duncan of
Pittsburgh. And, since you have chosen to make your letter to him
public, I will make this one public, as well.
I have stood shoulder to shoulder with Bob in the efforts of the
Network to reverse the course of The Episcopal Church with regard to
recent decisions regarding human sexuality.
I part company with him in his decision to abandon the commitment we
made when we formed the Network, to work "within the Constitution and
Canons of The Episcopal Church."
But, Katharine, I cannot support your thinly veiled threat to resort
to litigation if the Diocese of Pittsburgh rescinds its accession to
the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church.
Dioceses voluntarily join (accede to) The Episcopal Church. And they
can voluntarily determine to separate from (withdraw their accession
from) The Episcopal Church.
During the Civil War, the Dioceses within the Confederate States
withdrew from The Episcopal Church without penalty. They were reunited
when that terrible war ended. Perhaps there will be a reunion of
presently seceding Dioceses at some point in our future, as well.
But just now, to threaten litigation, especially in the face of the
unanimous exhortation from the Primates in Dar es Salaam (an
exhortation you agreed to) to end such litigation, is deeply
troubling. I beg you to stand down.
This can only harm our relationships as fellow members of the Body of
Christ and our witness to the outside world. Warmest regards in our Lord,
The Right Rev. John W. Howe
Episcopal Bishop of Central Florida
This comes from VirtueOnline
http://www.virtueonline.org/portalReference for this letter is:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/article.php?storyid=7000
