A Joyous and Sometimes Trying Week

Dear Friends,

I have just returned from a September 15-19 meeting of the House of Bishops in Salt Lake City, Utah. The meeting was scheduled over a year ago as an opportunity for the House of Bishops to debrief with one another following the Lambeth Conference held at Canterbury this past summer. In the meantime since the meeting was scheduled, the Title IV Review Committee of the House of Bishops (“Title IV” refers to the section of the Canons of the Church dealing with disciplinary matters relating to ordained persons) certified to the House that a bishop of The Episcopal Church had abandoned the Communion of The Episcopal Church, which called for a hearing and decision by the House of Bishops.

We spent the first day of our meeting reflecting on and sharing experiences and learnings from the Lambeth Conference- a once-every-ten-years gathering of the bishops of the Anglican Communion from around the globe at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Here are some of the highlights of our conversation, which I jotted down: I am thankful for the Archbishop of Canterbury’s pastoral and theological leadership. We were all struck, in one way or another, by the challenges proclaiming the Christian faith faces through the world in wildly varying cultural contexts, and how what is acceptable in one context may be scorned in another. We held a deep gratefulness for human connections among bishops and for old and new relationships. There was a tremendous amount of honesty present during the Conference. There was a vast difference of opinion on a variety of topics, but held within a context of mutual respect and affection. There is a pressing need to pay attention not just to “church” issues, but also issues and realities facing human society and the environment. (In the Pacific Ocean, one bishop’s island diocese is literally sinking into the ocean due to the ocean’s rising water level). There was a great desire and deep rejoicing to continue as part of the Anglican Communion.

The second day of our abbreviated meeting was given over to consideration of the Review Committee’s recommended deposition of Bishop Robert W. Duncan (Diocese of Pittsburgh) in accord with Canon IV.9.1 on the grounds that Bishop Duncan had abandoned the Discipline of The Episcopal Church. As part of the Presiding Bishops’ Council of Advice, the other members and I planned a hearing by the House of Bishops. The purpose of the hearing was, first; to give all bishops present an opportunity to speak freely and openly outside a formal meeting of the House, and second; for each bishop to form his/her own mind on this matter through hearing others speak. For almost two hours, we heard a full range of opinion, belief and discernment as it existed among the members of the House. The members of the House are remarkably diverse in theological belief, opinion, biblical interpretation and all run the gamut from “conservative” to “liberal.” A great many views were expressed, sometimes passionately; all were heard with the appreciation, tolerance and respect due to brothers and sisters in Christ. The session was surrounded by prayer as members of the House sought to form their individual mind and conscience on the matter before seeking our collective mind through prayer and parliamentary procedure.

The next day, within the context of a formal meeting of the House of Bishops, the House considered the findings of the Title IV Review Committee and through a roll-call vote, gave consent to the deposition of Bishop Duncan by a considerable majority of 88 voting “aye,” 35 voting “no,” and 4 abstaining.

I voted to consent to the deposition for several reasons: first, Bishop Duncan consented to and took active leadership in attempting to lead his diocese to secede from The Episcopal Church and join another church; second, I have watched Bishop Duncan regularly refuse to receive communion in the House of Bishops; third, at his diocesan convention, Bishop Duncan refused to rule out of order a motion to remove that part of the diocesan constitution affirming its loyalty to The Episcopal Church; fourth, in the face of Bishop Duncan’s abandonment of his duty and responsibilities as a bishop of The Episcopal Church, the House of Bishops has a duty and responsibility to provide a safe space for those members of the Diocese of Pittsburgh whose desire is to remain loyal members of The Episcopal Church; and fifth, the House of Bishops in my estimation has a further responsibility to preserve the property and assets of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh for the use of faithful and loyal Episcopalians in furthering the mission and work of The Episcopal Church.

I need to note, too, that my vote to depose was not cast with an eye to Bishop Duncan’s theological views, which he shares with various other bishops in the House. Rather, the patience the House of Bishops extended to Bishop Duncan over the past 10 or so years wore out due neither to his conservatism nor theological views, but due to his disregard of the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church and his breaking of his ordination vows to remain loyal to the discipline of The Episcopal Church. 

Following the vote, the Presiding Bishop said, “This is a painful vote for all and we are diminished as a body by the outcome of the vote. We are called to care for the whole people of God, and to continue to pursue the mission of God’s reconciling love in the world.”

The last morning of our meeting was filled with a conference call with the bishops of the Diocese of Texas to hear of their situation and difficulties following Hurricane Ike, to assure them of our prayers, interest and support in the days ahead. We also heard from bishops from the Caribbean who described the situation in their dioceses following the devastating hurricanes. The House assured all of our fellow bishops of our care, concern, prayers, interest and support in the days ahead.

The last item we discussed (in a much too brief way) was the crisis in the cost of seminary education in preparation for ordained ministry and the increasing educational debt level of those graduating from seminary. This is a conversation that we will no doubt continue at future meetings of the House and at next summer’s General Convention.

After a somewhat difficult flight home – I was stranded in Denver overnight due to a missed connecting flight – I arrived home Saturday afternoon.

Sunday brought a wonderful visitation to St. Peter’s, Washington, and a delightful outdoor service and picnic at Riverside Park on the shore of the Pamlico River. Over 250 people attended and we celebrated five baptisms and 21 confirmations. It was a joy for Anne and me to see so many old friends and to celebrate the renewed energy and vigor of
St. Peter’s within the context of the Rev. Kevin Johnson’s recent completion of his first year as rector.

Late in the afternoon, I attended the dedicatory recital of the restored 19^th Century organ at Trinity Church, Chocowinity. The vitality of the parish family and the good leadership of its rector, the Rev. Sonny Browne were clear for all present to see and enjoy. The organist was Colin Andrews, a world-renowned organist who is also organist and master of the choirs at St. Stephen’s, Goldsboro, and Interim Head of the Organ Department at East Carolina University.