The Rt. Rev'd D. Bruce MacPherson, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana, confirmed to me tonight that he authored a letter on January 15th to all bishops that affixed their signatures to "The Anaheim Statement" on July 16, 2009 at the close of General Convention 2009, a letter which called upon each of those bishops to carefully consider what they professed to believe in Anaheim as they prayerfully consider the series of episcopal elections that have followed GC2009. Therein Bishop MacPherson told his fellow bishops, "... I cannot and will not consent to the elections before us that are in contradiction to that which we have affirmed ...".It is indeed timely that Bishop MacPherson has once again stepped forward as a guardian of "the faith." We should all recall that as General Convention approved resolutions lifting promises to refrain from further consecration of gay, lesbian and transgender bishops and thereby decided to ignore once again the more than once repeated call from the wider Anglican Communion to honor our catholic heritage of church wide discernment on matters of "the universal faith" ("church wide" something bigger than The Episcopal Church), thirty-seven bishops of "this church" signed "The Anaheim Statement" which reaffirmed each of the following:
+ our constitutent membership in the Anglican Communion, our communion with the See of Canterbury, and our commitment to preserving these relationships.
+ our commitment to the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this Church has received them (BCP 526, 538).
+ our commitment to the three moratoria requested of us by the Instruments of Communion.
+ our commitment to the Angican Communion Covenant process currently underway, with the hope of working toward its implementation across the Communion once a Covenant is completed.
+ our commitment to "continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship" which is foundational to our baptismal covenant, and to be one with the apostles in "interpreting the Gospel" which is essential to our work as bishops of the Church of God.
But, did they mean it? Are they really prepared to walk the walk, or were they just talking a talk that they sensed that the members of their flocks wanted to hear? The rubber is about to meet the road.
Episcopal elections have taken place in the Dioceses of Conneticut, Los Angeles, Louisiana and Upper South Carolina since General Convention. One bishop elect, The Rev'd Mary Glasspool (Diocese of Los Angeles) is a partnered lesbian. Based upon their statements and practices, including the votes of some who were deputies at General Convention and who voted in favor of both resolutions D025 and C056, it is clear to this commentator that all of the other bishops-elect support the "full inclusion" of gay, lesbian and transgender persons in all aspects of the life of the church, including all orders of ordained ministry, a position that puts each of these bishops-elect at odds with the principles articulated in The Anaheim Statement. So, what will the Anaheim bishops do? One can only hope that they are people of honor.
Here's the text of my bishop's letter:
Friday, January 15, 2010
Dear Colleagues:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I trust this finds each of you well as we begin our shared journey into the new year, and in these days following the Epiphany. This is being written after much prayer and reflection, and is sent as an expression of my personal concern. Please know this is not an attempt to speak on behalf of my companion Communion Partner Bishops, nor any of those who signed the Anaheim Statement at General Convention 2009. I speak for myself.
This week we began receiving a flurry of “consent forms,” and I have found this to rest heavy on my heart, due to the fact that this present process is impacted by the integrity of the Anaheim Statement. As many will recall, this statement was made to express with “the same honesty and clarity” of the House, our position with respect to the life of the Church and the wider Anglican Communion. In the statement, we shared in making a commitment of reaffirmation with respect to our place within the Communion and the preservation of these relationships; to the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as this Church has received them; our commitment to the three moratoria requested of us by the Instruments of Communion; the process that has lead to the recent release of the Anglican Communion Covenant with our hope of working towards its implementation; and to “continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship.”
A reading of the Anaheim Statement will provide a fuller understanding of the breadth and depth of that which we presented before the House of Bishops on July 16, 2009, and then made witness to by virtue of our signatures. [A copy of the Anaheim Statement including the names is attached in two different formats.]
Why am I raising this before you this day? Sadly, there has been action taken of late with respect to some episcopal elections, that in turn are an affront to what has been expressed through the Anaheim Statement. I trust each of you will review the statement as you prayerfully make your decision on the consents before you. This having been said, please know that I cannot and will not consent to the elections before us that are in contradiction to that which we have affirmed, and in the words of Jude, I appeal “to you to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” [Jude 3]
Faithfully in the Light of Christ,
+Bruce MacPherson
Bishop of Western Louisiana
God's peace. <><
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