"They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us..."
1 John 2: 19

• AAC Statement on California Appellate Court Decision  
• July Encompass Mailing  
• General Synod Resolutions of the Anglican Church of Canada
• Anglican Essentials Canada (AEC) Final General Synod Report
• Episcopal Church of Rwanda not attending Lambeth  
• Church of Uganda welcomes the Rt. Rev. Andy Fairfield

AAC Statement on California Appellate Court Decision

June 27, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Robert Lundy
770-597-6979

AAC STATEMENT ON CALIFORNIA APPELLATE COURT DECISION

The American Anglican Council notes with disappointment the recent decision made by California's Fourth District Court of Appeals in regard to church property that attempts to reverse almost thirty years of California law.  A three judge panel reversed the Orange County Superior Court's ruling that three churches, St. James Church in Newport Beach, All Saint's Church in Long Beach, and St. David's Church in North Hollywood, which disaffiliated from the national denomination did not forfeit their property.  The Rev. Canon David C. Anderson of the American Anglican Council called the ruling, “a bad judgment that flies in the face of basic justice, good standing law and good common sense."

Eric Sohlgren, legal spokesperson for the three California churches said, "This decision puts one division of the appellate court in direct conflict with other California court of appeal decisions that for almost thirty years have rejected the idea that a court must automatically defer to a denomination in church property disputes. Under this ruling, any big church which calls itself hierarchical could try to confiscate the property of a local congregation simply by passing an internal rule. That idea offends basic principles of fairness and property ownership."

Sohlgren says St. James, All Saints' and St. David's church are seriously considering an appeal to the California Supreme Court.

The three parishes withdrew from The Episcopal Church (TEC) in 2004 over theological differences.  Many other churches around the nation have withdrawn from TEC over similar differences. "Parishes that leave The Episcopal Church are fighting for more than their property. They're fighting for the continuation of Biblical Christianity and no less than the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Canon Anderson.

-30-

Click here to view a related article by Episcopal Life Online. 

July Encompass Mailing

The AAC's July edition of Encompass was mailed today. 

If you are not currently on the Encompass mailing list and would like to be click here.

Encompass is a monthly publication that highlilghts current news and events in the Anglican Church.

Resolutions from the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada
Source: Anglican Communion News Service

Date:  June 25, 2007

Blessing of same-sex unions defeated

The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada has narrowly defeated a resolution that would have allowed dioceses to decide for themselves whether or not to bless same-sex unions.

Lay delegates voted 78 to 59 in favour of the motion and clergy voted 63 to 53 in favour But the House of Bishops voted 21-19 against it. As a result the motion was defeated, since it required approval by each of the three orders to pass.

The motion read:

"That this General Synod affirms the authority and jurisdiction of any diocesan synod, with the concurrence of the diocesan bishop, and in a manner which respects the conscience of the incumbent and the will of the parish, to authorize the blessing of committed same-sex unions."

Same-sex blessings not in conflict with core doctrine

Members of the Anglican Church of Canada's General Synod in Winnipeg agreed Sunday that the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the church's core doctrine, in the sense of being credal.

Debate resumed Sunday morning after being suspended late Saturday.

The motion carried reads: "That this General Synod resolves that the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine (in the sense of being credal) of the Anglican Church of Canada.

The motion was carried by a vote of 152 for, 97 against in the house of clergy and laity and by a vote of 21 for and 19 against in the house of bishops.

Anglican Essentials Canada (AEC) Final General Synod Report
Source: Anglican Essentials Canada (Via E-Mail)

Date: June 25, 2007

What happened Monday, June 25, 2007

The day was quieter than Sunday; however, General Synod dealt with a number of resolutions and referred many more to the Council of General Synod (CoGS).  Here are some of the more significant items:

Resolutions A189 passed mandating CoGS to consider a revision of Canon 21 (on marriage) including the theological rationale for allowing marriage of ALL legally qualified persons – including those in same sex relationships.  CoGS will report back to General Synod in 2010.
 
Resolution A224 passed – General Synod approved a statement from the House of Bishops urging the church to show pastoral understanding and sensitivity to all same-sex couples and committing the House to develop pastoral strategies to give effect to the acceptance of gays and lesbians. 
 
Rejection of Global Primates – General Synod refused to ratify proposed changes to the membership of the Anglican Consultative Council (a global governance body) that would see all Primates of the Communion automatically become members.
 
Ecclesiastical provinces to be reviewed – General Synod agreed to discussions on the possible reorganization of the ecclesiastical provinces of the Anglican Church of Canada.  The Primate is now to consult with the House of Bishops and initiate talks with the provinces and dioceses on possible changes, including:
·    Eliminating some of the provinces and transferring some or all their powers to General Synod
·    Reorganizing the dioceses into groupings based on common goals, concerns, needs and interests
·    Adjusting diocesan boundaries and/or reducing the number of dioceses  
·    Implementing any other changes that might improve the effectiveness, efficiency or economy of the operation of dioceses.

It was noted that, in 1971, there was an average of 38,249 Anglicans in each diocese, according to parish rolls. By 2001, the number had dropped to 21,395, with 20 dioceses below this number.
 
Evangelical Lutheran clergy now eligible for election to Anglican office – This is a result of second reading of a resolution that the Declaration of Principles be changed to state that the Order of Clergy shall consist of clerical members of the Anglican Church of Canada or of a church in full communion with it.
 
A Message from the Anglican Network in Canada…

Conflicting decisions of General Synod have once again caused confusion among Canadian Anglicans. By declaring that same sex blessings are not in conflict with Anglican core doctrine, while not proceeding with the explicit authorization of same sex blessings on a local option, many have been left wondering what it all means.  Despite the news headlines, the Network believes the Anglican Church of Canada did NOT close the door on same sex blessings at General Synod but, in fact, opened the (doctrinal) side door for these blessings. 
 
In addition to the above, by overwhelmingly refusing to take the steps specifically requested by the Primates, they have failed to repair the bonds of communion with the global church.  In light of the Dromantine and Dar es Salaam Communiqués, we believe the Primates will see these actions as a clear indication that the Anglican Church of Canada has chosen to “walk apart”.
 
We are committed to remaining in full communion with the overwhelming majority of global Anglicans, who are, like us, committed to historic, biblically-faithful Anglicanism.  We look forward to the response of the Primates to clarify what has happened and will be consulting with our membership regarding the best way forward in light of these decisions.

Episcopal Church of Rwanda not attending Lambeth
Source:  Episcopal Church of Rwanda (Via E-Mail)

Date: June 27, 2007

COMMUNIQUE FROM THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS OF THE PROVINCE OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF RWANDA

In response to the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Honourable Rowan Williams, inviting the bishops to the Lambeth Conference 2008, the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, who met in Kigali on 19 June 2007, resolved not to attend the Lambeth Conference for the following reasons:

1. Our Primates represent the bishops, clergy and laity from their Provinces. Therefore what they decide as representatives cannot be taken lightly when it engages the faith of the churches they represent. The invitations to Lambeth 2008 have been issued in complete disregard of our conscientious commitment to the apostolic faith once delivered.

2. The manner in which the invitations to the bishops of Rwanda were issued is divisive as some of our bishops were not invited. The bishops that provide oversight to the Anglican Mission (AMiA) are not "Anglican Mission bishops," but rather bishops of the Province of Rwanda given the responsibility to lead Rwanda's missionary outreach to North America. We are a united body and will not participate in a conference which would divide our number.

3. The invitations to Lambeth 2008 not only contravene the Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10 but also the positions taken in the communiqués that have been agreed upon in previous Primates' meetings and in the "Road To Lambeth" document prepared for and accepted by the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) bishops.

The following are issues of great concern:

a) This Lambeth 1998 Resolution has not been respected by the Episcopal Church of America (TEC), the Anglican Church of Canada, and other like-minded Provinces, which are now violating the resolution as well as holy orders by making the decision to ordain and to consecrate practicing homosexuals.

b) The leadership of Canterbury has ignored and constantly taken lightly the resolutions from the Primates' meetings and the statement in the "Road to Lambeth" document prepared for, and accepted by, CAPA which agreed that the crisis of faith in the Anglican Communion needed to be resolved before Lambeth 2008.

c) From his actions and decision to invite TEC, a province which is violating holy orders, biblical teaching and the tradition of the church, and his decision not to invite the bishops of AMiA and CANA, the Archbishop of Canterbury has shown that he has now taken sides because the Primates have asked TEC for repentance in order to be in communion with them. In several meetings and in its response to "The Road to Lambeth", TEC has continually rebelled against the position and counsel of the Primates.

d) In a letter sent to Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini on 18 June 2007, the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote, "You should know that I have not invited the bishops of AMiA and CANA. This is not a question of asking anyone to disassociate themselves at this stage from what have been described as the missionary initiatives of your Provinces…. I appreciate that you may not be happy with these decisions, but I feel that as we approach a critical juncture of the life of the Communion, I must act in accordance to the clear guidance of the instruments of the Communion…." We would like to know if there are instruments in the Communion more important than the Primates and Provinces themselves. The Archbishop of Canterbury also refers to the consecration of the AMiA and CANA bishops as irregular. We would like to know why their consecrations are considered irregular when the actions of TEC are not considered irregular. We feel that the words of the Archbishop are tantamount to a threat, and we cannot accept this.

Therefore, in view of the above, in good conscience, the bishops of the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda have resolved not to attend the Lambeth Conference 2008 unless the previously stipulated requirement of repentance on the part of the TEC and other like-minded Provinces is met, and invitations are extended to our entire House of Bishops.

Church of Uganda welcomes the Rt. Rev. Andy Fairfield

Date: June 27, 2007

Source: Anglican Communion Network

At the request of the Rt. Rev. Andrew (Andy) H. Fairfield, retired Bishop of North Dakota, the House of Bishops of the Church of Uganda voted to receive Bishop Fairfield as a member of its House at its 21st June meeting. Bishop Fairfield will assist Bishop-elect John Guernsey in providing episcopal care and oversight to the 26 congregations in America that are part of the Church of Uganda.

Bishop Fairfield has written to The Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, and resigned from their House of Bishops.

In considering his new role as a Bishop in the Church of Uganda, Fairfield said, “Now, although I am ‘retired’ (from a jurisdictional and financial point of view), I seek further Christian service, especially in the process of this transition in Anglican orthodoxy.”

The Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, said, “It is an honour for us to receive into our House of Bishops such a man of God. At the 1998 Lambeth Conference, he proposed the resolution on The Authority of Scripture, which we passed. We believe he will be a great support to Bishop-elect John Guernsey and all the congregations in America that are under our care.”

Bishop Robert Duncan, Moderator of the Anglican Communion Network, said, “Bishop Fairfield is one of the most respected Bishops in the entire American Church, and has served the Network very well as our ordinations suffragan. I know his work has been especially valuable to congregations in our International Conference. I am delighted to know that he has found a new ecclesiastical home in the Church of Uganda, a Province which has declared a state of broken communion with The Episcopal Church’s majority, but embraces full communion with all in the Anglican Communion Network. We look forward to many years of continued fruitful ministry together.”