Background:The Vestry of St. Andrew’s Church, Highland Park, has reflected prayerfully on the situation that may emerge in our diocese and wider church, should deputies to our October, 2008, Diocesan Convention approve constitutional and canonical actions to attempt a “realignment” of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh with a Province of the Anglican Communion other than The Episcopal Church, U.S.A.
We were pleased to have our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Robert W. Duncan, and our Canon Missioner, the Rev. Canon Mary Maggard Hays, join with us in friendship at a Vestry meeting this past April to share the perspectives of our diocesan leadership team, and we were privileged at the beginning of June to host a larger forum and panel discussion, including our Assistant Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Henry Scriven, and others, where a variety of views on the question of “realignment” were thoughtfully shared in an atmosphere of affection and mutual respect. We have hosted and participated in numerous parish adult education gatherings and conversations addressing the many issues and concerns that cluster around the “realignment” proposal.
St. Andrew’s is a broad parish family, and members of our congregation hold a wide range of theological views and expressions of our Christian faith. We are neither a “conservative” parish nor a “progressive” parish, but we live together as a community with views across the whole spectrum of opinion and belief. We believe we are called as a parish family to love one another, to worship our Lord Jesus Christ together, and to serve the world in his name--even as we may disagree about some important matters.
Formal Actions:
1. With profound regret and great sadness over the many disruptions and dislocations that may lie ahead for our diocese, the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Highland Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in accordance with our Parish Charter (1837) and our Bylaws (2000, sections 2.2, 5.2, and 15.1), affirm that St. Andrew’s Church is now and will continue to be a parish of The Episcopal Church, U.S.A., ordered in conformity with and under the authority of the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church, as defined by the General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
2. The Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Highland Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, express our hope and prayer that our diocesan convention will refrain from taking actions attempting to change the constitutional identity of our diocese within The Episcopal Church.
3. The Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Highland Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, now direct the Rector and Officers of St. Andrew’s Church to assure, following any actions of our Diocesan Convention on October 4, 2008, that in all matters of canonical, legal, and fiduciary concern St. Andrew’s will continue to act in conformity with our identity and duties as set forth in the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church.
1 comment:
This is good news for TEC. I am glad that this parish made its view clear before the vote: that way there will be no ambiguity.
I think there is a difference of opinion on what happens after the vote to realign passes. One side says all parishes are out unless they vote to leave the Southern Cone and rejoin TEC. The other side says only individuals can leave so all parishes remain (in principal) in TEC.
Who decides? It must be the church
(TEC). Unless someone goes to the civil courts over it.
But TEC has decided already and the diocesan leaders disagree. Thus it will go to civil courts since the diocesan leaders are not obeying their denominational(former by then) courts.
So when it goes to the civil courts I hope the realigners won't blame TEC: it is all on them!
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