The Diocese of Pittsburgh passed constitutional amendments and canons attempting to remove the Diocese from the Episcopal Church and realign it with the Province of the Southern Cone. The constitutional amendments needed to pass by majority votes of the lay and ordained orders voting separately. The vote as reported at the convention was
Clergy - Votes Cast 160 Needed to Win -81 Yes - 121 No - 33
Abstentions - 3
Lay - Votes Cast -190 Needed to Win- 96 Yes- 119 No- 69 Abstentions- 3
The following is the statement I read to the Press after the vote
This is a sad day. A majority of deputies to the diocesan convention voted for schism. They took the convention’s theme, “A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand,” and today caused the Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh to be divided indeed.
But – we still see a hopeful tomorrow.
Already, at least 16 parishes are on record as remaining united with the Episcopal Church. We expect many more parishes to stay. And we know that many individuals – in some cases large groups – will be joining with us from congregations that realign.
The good work of the Episcopal Church will go on.
The work of reorganizing the diocese within the Episcopal Church becomes an immediate priority. Members of “Across the Aisle” have already laid the groundwork for this task. As one member of the Diocesan Standing Committee -- the group in charge of the Diocese since Bishop Robert Duncan was deposed – I will seek to determine with certainty if any other Standing Committee members remain committed to the Episcopal Church. With them, or alone if necessary, I will appoint new members to the Standing Committee, which will appoint other diocesan leaders. All of us who remain in the Episcopal Church will look after those who are suffering because of this split. We will find someone to minister to us as a Bishop. We will be recognized by the national church. We will have a diocese, and it will be healthy and faithful.
In the coming months, every parish will need to make known where it stands. I believe this will happen sooner rather than later. We pray for our brothers and sisters as they decide where they stand, just as we pray for those who have left. We will always welcome anyone – at any time – who wishes to bear faithful witness to Jesus Christ in a reorganized Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.
The Rev. Dr. James B. Simons
Standing Committee Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh (Episcopal Church USA)
Chair of the Steering Committee for Across the Aisle
Dean of Lincoln
1 day ago
10 comments:
It is a sad day, but it also is a joyful day. A strong majority have voted to leave an apostate and heretical church. Some, like Fr. Jim Simons, will be in an increasingly hostile environment within pecusa. Those who have left pecusa will have the full freedom of conscience to witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ apart from a denomination that has made it increasingly more difficult to proclaim the great message of reconciliation. As pecusa moves further apart from the authentic gospel and the Anglican Communion, staying in for conservatives will become even more difficult. Votes at upcoming conventions to support actions that the Anglican Communion finds objectionable will insure that a smaller and smaller place will be provided for those who object. We have seen this with respect to women's ordination and we will see this on sexuality issues in due time. It must truly be a sad day for conservatives in Pittsburgh who desire to remain in pecusa.
It is indeed a sad day when people who claim to follow Jesus ignore what the Bible says he tried to teach and impose their own prejudices on others. The clergy who have decided that they and only they know the truth of God and have judged others evil in the sight of God have split the body of Christ. God have mercy.
Prayers offered constantly for you, Fr. Simon, and the others who disagree but are willing to share the table with those of us who do not share your opinions of the Gospel message.
Vote totals on the key constitutional provision that opened the way for the change were as follows. A total of 191 laity voted. 119 voted in favor. 69 voted against, 3 abstained. A total of 160 clergy voted. 121 voted in favor. 33 voted no. 3 abstained. 2 invalid ballots were cast.
Yes, "sad," is both polite and vague. I wonder about the consolations of those who seek to remain within a known hierarchy and accept its disciplines. I fear their self-justifications will prove poor stuff.
Father Simon,
Seems like too many I statements and not enough we statements. This is what got us into the mess we are in -- I John David; I Robert Duncan, I John Iker; I James Simon.
Fr. Simon -- The hearts and prayers of hundreds of thousands of other faithful Episcopalians reach out to support you in your time of need. When the message of Chist has been lost and factions are no longer worshipping, teaching and moving forward together, a schism may be the only way to clean the air and move forward without doing signficantly more damage. I promise to keep you in my personal prayers as you struggle to maintain your allegiance to the pecusa. May God be with you, my friend.
I feel a sense of relief. It would nice to be in a diocese in which fear isn't the driving force. I don't understand how so many lay people can't check their facts but are lead through the nose by clergy who spread such disinformation. I have worshipped in many Episcopal Parishes throughout the country and I haven't been in one that hasn't recited the creeds, not had the prescribe readings or is having substituted Wiccan Ceremonies. I would identify myself as a moderate Anglo-Catholic. I can say that i've been in several evangelical parishes where the chalices are not properly purified after communion and that the prescribed readings are substituted or even deleted. I have several service bulletins to prove the last fact.
That said, I'm hoping for a new diocese where parishes both conservative, liberal and moderates can share and work together. We are the only parish in out district that will remain in TEC. It's hard to feel a part of a group when everyone else thinks your wrong/apostate/heretics (right Tony Seel?).
One thing, I saw a woman waving a bible saying something about we in TEC don't give it some super special status. I don't know if that is true. I will say this, the bible isn't the living God and I worship the living God.
Math was never my strong suit. I think I have it right now. Sorry for the confusion.
Father Simons,
As an officer of Integrity, and President of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Rochester, I offer you gratitude. We don't want anyone to leave the table. We pray constantly for ONE Church and we mean it.
Robert--are you at Trinity, Washington? I just looked at their website, which I think is great. I liked the "core values" section and the part about "transformation," for starters.
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