Diocese To Release Inactive Clergy

From the Diocese of Pittsburgh-

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has begun informing scores of priests that they can be released from their ministerial ties to the Episcopal Church to become licensed in any entity they choose.

The move affects approximately 100 priests and deacons who have not been active in the Episcopal Church since October 2008.

The release alleviates a situation where the clergy could otherwise be at risk of disciplinary action for “abandonment.” If that occurred, the penalty would likely be defrocking – officially called deposition – which would bar them from ministry not only in the Episcopal Church in the United States, but also in the world-wide Anglican Communion.

The Episcopal Church is the U.S.-based member of the Communion.

In a letter from the diocesan Standing Committee dated October 5, the clergy are given an option of stating their desire to remain active in the Episcopal Church or to allow the release to proceed.

“We’re doing this for pastoral reasons,” says the Rev. Dr. James Simons, the Standing Committee president. “We do not want to see our priestly brothers and sisters deposed.”

Critical Timing

This action comes one year after former diocesan leaders purportedly removed the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh from the Episcopal Church to join the Province of the Southern Cone, part of the Anglican Communion based in Argentina.

Many of the ordained involved in the purported realignment assumed their licenses were also “transferred” to the Southern Cone, but those priests and deacons remain on record as clergy of the Episcopal Church in the United States.

More here-

http://www.episcopalpgh.org/diocese-to-release-inactive-clergy/