Communion Partner Clergy Advisory Board Support for the Indianapolis Statement
Communion Partner Clergy Advisory Board Support for the Indianapolis Statement
Jul 13As members of the Communion Partner Clergy Advisory Board we applaud and support the statement of the Communion Partner Bishops in response to the 77th General Convention resolutions A049 and D008. Like the bishops, we have also vowed at ordination that we “believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation; and I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church” (BCP, p. 526). As stated in the Bishops’ statement, the actions approved in these two resolutions at General Convention in Indianapolis are clearly contrary to sacred Scripture and to the doctrine and discipline of the Episcopal Church as we received them at our ordination.
We are heartened by the provision included in the approved provisional rite that protects those who for conscience cannot use such a liturgy. In the case of those of us resident in dioceses whose bishops authorize such liturgies, we will not use them. We are committed to our brothers and sisters in the gay and lesbian community, but cannot violate what has been understood as the clear counsel Scripture against the blessing of same-sex unions in the name of God.
With the Communion Partner Bishops, “We reaffirm our commitment to the Anglican Communion of which The Episcopal Church is a constituent member, and to the historic See of Canterbury with whom we are in communion…and will do all in our power to ‘maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’ (Ephesians 4:3).”
The Rev. Charles D. Alley, Ph.D., Rector, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA
The Very Rev. Anthony P. Clark, Dean, Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando. FL
The Rev. S. Brooks Keith, Rector, Church of the Transfiguration, Vail, CO
The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., Rector, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston, TX
The Rev. R. Leigh Spruill, Rector, St. George’s Episcopal Church, Nashville, TN