"Collectively, we are distressed and disturbed as members of a province of the Communion, that some within the Episcopal Church have, and continue to, so boldly violate the nature of the Communion through unilateral action that this has not only threatened, but indeed fractured the instruments of communion and unity. As a result of this, the larger Church has been brought to a place of division within the communion that borders on being irreparable."

The Right Rev. Bruce MacPherson

Presentation to the Primates
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Thursday, February 15, 2007

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Good afternoon, my brothers and sister in Christ. I am Bruce MacPherson, Bishop of Western Louisiana. In addition to my role as bishop of the diocese, I serve as president of Province VII, which is a geographical region within the Episcopal Church that embraces twelve dioceses. By virtue of my role as president I serve on the Council of Advice to the Presiding Bishop, and was elected this past December to serve in the capacity of president of the Council.

I am humbled, and yet honoured, to be invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury to speak before you this day, and have made the trip to Dar es Salaam bearing a heavy heart for the condition in which the Episcopal Church finds herself at this time. We are torn, and not only divided, but by virtue of the actions of our two most recent General Conventions, we have damaged severely the fabric of the Anglican Communion and wounded the Body of Christ. For this I grieve.

My presence here today is twofold, one, on behalf of the Diocese of Western Louisiana, which by action of diocesan convention this past October affirmed my position as a Windsor bishop, and subsequently passed two resolutions affirming the diocese as Windsor compliant. And secondly, and more important, to speak on behalf of about twenty-four other diocesan bishops who share a common support and commitment to the process in which the Windsor Reports invites the Church to share in a journey leading to the development of a "common Anglican Covenant." [WR117.p48]

Collectively, we are distressed and disturbed as members of a province of the Communion, that some within the Episcopal Church have, and continue to, so boldly violate the nature of the Communion through unilateral action that this has not only threatened, but indeed fractured the instruments of communion and unity. As a result of this, the larger Church has been brought to a place of division within the communion that borders on being irreparable.

The action of General Convention 2003 with the consent to the episcopal election of a partnered gay priest was instrumental in beginning much of the creative tension and fallout that we are experiencing in our dioceses today. Sadly, our current presiding bishop not only supported this action of General Convention 2003, but subsequently permitted the blessing of same gender relationships within her own diocese.

In response to the action of that General Convention, and at your request, the Archbishop of Canterbury established the Lambeth Commission in October 2003. To cite the Windsor Report, "The mandate spoke of the problems being experienced as a consequence of the above developments and the need to seek a way forward which would encourage communion within the Anglican Communion. It did not demand judgement by the Commission on sexuality issues. Rather, it requested consideration of ways in which communion and understanding could be enhanced where serious differences threatened the life of a diverse worldwide Church." [The Windsor Report 2004]

As a part of this worldwide Body of Christ, we were called to share in a process that would embrace prayerful reflection on the Windsor Report, and to act in accordance with the expressed provisions of the recommendations during a period that would lead us to a place of common understanding. These were made by the Lambeth Commission with compassion and care for the entire communion, and called upon us "to seek ways of reconciliation, and to heal our divisions." [WR156.p59]

In keeping with the polity of our province, the response to the Windsor Report needed to be addressed through our General Convention 2006. This was done this past summer in Columbus, Ohio. The response of our convention, while addressing some areas with positive action, was felt by the "Windsor Bishops" and many others, to truly be an inadequate response to what was being sought by the Primates and wider Church in regard to the "elections to the episcopate, Public Rites of Blessing same sex unions, and care of dissenting groups." [WR.SectionD.p3]

With respect to those for whom I speak this day, it is our desire to remain a part of The Episcopal Church, but in full communion with you and the Archbishop of Canterbury. This is our understanding of who we are, and is in keeping with the Preamble to our Constitution as it applies to The Episcopal Church and her relationship and connectedness with the Communion.

We have declared ourselves "Windsor Bishops" because we continue to believe that the Windsor Report contains a proper outline of our common faith and the basis for the healing of our common life. We believe that discipline consistent with the Windsor Report is urgently needed in this context, and are willing to accept it as provided by you, the Primates of the Anglican Communion. We look for your guidance concerning the healing and reconciliation of the Communion, and to work together with the Instruments of Communion to effect this for the sake of our common mission in the Lord.

We trust your prayerful study of the response of our General Convention, and ask that you take the steps necessary to provide a clear expectation for The Episcopal Church to remain in Communion.

The actions of The Episcopal Church in the months following the General Convention 2003, and continuing to this day, have wrought significant havoc within The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as a whole. For many members of The Episcopal Church a deep sense of the betrayal of the Gospel is being shared.

Much effort on the part of the Lambeth Commission has placed before us a call to look to the authority of scripture, and I cite, "The seventeenth and eighteenth century divines hammered out their foundations of ‘scripture, tradition and reason’; in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries we have seen the ‘Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral’, in which scripture takes first place." [WR55.p27] Together, we must take the steps necessary to bring about a restoration of this understanding.

Along with a growing number, we are troubled deeply by the continued intransigence of not only General Convention, but also the presiding bishop with respect to the requests of the Windsor Report, and statements that are contradictory to the basic tenets of our Christian faith. The latter being repeated often when speaking publicly about The Episcopal Church as it relates to Christology, and her personal positions.

These things are counter to what we have held down through the life of the communion and teachings of the Church. "Scripture has been a means by which God directs the Church in its mission, energises it for that task, and shapes and unites it so that it may be both equipped for this work and itself a part of the message." [WR55.p28]

Related to this, we are deeply concerned with the substantial loss of many lifelong faithful Episcopalians, and the increasing number of congregations that are seeking the leadership and oversight of bishops in other Provinces of the Communion. This loss is not only in dioceses that are exercising oppressive behaviour toward these congregations, but also in dioceses that have affirmed the Windsor Report or are under the authority of bishops who are considered Windsor compliant. Action of this nature not only weakens the structure of the diocese, but exacerbates the fractured nature of The Episcopal Church and Communion.

In keeping with this action on the part of these congregations, and the spirit of the Windsor Report, many of us specifically raise the importance of paragraph 155, that calls for "a moratorium on any further interventions." [WR 155.p59] We realize fully that in some cases there was no other choice at the moment, but feel this needs to become a realistic goal, and to do so, we are dependent upon the support of the Primates as it relates to bishops within your respective provinces.

"The very existence of the Instruments of Unity points to the desire of the Communion to work together, with bishops, clergy and laity all involved as fully as possible." [WR66.p32] To facilitate this we are committed to working with the bishops of The Episcopal Church, and in those cases where a congregation has placed itself under a bishop of another province, to make provision for the present needs of the congregation. This oversight would be done with the full agreement of the local bishop and congregation, and would enable the particular body to continue to exercise their ministry as the Covenant process unfolds. We must provide care for our own, and endeavour to find solutions to some of our problems.

To live into this, we are committed to the acceptance and support of the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10, and the call for an ongoing process of listening and discernment. In each of our respective settings, we have endeavoured to ensure a place for gays and lesbians to worship and be nurtured in their faith journey, and our concern for them as members of the Body of Christ is sought to be a fulfillment of our Baptismal Covenant.

It is recognized that the movement forward with the process leading to a "common Anglican Covenant" will take time, and in the interim, the matter of those dioceses seeking an alternative form of primatial oversight is in need of attention. The provision for their care at this time, while the Covenant is being developed, is vital to the wholeness and health of the Body of Christ and the ministry we share, and we urge some form of action for this provision and your affirmation of the recommendations of the Panel of Reference.

The development of the Covenant is a critical component of the process and provides a way forward with respect to reconciliation and the healing of divisions. Being sensitive to the differences in provincial polity, it is important for the Covenant to recognize the need for accountability within the framework of mutual interdependence, and at the same time allows for appropriate decision-making on the provincial level.

Your role as primates, leaders of this communion, can provide the beginning of this "reconciliation and healing" by calling us, The Episcopal Church, to a place of accountability through the discipline that is consistent with the Windsor Report. We urgently need this if we are to avoid something worse than weakened bonds of affection, namely, the destruction of Communion.

On behalf of those for whom I speak this day, we trust you will recognize that we do not represent a small minority, but rather, we represent about twenty-five percent of the dioceses of The Episcopal Church, and a growing number of people beyond these borders.

In drawing to an end, and in light of some of which has been presented today, it is important for me to bring clarification at this time, that with regard to the majority of the Windsor Bishops, this is not an issue of gender for us, as the majority of those identified as such, support the ordination of women as deacons,
presbyters and bishops.

In closing, permit me to say, that as Windsor Bishops, we share a deep concern that should the General Convention of the Church elect to not participate in the Covenant process, and therefore "choose to walk apart," then we pray there will be a structure that will permit those who desire to remain "a constituent member of the Anglican Communion and in communion with the See of Canterbury," to be a part of this process. This is important to the approximately two dozen diocesan bishops that have affirmed the Windsor Report process and expressed the desire to remain in full communion with the See of Canterbury. This is important to laity and clergy across the Church who desire to do likewise.

In the words of the Windsor Report, "The real challenge of the gospel is whether we live deeply enough in the love of Christ, and care sufficiently for our joint work to bring that love to the world, that we will ‘make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" [Ephesians 4:3], or as the primates stated in 2000, "to turn from one another would be to turn away from the Cross, and indeed from serving the world which God loves and for which Jesus Christ, died." [WR157p.60]

Thank you.

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Comments:

An excellent summary and pesentation, Bishop MacPherson. Thoughtful and hopeful and prophetic all at the same time.

YBIC,
Phil Snyder

[1] Posted by Philip Snyder on 03-07-2007 at 03:30 PM • top

This was a strong presentation indeed.

[2] Posted by Newbie Anglican on 03-07-2007 at 03:44 PM • top

Given the statement later hammered out at the eleventh hour, the Primates heard the bishop loud and clear and have responded. Thanks be to God!

[3] Posted by David+ on 03-07-2007 at 04:13 PM • top

Good job, +Bruce!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the SBBJ snarkster

[4] Posted by the snarkster on 03-07-2007 at 04:32 PM • top

...this is one of the best reponses to the PB and her disalusioned followers ! It’s just amazing to me that how these Bishops went to seminary school to become a a priest and now that want to change everything they were taught. I’ve been reading this great web site for many many months, but this brought me out to make this post. I guess it’s easier to take over a church, than it is to start your own, if 30 years in the making is the easy way !

Bishop MacPherson has never waivered from this positon, he is leading our dioses in N.W.Louisiana in the right direction. We are very lucky !

[5] Posted by DOS on 03-07-2007 at 05:09 PM • top

Excellent from start to finish. It is great to hear someone address the issue and the primates with such humility and respect - two qualities that a lot of voices these days are sadly missing.

[6] Posted by Credo on 03-07-2007 at 05:54 PM • top

Awesome. Thank God for a faithful bishop and clear words.

[7] Posted by Karen B. on 03-07-2007 at 06:27 PM • top

“Sadly, our current presiding bishop not only supported this action of General Convention 2003, but subsequently permitted the blessing of same gender relationships within her own diocese”.

So much for Windsor compliance, even from the “top”.

“Along with a growing number, we are troubled deeply by the continued intransigence of not only General Convention, but also the presiding bishop with respect to the requests of the Windsor Report, and statements that are contradictory to the basic tenets of our Christian faith. The latter being repeated often when speaking publicly about The Episcopal Church as it relates to Christology, and her personal positions”.

I am grateful to Bishop MacPherson for this presentation. Above, he has also noted the PB’s Scriptural edits; i.e. “You are my Beloved” as opposed to “You are my Beloved Son”, not to mention her usual dodge-and-weave on or outright denouncement of the Atonement(“the less gracious strand”)...

Thank you, Sir, for your words here and for also pointing out, RIGHT IN FRONT of the Primates, that the heresy does not stop with solely nose-thumbing the Windsor Report.

God bless the Primates, too, for their “prescription” in the Communique. We’ll see whether or not the “leadership” has the guts, integrity, and maturity to carry it out.

IC,

Jen

[8] Posted by Orthoducky on 03-07-2007 at 06:28 PM • top

What continues to amaze me is that the issues of the LGBT community, perhaps 3% of the general population and much less than that of the Episcopal Church, have consumed so much of the time and resources of the AC. At what point will the world of Anglicanism come to its senses and tell TEC to leave so that it can concentrate on the much more important issue of promulgating orthodoxy and spreading the Gospel?

[9] Posted by Edwin on 03-07-2007 at 06:51 PM • top

DOS is astonished:

...this is one of the best responses to the PB and her disillusioned followers ! It’s just amazing to me that these Bishops went to seminary to become a priest and now they want to change everything they were taught.

It’s dreadful but not amazing; in fact, for the most part they are simply carrying out what they learned in their seminaries. The rot set in in the seminaries first, just as the general cultural destruction and coarsening is most firmly entrenched in our colleges and universities. [deep sigh…]

[10] Posted by Craig Goodrich on 03-07-2007 at 07:19 PM • top

One of the best statements I have read on the subject. And in such sharp contrast to many of the statements we are now hearing from the House of Bishops. It brings to mind Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech of 1858. Those on both sides of this conflict can likely find wisdom in it:

“If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it. We are now far into the fifth year, since a policy was initiated, with the avowed object, and confident promise, of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that policy, that agitation has not only not ceased, but has constantly augmented. In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed.
A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.
I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new—North as well as South. Have we no tendency to the latter condition?”

[11] Posted by Jordan Hylden on 03-07-2007 at 07:34 PM • top

I wonder what +KJS’s reaction was to +Bruce’s straight forward and clear presentation (Thank you Bishop Bruce!). I guess it would be too much to ask for a “conversion” experience. Doesn’t she realize that she has to be the PB of the WHOLE Episcopal Church, not just those who share her views? It’s like being a rector of the whole congregation or a bishop of the whole diocese. The responsibility of the position takes precedence over personal views, or should.

[12] Posted by garyec on 03-08-2007 at 06:47 AM • top

+Bruce is all that the posters have said, and more. He is a man of rare courage. Let’s not forget he is the President of the PB’s Council of Advisors, yet he directly and specifically brings Schori to task for her confused theology: “Along with a growing number, we are troubled deeply by the continued intransigence of not only General Convention, but also the presiding bishop with respect to the requests of the Windsor Report, and statements that are contradictory to the basic tenets of our Christian faith. The latter being repeated often when speaking publicly about The Episcopal Church as it relates to Christology, and her personal positions.” I will close with two observations based on my personal knowledge of +Bruce. He is an Instition man. He has a great love of the Episcopal Church, and does not want another Province. He wishes the institution to be reformed. Yet, it is clear from his words both above and at our Diocesan Convention that he knows to his great sorrow
that this reformation may not be possible and a new institution must emerge.
My second observation is that he is the best possible choice for the alternate Orthodox Anglican Primate for the United States as proposed by the Primates at Tanzania. I do not know of another Bishop who has the integrity, orthodox credentials, and acceptance with the other bishops as does +Bruce.
As I have said before, it is in my opinion absolutely critical that we begin shaping the structure of the alternate Province at once. We must show the Primates that we are in fact ready to function in a seamless transition to an Orthodox Province, and we need to do it NOW. I propose the setting up of a “shadow cabinet” similar to those in parliamentary governments, and that we somehow establish a consensus leader such as +Bruce. We can still lose this war. We cannot wait for events, we must shape and manage them. If we don’t, they will.

[13] Posted by teddy mak on 03-08-2007 at 06:58 AM • top

I suppose “ditto” wouldn’t quite work….
Bishop MacPherson, “Well done faithful good and faithful servant!” I will write more in an email to Bishop McPherson to express my admiration and respect for his taking a clear stance and speaking the truth in love.
Standfirm, thank you for sharing this. Will other addresses also be made available, i.e. Bishop Duncan?
Regarding seminaries as where the rot begins, in that there is some truth and some fantasy. Yes the majority of seminaries do teach what our last PB referred to as pluriform truth what we might more succinctly refer to as universalism. And when called to task on it they (most of my seminary professors) will gladly embrace the title universalist. So yes some caution must be exercised on which seminary to send the impressionable. Send postulants to Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry. No, I did not go there. I wish I had as they teach the truth. However, responsibility for the current state of the church must also be shared by all those who contribute to the discernment process. As a priest now, I simply will not sponsor a universalist forward for ordination. I do not expect lay people to do so either. Lay people, you might stop complaining and stop being polite and ask candidates hard questions. You might do the same with candidates for rector/vicar/bishop. Do NOT make the assumption that all aspirants, postulants, candidates, deacons, priests, and bishops are Christian? Don’t do that! Instead find out where they stand/what they believe by asking basic questions, “what do you believe about the resurrection?”, “what do you believe about the uniqueness or divinity of Jesus?”, “what do you believe about prayer?” “what do you believe about the Holy Spirit?” The list goes on. Make the list of questions and then ask them, do not make assumptions or be polite! Take some responsibility rather than simply blaming the seminaries. You can either ask questions or simply settle for a partnered universalist leading your bible study, congregation, or diocese! Bishop McPherson is the exception regarding ordained clergy, not the rule. Of seminary class of 18 people, only 4 stated we were not universalists. Take the responsibility and ask the questions.
Chapie+

[14] Posted by Chapie+ on 03-08-2007 at 11:24 AM • top

Teddy Mak is right. Stop wasting our time throwing stones at TEC. Its time to start working towards an alternative NOW. Please don’t expect outsiders, like the GS primates, to bring the various disparate conservative groups together.

[15] Posted by AhKong2 on 03-10-2007 at 09:12 AM • top

...Growing up in the Episcopal Church since I was baptized - 1945, and being in the south, our church rector for nearly 20 years would not join the National Council of Churches for thier liberal views and that was then. He passed away in mid 70’s and things changed. We did not take the liberals serious enough to warrant a change after that, and things went gradually “south”...now we are.
...I see now that I never can agree with liberals morals and values - only to pray for them to live better lives. I leave PB Schori with this thought…God destoyed Sodom and Gamora (excuse my spelling) for one reason and Moses vanquised those sinners after coming down from the mount with the 10 commandments…it’s not that complex to find the answer, for the anwser is right in plain sight as we were taught when we were children growing up in the Episcopal Church, not as adults wanting to change the rules to fit the current trend…

[16] Posted by DOS on 03-10-2007 at 01:52 PM • top

Bravo, Bishop MacPherson.

To Chapie+, please don’t forget Nashotah House, which has been producing orthodox priests since 1842.

To God be the Glory.
YBIC,
Michael Millard
Nashotah House ‘08

[17] Posted by Sacerdotal451 on 03-10-2007 at 06:14 PM • top

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