Network Bishops to Meet April 24

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Bishops of those Episcopal Church dioceses that have formally affiliated with the Anglican Communion Network will meet in Chicago on April 24. The purpose of the meeting is to allow Network bishops to speak frankly with each other about the future.

As the crisis in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion has deepened, Network bishops and dioceses have been moving in several directions. Some Network dioceses have reaffiliated or are considering reaffiliating with other provinces of the Anglican Communion. Individual Network bishops have left The Episcopal Church to join other communions. Other bishops are attempting to be a voice for orthodoxy within The Episcopal Church.

“I have called this meeting because we need to talk frankly and openly about the future and how we as Network bishops can help the Network best fulfill its mission to build a biblical, missionary and united Anglican witness in the years ahead,” said Bishop Robert Duncan, moderator of the Network. “It is clear that the Network has a continuing mission to unite orthodox Anglicans, especially as increasing numbers of Network parishes and now dioceses are exiting The Episcopal Church. We will be talking about how we can work together to accomplish this goal even as we bless the several paths we have chosen as bishops and dioceses,” he added.

Dioceses that have made formal decisions to affiliate with the Network are Fort Worth, Quincy, Pittsburgh, Albany, South Carolina, San Joaquin, Central Florida, Dallas and Springfield. (The Diocese of the Rio Grande took a number of steps toward affiliation. However, their status was never completely clear.) With these dioceses, the Network also has 231 individual parish affiliates in five geographical convocations and one non-geographical convocation. Of this group, 105 parishes are under the care of The Anglican Provinces of Kenya, Uganda, or the Southern Cone. The entire diocese of San Joaquin is also under the oversight of The Province of the Southern Cone.

A mighty work they do for the Lord and His Kingdom. Staying true to the path. Prayers will abound!

I think this is great, and I hope it means what it implies: that this will be a meeting of all Network bishops.

While strategies have clearly diverged, we’re all on the same team and (I think) share the same goals.  The various Network constituencies need to be forthright about that and be mutually supportive of the different paths chosen, so that they can’t be used to paint those of a common Faith, over against Episcopalianism, with dissension.  Divide and conquer is not a tool the other side should be allowed to have.

I would hope that they can come to the understanding that they all need to work towards a common goal of unity; not just unity of purpose, but eventually, unity of oneness.

I agree with you Cennydd.

Four comments on this is a comment; I only regret making it five.