Anglican Church in the West Indies to maintain relationship with the Episcopal Church in the US

Saturday, November 15, 2003

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: The Bishops and Members of the Standing Committee of the Anglican Church in the Province of the West Indies which concluded a three day meeting in Antigua has agreed to maintain a formal relationship with the Episcopal Church in the USA, as part of the Anglican Communion, but does not accept the ministry of Bishop Gene Robinson.

The Episcopal Church USA recently confirmed the election of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson, a self-confessed practicing homosexual and his consecration as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire.

The Bishops' decision to continue recognizing and supporting the membership of the Episcopal Church USA within the worldwide communion, but not, however, accepting the ministry of Canon Gene Robinson as a Bishop, was contained in a three-page statement released on last week. 

In their statement, the Bishops said that they were meeting at a time of great anxiety throughout the West Indies and the Anglican Communion. This anxiety has arisen from developments in Canada, which has authorized a public rite of blessing for persons in committed same sex relationships and the decision of the Episcopal Church in the USA to confirm the election of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson, a self confessed practicing homosexual and by his consecration as a Bishop.

The statement goes on to say as a result of these actions, the Primates of the Anglican Communion at their specially convened meeting in October 2003 unanimously affirmed that the official teaching of the Church in these matters is as stated in the 1998 Lambeth Resolution. We in the West Indies are in complete agreement with the position taken by the Primates.

While we recognize the juridical autonomy of each Province in the Communion, we also adhere to the principle of mutual interdependence. This means that no Province has the authority to unilaterally alter a teaching of the entire Anglican Communion. Apart from violating the clear and constant teaching of the Bible, the consecration of Canon Gene Robinson directly challenges the common teaching, common practice and common witness of the entire Anglican Communion. 

As a consequence a state of impaired communion now exists both within the Episcopal Church USA itself and between the Episcopal Church (USA) and the overwhelming majority of the Provinces within the Communion, including the Province of the West Indies.

Recognizing the Anglican Communion's teaching in these matters, we pledge our support of the ministry of the bishops, clergy and laity in the Episcopal Church (USA) who have, as a matter of principle, and in fidelity to that historic teaching of the Church, opposed the consecration of Canon Gene Robinson. We will continue to recognize and support their membership within the worldwide communion and promise them our solidarity.

In addition, we commit ourselves, as a Province, to continue the dialogue with and pastoral care of homosexual persons.

We are pleased that the Archbishop of Canterbury has established a Commission to, among other things, examine the legal and theological implications flowing from the decisions of the Episcopal Church (USA) to appoint a priest in a committed same sex relationship as one of its bishops, and of the Diocese of New Westminster to authorize services for use in connection within same sex unions, and the Canonical understandings of communion. 

We are also pleased that persons from our Province have been appointed to serve on the Commission. This Commission is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the Archbishop of Canterbury by September 30, 2004. Until that time and dependent upon the findings and recommendations of the Commission we, as a Province, will maintain a formal relationship with the Episcopal Church (USA) as part of the Anglican Communion, while keeping the matter under critical review. However, we cannot accept the ministry of Canon Gene Robinson as a Bishop.

As the Commission engages in its work we invite all Anglicans to continue to pray for the Anglican Communion, the Commission, the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Diocese of New Westminster that we all may seek to do God's will." 

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