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The American Anglican Council Expresses Grave Concern Over Nominees for Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
January 25, 2006
The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop for the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) announced today their nominations for Presiding Bishop: the Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander, Bishop of Atlanta; the Rt. Rev. Edwin F. Gulick, Jr., Bishop of Kentucky; the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Bishop of Nevada; and the Rt. Rev. Henry N. Parsley, Jr., Bishop of Alabama.
Given the Anglican Communion's call for the Episcopal Church to choose to walk together or walk apart, the choice of candidates for Presiding Bishop makes a strong statement. If the Episcopal Church had any intention of repentance, candidates would clearly adhere to the authority of Scripture, affirm the apostolic faith, and commit to the immediate cessation of ordination/consecration of non-celibate homosexuals as well as the blessings of same-sex unions.
We are deeply disturbed that the list of nominees does not include any candidate who is representative of orthodox Anglicanism. Of these four nominees, Bishops Alexander, Gulick and Jefferts Schori voted against a resolution affirming the authority of Scripture and basic tenets of Christian faith (B001) and voted to approve the consecration of V. Gene Robinson at General Convention 2003. Bishop Gulick, consecrated in 1994, has an extensive record of supporting the revisionist agenda.
Bishops Alexander and Jefferts Schori, both consecrated in 2001, have a shorter record but are also clearly committed revisionists.
While Bishop Parsley voted for B001 and against Robinson's consecration, he has strongly criticized the efforts of the American Anglican Council (AAC) and the Anglican Communion Network (ACN) in their opposition to decisions of General Convention 2003 and subsequent actions of ECUSA.
In addition, he continues to increase financial support given by the Diocese of Alabama to the national Episcopal Church. His actions in the Diocese of Alabama belie his claims of orthodoxy.
It seems clear that none of the nominees for Presiding Bishop will lead ECUSA back into the clear teaching and practice of Anglicanism, nor can we hope that they will stand up to the House of Bishops to say "enough is enough."
Tragically, the leadership of any of the nominees promises a "business as usual" attitude that chooses collegiality and pluriform reality over orthodoxy.
The election of Presiding Bishop will be held June 18, 2006 during the Episcopal Church's General Convention.
