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JACKSON, MS: Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi vote addresses developing split
Special to The Clarion-Ledger
February 7, 2006
The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi voted at its 179th annual council to affirm its historic connections to the worldwide Anglican Communion and voice concern about bishops from the global South crossing international boundaries to exercise pastoral oversight in American congregations.
The resolutions at the Saturday council in Jackson addressed the developing split between Anglicans in various portions of the world over theological and jurisdictional issues.
The conflict is centered on the 2003 ordination of the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, a partnered homosexual, as bishop of New Hampshire, and the response of mostly African bishops crossing geographical boundaries to oversee American congregations.
The first resolution commended Anglican leaders who produced the Windsor Report, which details how Robinson's ordination created problems in the Anglican Communion.
The second resolution voiced the council's "strong protest" of bishops from other areas of the Anglican Communion taking action "at odds with the recommendations of the Windsor Report." Those actions included visits by two African bishops to the Diocese of Mississippi.
African bishops oversee two new metro-area Anglican churches, Holy Apostles Anglican Church in Flowood and Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Jackson.
Rwandan Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini visited the Jackson congregation in January.
Mississippi Bishop Duncan M. Gray III said, "This diocese will not be sidetracked from its important work of mission by topics that may evoke strong emotions and conflict but are not at the heart of what we are called by God to engage."
Delegates from the denomination's 84 Mississippi congregations participated in the annual council. The main focus of their work has been recovery following Hurricane Katrina.
The Clarion-Ledger staff writer Jean Gordon contributed to this story.
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