The session opened with an opportunity for Caucus members from all Diocesan Churches who are unhappy with the theological direction and leadership in the Diocese to make two minute statements which approximately seven persons did. Their statements included a reprimand by Karen Gerhart of St. James Edison of the Diocese, the Bishop and the Deputies for ignoring the spirit and guidance of the Windsor Report which was described as 'an olive branch' offered to the Revisionist wing of ECUSA.

They have continued to endorse and support same sex union blessings and ceremonies, asserted Mrs. Gerhart and others, within the Diocese contrary to the spirit of the Report and to the majority belief of the Anglican Communion. At the recent Diocesan Convention, Deputies and representatives also voted down a resolution brought reaffirming Biblical and historic teachings on chastity and sexual intimacy as permissible only within the bonds of marriage.

Christian doctrine and teaching is further obfuscated by the defeat of this resolution as well as by the Bishop's later statement, 'I uphold pastoral care and support for gay couples who are in long term, committed relationships and not promiscuous persons engaged in the gay lifestyle, whatever that means.' However, to date no ceremony, official approbation, or General Convention led liturgy for sanctioning such relationships exists nor have the teachings of Scripture regarding sexual conduct changed. No Canons or liturgy governing the sacrament of marriage been altered, revised or revoked under any other ECUSA Canons or pending motions.

Chastity Absent from Church Doctrine in Diocese of NJ

Mrs. Gerhart and others questioned the sanctity in eternal life in Christ concerning salvation for all communicants alike. Sin is separation from God so that ongoing and unrepentant sin in illicit sexual partnerships even among so called 'committed' or monogamous couples as the Bishop is allowing promote continual sin and therefore continual separation from God.

A Caucus member who had previously written the Bishop concerning his permitting same sex blessings on two occasions in Diocesan churches in 2005 spoke addressing the Bishop once again. "How could he have told the Caucus almost two years ago he would not condone such practices ahead of General Convention proceedings and then permitted this?" The Bishop's answer justifying such response was that pastoral care to the gay communicants was required to be administered based on his interpretation of the Windsor Report. So he allowed the priest to do a same sex blessing ceremony even without the benefit of approved, written liturgy.

The Bishop's understanding of pastoral care here is antithetical to the Windsor Report's guidance and counsel. Pastoral care in the Windsor Report means to counsel communicants on therapy, prayer, and other measures aimed at achieving celibacy and discouraging sexual behavior outside of the marriage sacrament. The Bishop's understanding is that pastoral care here should be in support of the non-traditional sexual union of a gay couple in his Parishes even without existing ECUSA liturgy or Canons or Scripture to support it.

Each Diocesan deputy was then given five minutes to speak and make a statement with Peter Hausman, the Diocesan Treasurer, being the only orthodox voice of dissent against the remaining theologically liberal and extreme majority of the Deputies. One self admitted gay deputy related an early childhood experience of unfair treatment at the hand of a kindergarden teacher who sent him to the corner several times for coloring or drawing on his body in class. While he did not make a spiritual or Faith connection to the experience , he made a statement, "I do not want to be put in the corner(as he was in kindergarden)"

Under Bishop Councell's authority and accountability, Diocesan Churches are compelled to stand behind ultra-theologically liberal, gay lifestyle promoting leadership. Sin in the Bishop's context has no definition that would ever involve sexual misconduct, trespass, or fornication. This is a worrisome state of ECUSA theology for many congregants in the Diocese.

Bishop Urges Restraint on Adopting Same Sex Ceremonies

In the final segment, the Bishop responded to about ten questions from the floor most of which again addressed his Revisionist agenda for Diocese of NJ and his support of gay coupling and sexual liberty in contrast to the teachings of Scripture. The Bishop also responded to questions about the advance discussion and positioning for same sex liturgy to be proposed for Book of Common Prayer inclusion at the 2006 General Convention in Cincinnati, OH this summer. He did urge wisdom and restraint at this time in pursuing such a mandate. He appears to sense the damage it will do to the Anglican Communion if it is consummated at this time.

Bishop Councell nonetheless continues to honor, encourage, and recognize non-celibate gay relationships among Diocesan congregants and their partners. He exhorts that pastoral care to such parishioners must allow and encourage a sexual dimension to those relationships as opposed to pastoral care that might ask the congregant(s) to prayerfully seek counsel and advice involving traditional abstinence, celibacy or even inner transformation in pursuit of an agape 'love life' in Christ.

In other remarks, the Bishop encouraged members of the St. Bartholomew's congregation earlier in the day at their main service that he would not seek to contest the Parishes' title to property and facilities were they to break from ECUSA or leave the Diocese for sake of Anglican Communion unity or theology. He further indicated openness to approaches for Parishes like St. Bart's that might seek alternative oversight and liturgical support from Bishops who are aligned with them in Orthodoxy and classic Church teaching. The spirit of reconciliation and hope often referred to by the Bishop in his public statements fails to embrace basic truth and reality of the Faith. The presence of a heretical sect in the Diocese teaching and promoting that sexual conduct of any orientation outside of holy matrimony is sinless and acceptable simply no longer looks like nor represents Christianity. It is as Archbishop Peter Akinola, the Primate of Nigeria, says, "a different religion."

Authentic Believers simply cannot worship with those who believe what is traditionally sinful is now suddenly righteous anymore than the followers of Baal in the Old Testament would acknowledge that Yahweh was the one true God and that fornication, their signature ritual, was to be abhorred not worshipped.

Bishop Councell proclaimed at the end of the meeting he sees Christ in all Anglican Caucus members and thanks them for their faithfulness. He however stands on lonely and Scripturally unsupported ground in the context of Global Anglicanism - over 70 million faithful strong. The meeting concluded at 430 pm at which time Evensong was celebrated for all those in attendance as the Bishop and Deputies joined in worship with the Caucus members.

--Douglas Miles is lifelong Episcopalian, a financial data technology entrepreneur, and former campus journalist at St. Lawrence University. He writes occasional pieces on the state of Global Anglicanism, the capital markets, and his own journey in Christ.