Next, it is my honor to present our highly honored guest, the Rt. Rev. Robinson Cavalcanti, Bishop of Northern Brazil.

Our presence today is in direct response to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the rest of the Primates of the Anglican Communion, who called for “adequate provision for episcopal oversight” in their statement of October 2003. To date no such oversight has been offered by ECUSA. We represent a spectrum of congregations and Provinces within the Anglican Communion, and our actions represent a spectrum of possible responses to the Primates directive. Our participation in today’s Service represents “emergency measures” for those ECUSA congregations in revisionist dioceses who cannot in good conscience accept the radical actions taken by our General Convention last year and who now find themselves alienated from their bishops and diocesan leadership who voted for and support such actions. Our active bishops are currently seeking means for providing Adequate Episcopal Oversight, and if an acceptable plan is approved, these kinds of measures may no longer be necessary. But right now, we consider these actions an essential and imperative response to a pastoral emergency in Northern Ohio.

We come as pastors who care very much about you, the Clergy and Lay members of the six congregations gathered here today. We come because the lay persons among you have asked us to come. We come knowing well your predicament in feeling estranged from your bishop, your diocese and the Episcopal Church.

The actions of the Church at General Convention last summer abandoned 4000 years of Biblical teaching and doctrine which declares sexual relations outside of marriage between a man and a woman, as wrong in the sight of God and clearly contrary to His Will. We want to emphasize that the heart of the matter is not sexuality or sexual orientation but rather the authority of Holy Scripture in the life of the Church.

The schism we have in the Church today was not caused by us or by those who believe as we do, but rather by the leadership of the Episcopal Church at General Convention who voted to approve local option for blessing of same sex unions as well as to confirm the election of V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire and by those who subsequently consecrated him. These actions have led 21 global Provinces, representing the majority of the worldwide Anglican Communion to declare either “impaired or broken communion'' with the Episcopal Church in the United States.

The goal of those who are here today is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to call people to repent, to embrace godliness and righteousness, and to obey Biblical doctrine and the Apostolic faith “once delivered to the Saints”. Our goal is to call all of us to be authentic and faithful Anglicans and to be the true expression of Anglicanism in America, one that is in full communion with the rest of the Anglican Communion.

We did not come here today to argue or to say harsh words about anyone, but rather to speak the truth in love, and to pray for all of us, and for the Church. My brothers and sisters in Christ here in Ohio, we reach out to you today because we agree with you, and we believe, in the name of God, that you are right!

We honor each of you, and we thank God for your faithfulness! Above all, we came here from distant places to join with you in once again recommitting our lives to Jesus Christ in this service of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist that is now beginning.

AMEN.