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TO THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE OF THE DIOCESE:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
June 16, 2004
Thank you for your prayers and fasting on my behalf, and on behalf of all who were involved, in testimony before the Lambeth Commission this week. Please continue to pray for Archbishop Robin Eames and all the members of the Commission as its very important work goes forward.
Please know that we were graciously received and fairly heard, as was the Presiding Bishop’s team (which included our own George Werner). Transcripts of the testimony given will be posted on the Lambeth Commission website. The diocesan website (www.pgh.anglican.org) will link to the transcripts as soon as they are posted.
Archbishop Eames made it clear to us that the principal issue the Commission was assigned to address was how the Anglican Communion could re-shape its life in light of a Province (the Episcopal Church in the United States) that has rejected the clear counsel and stated teaching of the Communion. The secondary issue the Commission struggles with – though not its stated assignment – is how deeply it is appropriate to enter into resolutions of the internal dispute within this Province.
One aspect of our testimony involved the sharing of a letter of “common cause” sent to Archbishop Rowan Williams, and dated Trinity Sunday, June 6th. Opponents will surely distort the plain meaning of the letter and of what was shared. Following through on the commitment in the Network Charter to “the ongoing reunion of the Anglican diaspora,” the common cause letter states that six distinct orthodox groups in the United States – some part of the Episcopal Church and some not – are each prepared to work toward a “united, missionary and orthodox Anglicanism in North America.” In this “first-step” the leaders of the six groups also agree to work “under the chairmanship of the moderator of the Network.” This letter does not mean that we agree on all theological issues, such as women’s ordination, but it is a hopeful sign of our common commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Network team left encouraged and thankful that we are part of the Anglican Communion, and thankful for the Commission which the Archbishop of Canterbury has appointed to recommend how to keep our Communion both faithful and united.
Now that the Commission testimony has taken place, I expect to turn my efforts and attentions this summer to our life together and our needs as a diocese. Please continue to pray for me and all our team, both in the diocesan office and in all the parishes, that these summer labors would also be interspersed with the rest and recreation in which so many of us need during these somewhat quieter months.
Faithfully in Christ,
+Bob Pittsburgh
