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The American Anglican Council (AAC) Comments on the Episcopal Election in the Diocese of California
The Diocese of California gathered in convention today elected the Rt. Rev. Mark Andrus as bishop on the third ballot. Andrus currently serves as Suffragan Bishop of Alabama.
This election has garnered international attention in light of the fact that three partnered homosexuals were nominated, two by the nominating committee and one by petition, demonstrating defiance of the mind of the Anglican Communion on human sexuality.
None of the seven candidates has indicated intentions to declare and implement a moratorium on same-sex blessings or pledged to withhold consent for same-sex partnered individuals as bishop; none has committed to uphold Lambeth 1.10 within the diocese or as a member of the House of Bishops.
Three of the episcopal candidates for bishop in California are living lives in open contradiction to Christian teaching on sexuality, and all of the individuals espouse contradictory teaching. The Diocese of California has demonstrated no intention to comply with Lambeth 1.10, the Windsor Report 2004, or the Primates' 2005 Communiqué.
How will activists respond to the fact that a diocese which has for years been a bastion of amorphous Christianity and aggressive revisionism chose a white, heterosexual, Southern male as bishop?
Did the diocese succumb to reported pressure from the national Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA), including Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, to avoid electing a partnered homosexual?
Is such pressure in fact part of a coordinated strategy intended to mislead the Communion? A recent report issued by the Special Committee on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion claimed compliance with expectations of the Windsor Report and Primates, but clearly encourages working toward a new consensus.
The commission failed to call for moratoria on blessings of same-sex unions and consecrations of partnered homosexuals, urging only "the exercise of very considerable caution."
Moving slowly with caution is not stopping, and ECUSA is practicing a theology contrary to Scripture, Anglican doctrine, and 2,000 years of Christian teaching. The life and practice of ECUSA clearly illustrates its commitment to a new gospel despite claims and protestations to the contrary.
All eyes now turn to Columbus, where General Convention is expected to continue its obfuscation of the issues and present an unacceptable fudge to Episcopalians and Anglicans worldwide. It is imperative that the Anglican Communion follow Christ's exhortation in analyzing General Convention 2006: "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment" (John 7:24).
FROM ACN LEADER BISHOP ROBERT DUNCAN
Statement by Bishop Bob Duncan on the election of Bishop Andrus
I am grateful to electing deputies of the Diocese of California for not attempting to short-circuit the decisions the Episcopal Church must make this June about walking with or apart from the Anglican Communion.
The world church has clearly told us what we must do to stay in communion: Repent of our decision in 2003 to confirm the election of a bishop in a same-sex partnered relationship and place moratoriums on further elections of bishops in same-sex partnered relationships as well as the blessing of same sex relationships.
Our very claim to be "Anglican" remains in jeopardy and we have yet to clearly respond. General Convention 2006 is likely our last chance to do so.
On http://www.acn-us.org/archive/2006/05/a-statement-by-bishop-duncan-on-the-california-election.html
