"The primates' communiqué at first seemed the product of a delicate compromise to buy time for resolving differences, but, on reflection, the document provides cause for concern," said PEP president Lionel Deimel. "U.S. and Canadian church representatives to the ACC are being asked to explain their actions, yet they are being inhibited for an extended period from participating in any ongoing dialogue that could lead to reconciliation." Deimel pointed out that the ACC is responsible for the agenda of the decennial Lambeth Conference, which next convenes in 2008. "The recommended removal of the six delegates to the ACC will likely skew that agenda."

Deimel also noted that the actions and statements of leaders of the Network of Anglican Communion Diocese and Parishes (NACDAP) and their allies among the primates have called into question their commitment to healing the rift in the Anglican Communion. Despite agreeing to a communiqué that includes the agreement "neither to encourage nor to initiate cross-boundary interventions," Southern Cone Archbishop Gregory Venables, without permission, visited the Canadian Diocese of New Westminster immediately upon leaving the primates meeting. When NACDAP moderator Bishop Robert Duncan was asked by Deimel at a public meeting whether he would honor the communiqué pledge regarding episcopal incursions, Duncan refused, saying that he "would do whatever is necessary" to support orthodox parishes.

"The primates voted two churches off someone else's island," suggested PEP vice president Joan Gundersen, referring to the influence the group is trying to assert over the ACC, an older and independent so-called Instrument of Unity of the Anglican Communion. "In fact, the ACC is the only Instrument of Unity to have duties and structure approved by all the autonomous churches of the Communion." PEP is not the first to suggest that the primates, under pressure from its conservative bloc, is overreaching. The two Irish delegates to the ACC raised that question within days of the release of the communiqué, arguing that the ACC is responsible for its own affairs.

"Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh wants to preserve the Anglican Communion," said Charles Robideau, PEP board member and editor of the group's newsletter PEPtalk, "but, as much as we value the Communion, our primary loyalty is to the Gospel itself and to the vision of the Gospel that is the essence of our Episcopal Church."

"Contrary to the suggestion of the primates' communiqué," Deimel explained, "complete uniformity of belief has never been a prerequisite for the provinces to represent the Gospel to the world. We seek unity, but we cannot endorse the transformation of the Anglican Instruments of Unity into Instruments of Uniformity. The ACC has been asked to oversee the development of a conversation throughout the communion on sexuality; we need to let this independent body decide for itself how best to proceed."

Lionel Deimel is President of Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh