A Statement from the Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church
Accokeek, Maryland
August 2009 (Made earlier but released now–KSH)
Christ Church was established in 1698 and has consistently sought to be faithful to the teachings of the Church catholic””as found in the Scriptures, the Creeds and the Book of Common Prayer””as this Church has received them.
We reaffirm our commitment to the teaching of human sexuality as revealed in the Holy Scriptures and affirmed by the Church catholic: sexual intimacy is a gift and mystery which God has designed to be expressed solely in the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. All are called to chastity; some are called to celibacy. Consequently, all who are ordained are likewise called to live according to
these standards. We also reaffirm our commitment to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed to Accokeek and the whole world.
Therefore, we reject resolutions D025 and C056 of General Convention 2009. Whether prescriptive or descriptive, they will not repair the broken bridges in the Anglican Communion, whose fabric is torn at its deepest level. They demonstrate an unwillingness to observe two of the moratoria which all four Instruments of Unity have asked for. They violate the explicit teaching of the Communion regarding human sexuality, especially as expressed in the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution 1.10. They ignore the consensus of Christians throughout all time. They stand in contradiction to the explicit teaching of Scripture regarding human sexuality. And in particular, C056 violates the Episcopal Church’s own canons concerning the Covenant of Marriage. Therefore, we repudiate these resolutions and dissociate ourselves from them and their consequences.
We emphasize that we believe we are upholding the teaching of human sexuality which God has revealed. This teaching is entirely harmonious with the proclamation of the good news of God in Jesus Christ: that God’s love for all people””whether male or female, rich or poor, gay or straight””is ferociously manifest in Jesus’ cross and resurrection.
Lastly, we commend the work, at various levels within the Communion, on the Anglican Covenant and welcome the opportunity to review, study and sign its final draft.
Incisive, without being combative or hostile.
Kudos to these fine folks. I wonder how many faithful Episcopalians simply plod along in quiet embarrassment over the direction of TEC.
Another statement to add to the pile. Nice.
[blockquote] we commend the work, at various levels within the Communion, on the Anglican Covenant and welcome the opportunity to review, study and sign its final draft. [/blockquote] The Anglican Covenant will not be offered to dioceses to “sign”, much less to individual churches. The most these fine folk can do will be to issue another statement with the same level of binding effect as this one.
#4 Brer – I am not sure. It looks as if the Global South are taking ownership of this process:
http://new.kendallharmon.net/wp-content/uploads/index.php/t19/article/27064/
You may be right, Pageantmaster. It looks as if individual invited dioceses may be able to sign on to the covenant. But it remains unclear whether individual faithful churches will have a part in that process absent their bishop.
Much hangs in the balance at this month’s JSC meeting.
Isn’t this the same parish that lost its rector’s selection to Bishop (Jackboot) Jane Dixon a few years ago? I would assume that they are still paying their TEC dues to Bishop Chane. Statmann
Statmann,
You have identified the right parish: Christ Church was sued by Bishop Jane Dixon over its choice of the Rev. Sam Edwards as their Rector.
But note: because giving to the diocesan budget is voluntary in Washington, Christ Church has not given for 10 years.
The Rev. Brian Vander Wel
Rector, Christ Church, Accokeek
Compliments, prayers and thanksgivings for Christ Church. This is more than a statement. It’s a template.