The standing committee of the Diocese of Sydney has expressed its strong support for Bishop Robert Duncan of the American diocese of Pittsburgh, saying it is ”˜deeply distressed’ that he has been deposed by the Episcopal Church.
Bishop Duncan, who has been negotiating to withdraw his diocese from the Episcopal Church because of revisionist teaching, was the subject of a deposition vote by the US House of Bishops and with 15 bishops missing, including Texans because of Hurricane Ike, the vote passed 88 to 35.
Because of his stand on biblical authority and the historic teachings of the church, it was claimed that Bishop Duncan’s “actions over recent months and years constitute ”˜abandonment of the communion of this church’”.
Bishop Duncan is one of the foremost conservative leaders in the North American wing of the Anglican communion and the Sydney standing committee commended him “as he stands firmly for the authority and teaching of the Bible.”