We considered two resolutions relating to the Anglican Communion at the convention which concluded a few hours ago. This resolution passed:
On The Meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion
(submitted by the Reverend Dr. Francis H. Wade, Chair of the Diocesan Deputation to General Convention)
RESOLVED, that the One Hundred Twelfth Convention of the Diocese of Washington declares its respect for and support of the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Twenty-Sixth Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church; and expresses its warm appreciation to the following Bishops from other nations for participating in her Service of Investiture held on November 4, 2006, at the Washington National Cathedral:
The Primate of Iglesia Anglicana de la region Central de America; The Primate of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil; The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada; The Primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa; The Primate of the Anglican Church of Mexico; and the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion;
The retired Primate of the Scottish Episcopal Church;
Bishops of the Anglican Church of Australia; the Scottish Episcopal Church; the Anglican Church of Canada; the Church of Pakistan; as well as others; and
The Archbishop of Canterbury; the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia; and the Primate of the Anglican Communion in Japan (Nippon Sei Ko Kai) who sent representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Convention expresses its hope that in spite of reports that some of her peers will refuse to meet with her, all of the Primates will provide our world and our Church with an example by responding positively to our Lord’s desire that we be one as we work together to fulfill our common mission of witness and service; and be it further.
********************
Consideration of this resolution was postponed indefinitely, which seems to be our parliamentary custom when a resolution has no chance of passing:
Submitted by The Rev. Phillip C. Cato, Ph.D., Priest of the Diocese of Washington
RESOLVED, that the One Hundred Twelfth Convention of the Diocese of Washington express its extreme displeasure and firm disapproval of the action of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in issuing an invitation to the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, the principal organizer and moderator of the Anglican Communion Network, which network seeks recognition as the “legitimate” expression of the Anglican Communion in the United States, and to the Bishop of Western Louisiana, to attend the meeting of Anglican Primates on February 14 in Tanzania., which invitation lends notorious credibility to the divisive efforts of Bishop Duncan, and diminishes the importance of the presence of our Presiding Bishop; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this Diocese calls upon the Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, and the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, to form a commission to examine whether continued membership in the Anglican Communion is any longer beneficial to the core task of proclaiming the Gospel in this country.
Of the five or six people who spoke on the second resolution, only Dr. Cato spoke in its favor. A number of people told me privately that they thought the first resolution was punchless and the second one said what needed to be said. But none of them found their way to a microphone.
The Diocese of Washington is typically portrayed as a liberal diocese, which I think is fair. But I think we may also be thought of as an activist diocese, and I think that’s not the case. For better and worse, we tend to endorse the values of the liberal establishment. Some days the emphasis falls on the first of those two words, and some days it falls on the second.