An article from Episcopal Line Online this afternoon compiles reactions to yesterday’s announcement that the Episcopal Church’s Title IV Review Committee had certified Bishop Robert Duncan has abandoned the communion of the church. It also clarifies for the uninitiated what the next steps are.
Here are some of the documents:
* Certification of the Review Committee and documents ‘the committee received submissions alleging Duncan’s abandonment of communion from “counsel representing individuals who are either clergy or communicants in the Diocese of Pittsburgh” and from the Presiding Bishop’s chancellor, David Beers, and his colleague, Mary E. Kostel.’ (40 pages, PDF images)
* A brief response from Duncan.
* Statement of support for Duncan from Fort Worth Bishop Jack Iker dated January 16.
The following excerpts from today’s ELO may help readers follow the next steps, and make the distinction amongst certification of abandonment, inhibition and consent of the House of Bishops:
[The Presiding Bishop’s] letter told Duncan that she sought the canonically required permission from the House’s three senior bishops with jurisdiction to inhibit him, based on the certification, from the performance of any episcopal, ministerial or canonical acts.
“On 11 January 2008 they informed me that such consents would not be given at this time by all three bishops,” Jefferts Schori wrote.
“[In due course I shall forward the Review Committee’s to the House of Bishops for its consideration.] Pursuant to the time limits stated in Canon IV.9, the matter will not come before the House of Bishops at its next scheduled meeting in March 2008, but will come before the House at the next meeting thereafter,” the Presiding Bishop wrote in her letter.
“I would, however, welcome a statement by you within the next two months providing evidence that you once more consider yourself fully subject to the doctrine, discipline and worship of this Church,” Jefferts Schori wrote in her letter to Duncan.
…
The time limit to which Jefferts Schori referred is a two-month period afforded to bishops subject to such a certification to retract their acts, demonstrate that the facts alleged in certification are false, or renounce their orders by way of Title IV, Canon 8, Sec. 2 or Title III, Canon 12, Sec. 7.
Links in the ELO article. Bracketed material is original to the Presiding Bishop’s letter and is included here to underscore that the matter next goes to the House of Bishops.
From Canon IV.9 Abandonment of the Communion of This Church by a Bishop:
[I]t shall be the duty of the Presiding Bishop to present the matter to the House of Bishops at the next regular or special meeting of the House. If the House, by a majority of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote, shall give its consent, the Presiding Bishop shall depose the Bishop from the Ministry, and pronounce and record in the presence of two or more Bishops that the Bishop has been so deposed.