At our 104th Session, we dealt with the three major and interrelated challenges, which we were fa... The Bishop’s Charge To The | Sex Press
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At our 104th Session, we dealt with the three major and interrelated challenges, which we were fa... The Bishop’s Charge To The

Submitted by admin on Thu, 2005-10-27 11:00.

At our 104th Session, we dealt with the three major and interrelated challenges, which we were facing in the wake of the devastation, wrought by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. This year we offer thanks to our good and gracious Heavenly Father because, up to this point in the current hurricane season, we have not been visited by any major hurricanes. As we give thanks, wxe also pray for the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which devastated the Gulf States taking hundreds of lives and making thousands homeless and destitute. The massive scope of devastation has led many to make generous donations to the Relief efforts. Our Diocese has joined other members of The Bahamas Christian Council with a donation of $7,500.00 (seven thousand five hundred dollars), and we encourage others to support this effort to express our Christian solidarity with the victims of these two hurricanes to assist in rebuilding their lives.

The extensive coverage of hurricane Katrina, in particular, gave international exposure to the inadequate preparation by the State and Federal authorities leading to loss of life and dehumanizing conditions in the shelters provided for those persons who were unable to vacate the area before the advent of the hurricane.

As Bishops of the Church in the Province of the West Indies (CPWI), we are very concerned about the state of preparedness for hurricane and other natural disasters that impact our Caribbean territories on a regular basis.

In expressing this concern with our Caricom leaders/members, we are aware that provisions vary in some territories but in the vast majority, preparedness is well below what we consider to be adequate. Buildings designated as shelters, for example do not conform to minimum standards. We are aware that resources in our Caribbean region are limited, so that other priorities in national budgets are placed well above the urgent need for adequate shelters for the Caribbean people before and during natural disasters.

However, our deep concern focuses on people as being precious in the sight of God and therefore, this is a demand placed on us to treat all persons with the greatest respect and honour.

In this connection, we urge our governments to begin the reordering of priorities, so that the protection of life and limb becomes a burning concern that is given full expression in the provision of adequate shelters, trained personnel, improved legislation where necessary (e.g. mandatory evacuation), and an overall comprehensive plan of action for disaster preparedness.

On our part, we pledge to continue to offer our facilities where considered suitable and adequate and to promote by way of education a greater awareness of the environmental issues involved.

I invite Synod to support the concerns raised by the Bishops. In addition, I strongly support the provisions of "The Disaster Preparedness and Response Act, 2005" recently tabled in the House of Assembly. All church and community leaders should encourage the members of Parliament to make appropriate arrangements in addition to actively participating in awareness building so that the general public will come to a greater appreciation of the need to take these issues seriously.

At our last session, I circulated copies of sections of the Windsor Report submitted to the Archbishop of Canterbury by the members of the Lambeth Commission under the chairmanship of Archbishop Robin Eames. The Commission was appointed to examine issues facing the Worldwide Anglican Communion in the light of action taken in the Provinces of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA) and the Province of the Anglican Church of Canada. In the case of the former, most of the Provinces of the Anglican Communion were deeply concerned over the 2003 decision of ECUSA’s General Convention to appoint and consecrate a priest in a committed same sex relationship as one of its bishops. In the case of the Province of Canada, concerns were expressed over the decision of the Diocese of New Westminster to authorize services for use in connection with same sex unions.

The Commission reaffirmed Resolution 1:10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference as the official teaching of the Communion in respect of homosexual practice. You will recall that this resolution, passed by an overwhelming majority of the Bishops at the Lambeth Conference upheld the church’s traditional teaching on homosexual practice as contrary to biblical teaching and contrary to God’s design in creation.

The Episcopal Church (USA) be invited to express its regret that the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached in the events surrounding the election and consecration of a bishop for the See of New Hampshire, and for the consequences which followed, and that such an expression of regret would represent the desire of the Episcopal Church (USA) to remain within the Communion.

The Episcopal Church (USA) be invited to effect a moratorium on the election and consent to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate who is living in a same gender union until some new consensus in the Anglican Communion emerges.

"We believe that to proceed unilaterally with the authorization of public Rites of Blessing for same sex unions at this time goes against the formally expressed opinions of the Instruments of Unity and therefore constitutes action in breach of the legitimate appreciation of the Christian faith as the churches of the Anglican Communion have received it, and of the bonds of affection in the life of the Communion, especially the principle of interdependence. For the sake of our communion life, we call upon all bishops of the Anglican Communion to honour the primates’ Pastoral Letter of May 2003, by not proceeding to authorize public Rites of Blessing for same sex unions."

The Primates of the Communion at their meeting in February 2005 unanimously endorsed the Windsor Report and requested each Province of the Communion to indicate acceptance of the doctrine of the church as outlined in the Report. The Primates also requested the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a Panel of Reference to review situations of conflict in dioceses where clergy and parishes encounter difficulties with their bishop over theological differences. Our Chancellor, Mrs. Rubie Nottage, has been invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury to serve on the Panel of Reference. The Primates also requested ECUSA and Canada to voluntarily withdraw their delegates to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) until Lambeth 2008. This request was upheld by the ACC at its recent meeting in June 2005.

While ECUSA and Canada have complied with the request for withdrawal from the ACC, the overall response from the two Provinces have not been very encouraging. The House of Bishops of ECUSA has indicated a willingness to express regret for the repercussions that have emerged across the Communion, but they have not indicated regret for the action taken by General Convention. In response to the call for a moratorium on the election and consent to consecration of any candidate to the episcopate who is living in a same gender union, the House of Bishops suspended all confirmations and consent to consecration until General Convention of June 2006. Meanwhile, tension between traditional clergy and parishes and some Bishops who do not support Lambeth 1:10 is increasing at an alarming rate. It is now abundantly clear that General Convention 2006 will prove to be a watershed event when the Episcopal Church will have to make some important decisions that will significantly impact the future growth and development of the Anglican Communion. The final paragraph of the Windsor Report raises the issue of ‘walking apart’ if member Provinces are not prepared to accept the prevailing Anglican consensus on theology, doctrine and ethics.

In the case of Canada, the Bishop of New Westminster has already indicated his unwillingness to accept the request of the Windsor Report. The Province of Canada is still in the process of studying the Report but public statements by leading churchmen indicate that the Anglican Church of Canada, through its General Synod, will experience strong resistance to the acceptance of the Anglican consensus as contained in the Windsor Report.

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