The Reformed Episcopal Church
Response to ECUSA General Convention
August 8, 2003
The Reformed Episcopal Church disagrees with and is saddened
over the Episcopal Church’s confirmation of a divorced, practicing homosexual
to the Episcopacy and their failure to condemn the blessing of same sex unions.
At the 46th General Council of the REC (1990), the following statement on
sexuality was written based on the authority of the Holy Scripture and historic
Christian beliefs and ethics:
A Resolution regarding Christian Sexual Ethics
RESOLVED, that we, the 46th General Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church,
reaffirm the biblical standard given for the well-being of society:
That sexual intercourse should take place only between a man and a woman who
are married to each other.
That fornication, adultery, and homosexual acts are
sinful in all circumstances.
That Christian leaders are called to be exemplary
in all spheres of morality, including sexual morality, as a condition of being
appointed or remaining in office.
That the Church is called upon to show Christ-like compassionto those who have fallen into sexual sin, encouraging them
to repent and receive forgiveness, and offering the ministry of healing to all
who suffer physically or emotionally as a result of such sin.
(Adopted by the 46th General Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church, meeting at St. Mark's
Reformed Episcopal Church, Jenkintown, PA, Wednesday, May 23, 1990.)
The Articles of Religion, doctrinally subscribed to by the
Reformed Episcopal Church and most of the worldwide Anglican Communion, speak
at two particular points on the Scriptural parameters of the Church and its
councils. Article 20, “Of the Authority of the Church,” states,
“It is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary
to God’s Word written, neither may it expound one place of scripture
that it be repugnant to another”. Also Article 21, “Of the Authority
of General Councils,” adds, “Forasmuch as they be an assembly
of men, whereof all be not governed by the Spirit and the Word of God, they
may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God…
unless it may be declared that they be taken out of Holy Scripture.”
Extending the principles stated in Article 21, the error embraced at the Episcopal
Church’s recent convention, pertaining to matters of sexuality and the
authority of Holy Scripture, should not be understood to be the expression
of the will of the Holy Spirit and therefore moves that branch of Christ’s
Church away from the Historic Christian Faith.
Consequently, ECUSA's decisions will surely impair and impede
substantive ecumenical dialogue with the Reformed Episcopal Church. These
discussions have been recently chaired by the evangelical Bishop of the Diocese
of South Carolina, the Rt. Rev. Ed Salmon, along with the competent administration
of Dr. Tom Ferguson of the Ecumenical Office of the Episcopal Church. The
following resolution was the result of over sixty years of meetings and discussions
between the Episcopal and the Reformed Episcopal Church:
Resolution 006 Ecumenism: Dialogue with the Reformed Episcopal Church
Resolved, That the General Convention receive with thanksgiving
the start of ecumenical dialogue with the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC)
and the Anglican Province of America (APA), occasioned by Resolution D047
of the 73rd General Convention. Be it further, Resolved, That the 1940 Report
of the Committee on Approaches to Unity of the Episcopal Church and the Report
submitted to the Bishops of the Anglican Communion by this Church concerning
the validity of Holy Orders of the Reformed Episcopal Church be referred to
the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations for study during the 2003-2006
triennium and that the Commission report back to the 2006 General Convention
on the validity of Holy Orders of the Reformed Episcopal Church.
Explanation:
The 1998 Lambeth Conference (Resolution IV.11) and the
73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church (Resolution D039) have both
requested that Anglicans initiate ecumenical dialogue with "a view to
the reconciliation of all who own the Anglican tradition (Lambeth IV.11.b)."
The recognition and reconciliation of ordained ministries is part of the Episcopal
Church's commitment to seeking visible expression of unity and a means to
foster common mission and witness in the world. The status of the Holy Orders
of the Reformed Episcopal Church will be an important component in any ecumenical
discussion with that church. This issue was first addressed in the 1940 Report
of the Commission on Approaches to Unity. This commission produced a favorable
assessment of the Holy Orders of the Reformed Episcopal Church. The Report
was circulated to Bishops of the Anglican Communion in December of 1941. The
Second World War precluded discussion of the report. Since no official action
was ever taken by the General Convention, this resolution asks the Standing
Commission on Ecumenical Relations to study and update, if necessary, the
previous report.
In early October of this year, the Reformed Episcopal Church
will have Bishops and General Committee meetings. A significant part of the
agenda will concern the negative impact of the Episcopal Church’s recent
decisions regarding human sexuality on its relationship with the REC, as well
as the REC’s potential relationship with the larger Anglican Communion
as expressed at the 1998 Lambeth meeting seeking, “A view to the recognition
and reconciliation of all who own the Anglican tradition” (Lambeth IV.11.b).
In the interim, the REC remains in prayer for our brothers and sisters in
Christ in ECUSA that they will come to a better mind. We also most especially
support and pray for the Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons and Laity in ECUSA who
stand for the Historic Christian Faith, under the authority of Christ, who
revealed His will and commands, by the Holy Spirit, in Holy Scripture.
We will continue to honor our developing relationship with
the American Anglican Council, and our fellow participants of the U.S. Anglican
Congress, from which the Atlanta Covenant was derived, by supporting “orthodox
Anglicans” in any way that we can.
Respectfully,
The Most Rev. Leonard W. Riches
Presiding Bishop and Bishop Ordinary
Diocese of the North-East and Mid-Atlantic
The Rt. Rev. Royal U. Grote, Jr.
Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of Mid-America
The Rt. Rev. James C. West
Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of the South- East
The Rt. Rev. Ray R. Sutton, Ph.D.
Chairman, of the Interchurch Relations Committee, REC