The Diocese

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Diocese of Texas Vision

• We are One Church of Miraculous Expectation,
  empowered by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, called
  to be a diverse worshiping community of
  missionaries reaching out and transforming lives.

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• The Lambeth Commissions
• Windsor Report

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The Archbishops Mandate

• 1. To examine and report on the legal and
  theological implications flowing from election
  of Gene Robinson Diocese of New Westminster
  authorization of services for use in connection
  with same sex unions. Specifically
• On the canonical understandings of communion,
  impaired and broken communion
• The ways provinces may relate to one another in
  situations where the ecclesiastical authorities
  of one province feel unable to maintain the
  fullness of communion with another

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Archbishops Mandate cont.

• To include practical recommendations for
  maintaining the highest degree of communion
• Including reflection on emerging patterns of
  provision for Episcopal oversight for those
  Anglicans within a particular jurisdiction, where
  full communion within a province is under threat
• Both within and between the churches of the
  Anglican Communion

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Archbishops Mandate cont.

• To make recommendations to the Primates and the
  Anglican Consultative Council, as to the
  exceptional circumstances and conditions under
  which, and the means by which, it would be
  appropriate for the Archbishop of Canterbury to
  exercise
• an extraordinary ministry of episcope (pastoral
  oversight)
• support and reconciliation
• with regard to the internal affairs of a
  province other than his own for the sake of
  maintaining communion

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Archbishops Mandate cont.

• 4. In its deliberations, to take due account of
  the work already undertaken on issues of
  communion by
• The Lambeth Conferences of 1988 and 1998
• As well as the views expressed by the Primates of
  the Anglican Communion in the communiqués and
  pastoral letters arising from their meetings
  since 2000.

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Archbishop Robin EamesPrimate of All Ireland

• I can tell you that the work I have been
  privileged to lead in the Lambeth Commission has
  been a pilgrimage in its truest sense. We came
  together representing many nations, representing
  all the so called conservative and liberal
  stand-points and representing many different
  attitudes to the call of the Church. Some told us
  we would never complete our task, that we would
  not agree and that we would never be able to
  present one Report on which we could all agree.
• The recommendations in the Report has the
  support of all members of the Commission. All the
  well-known arguments were placed on the table.
  There was no shirking of issues. I saw courage
  and openness in those discussions but I also saw
  vision and a love for the Anglican tradition.
• Oct 12, 2004
• presidential address to Armagh Diocesan Synod

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The Windsor Report States

• The Communion we enjoy as Anglicans involves a
  sharing in bonds of affection
• Mutual Relationships
• Communion makes demands upon all within it

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The Windsor Report States

• The historic position of the Archbishop of
  Canterbury should be regarded as the central
  focus of both unity and mission within the
  Communion
• The Archbishop has the power to call or not to
  call to the Communion gatherings whomsoever he
  believes is appropriate in order to safeguard,
  and take counsel, for, the well-being of the
  Anglican Communion

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The Windsor Report States

• The Primates Meeting, the Lambeth Conference,
  the Anglican Consultative Council are the
  instruments of communion
• Further work is necessary on the relationship
  between those Instruments of Unity

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The Windsor Report Recommends

• That consideration be given by the Archbishop of
  Canterbury to the establishment of a Council of
  Advice
• The adoption of a Common Anglican Covenant which
  would make explicit and forceful the loyalty and
  bonds of affection which govern the relationships
  between the church of the Communion

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The Windsor Report States

• The Episcopal Church ECUSA has breached the
  core unity in consecrating a non-celibate gay man
  as a bishop in the Church
• ECUSA has breached the core unity in recognizing
  the blessing of same sex unions as part of its
  common life

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The Windsor Report Recommends

• Regret is expressed in the report for the
  decisions and actions of the ECUSA and requests
  the Episcopal Church to respond
• Expressing regret for breaching the bonds of the
  world-wide Anglican communion
• Pending such expression of regret, each bishop
  who had a role in Bishop Robinson's consecration
  to withdraw themselves from any further
  involvement in organizations of the Anglican
  Communion
• Declare a moratorium on any other elections of
  gay or lesbian clergy  

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ECUSA Recommendations cont.

• The bishops of ECUSA cease any further
  development of any and all rites or permissions
  for the blessings of same sex union
• Thought be given in future elections regarding
  candidates for the episcopate and their
  relationship with the global communion

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The Windsor Report Recommends

• Bishops not cross geographical boundaries with
  the Anglican Communion for any reason
• That each diocese within ECUSA to work out their
  differences - theological and pastoral - without
  the help or interference of other bishops

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The Windsor Report Confirms

• The report also confirms the stated teaching of
  the Anglican Communion with respect to human
  sexuality
• Upholding faithful marriage and abstinence as the
  only two expressions of personal sexuality
• Listening to the voices of the homosexual members
  of the Church
• Rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible
  with Scripture

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Closing Words from the Report

• "We earnestly hope that none of these will prove
  necessary. Our aim throughout has been to work
  not for division but for healing and restoration.
  The real challenge of the gospel is whether we
  live deeply enough in the love of Christ, and
  care sufficiently for our joint work to bring
  that love to the world, that we will 'make every
  effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the
  bond of peace.' Ephesians 43" As the primates
  stated in 2000, 'to turn from one another would
  be to turn away from the Cross', and indeed from
  serving the world which God loves and for which
  Jesus Christ died."

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Remember

• The Commission consisted of individuals from the
  global communion with a diversity of world views
• There was no dissenting report
• Everyone on the commission signed the report

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What is Next?

• The Windsor Report was a recommendation
• February 20-26, 2005     The Primates of the
  Anglican Communion meet in Newcastle, County
  Down, Some 30 miles south of Belfast, Northern
  Ireland. It will be the first formal time the
  Primates world wide will deliberate together on
  the report's recommendations.
• June 18-29, 2005     The Anglican Consultative
  Council will meet in Nottingham, England.
  Recommendations from the Primates meeting could
  be implemented at this meeting.

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In the Wake of the Report

• The report was received with varying degrees of
  approval and disapproval
• We have been urged by the members of the
  commission, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a
  number of other primates, we must proceed
  cautiously
• The Bishop has asked that we read the full report
  and not rely upon pundits or media to tell us
  what it says

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What Does This Mean To Us?

• Our Bishops are asked, as are the bishops world
  wide, to be sensitive to the Windsor Report and
  to consider their preliminary recommendations.
• Our Bishops are called to seek ways of
  reconciliation, and to heal divisions.
• Intervening provinces and dioceses across the
  Communion are called to approach the document and
  our relationships with one another with respect.
• All provinces throughout the Communion are
  expected to respond with generosity and charity
  to any such actions.

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What Does This Mean For ECUSA Bishops?

• For those Bishops who did not consent to the
  election and consecration, it means that they
  will no doubt continue to be recognized within
  the larger Anglican Communion at this time, and
  not be affected by impaired communion status.
• Bishop MacPherson of Western Louisiana, will
  convene the bishops of Province VII to address
  the Windsor Report in preparation for a meeting
  of the entire House of Bishops.
• The entire House of Bishops will assemble in Salt
  Lake City, Utah on January 12 and 13 to discuss
  the Report and prayerfully to explore the
  responsive action to be taken by the bishops in
  question.

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What Will Come Out Of This?

• This is unknown at this point.
• Though we must take seriously the reports
  recommendations.
• As the Lambeth Commission reports"There remains
  a very real danger that we will not choose to
  walk together. Should the call to halt and find
  ways of continuing in our present communion not
  be heeded, then we shall have to begin to learn
  to walk apart. We would much rather not speculate
  on actions that might need to be taken if, after
  acceptance by the primates, our recommendations
  are not implemented."

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What must we do?

• We must not be distracted by the media that
  surrounds us
• We must not allow ourselves to lose sight of the
  mission to which God has called us
• We must continue to go forward as disciples of
  the Gospel, lifting up the truth of a risen,
  living Christ
• We must continue faithfully in our ministry
  wherever the Spirit of God leads us

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The Diocese of Texas

• We are One Church
• We live in Miraculous Expectation,
• We are empowered by the Gospel of Jesus Christ
• We are called to be a diverse worshiping
  community of missionaries
• We are reaching out and transforming lives.

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Ephesians 2 13-22

• 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far
  off have been brought near by the blood of
  Christ.14 For he is our peace in his flesh he
  has made both groups into one and has broken down
  the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between
  us. 15He has abolished the law with its
  commandments and ordinances, that he might create
  in himself one new humanity in place of the two,
  thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both
  groups to God in one body through the cross, thus
  putting to death that hostility through it.

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Ephesians cont.

• 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were
  far off and peace to those who were near 18for
  through him both of us have access in one Spirit
  to the Father. 19So then you are no longer
  strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with
  the saints and also members of the household of
  God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles
  and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the
  cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is
  joined together and grows into a holy temple in
  the Lord 22in whom you also are built together
  spiritually into a dwelling place for God.