To the faithful People of
the Church in the Diocese of Dallas:
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord
Jesus Christ.
We, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Dallas, have met
and reviewed the actions of the 75th General Convention just
concluded.
This General Convention of the Episcopal Church has not, in our
view, answered the Windsor Report recommendations with
sufficient clarity or resolve to maintain the bonds of affection
that hold the Anglican Communion together.
In addition, the General Convention elected to the office of
Presiding Bishop one who gave consent to the consecration of the
Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, and who has actually authorized
the blessing of sexual relationships outside the bonds of
marriage within her Diocese. These are the very sorts of actions
which provoked the present crisis in the Communion. She has also
called resolution B033, which calls for restraint in consenting
to the consecration of bishops whose manner of life may be
problematic for the rest of the Communion, a matter of policy
which can be reversed or revised very soon.
Further, the clear teaching of Scripture regarding marriage,
human sexuality, God's redemptive work in Christ, and the
ministry of this Church, among others, has been further eroded
by the actions and resolutions of this General Convention. We
hold, and the Canons, Constitution and Customary of our diocese
manifest, our commitment to the received historic and biblical
faith and teaching of Christ’s Church.
The Diocese of Dallas has historically made clear where it
stands in relation to the pressing issues before the Episcopal
Church and the Anglican Communion:
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We are committed to the
Apostles’ teaching and fellowship and the power of Jesus
Christ to transform lives;
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We are committed to
Lambeth Resolution I.10 of 1998 as the agreed teaching of
the Anglican Communion on sexuality;
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We are committed to the
Anglican Communion Network; and
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We are committed and
submitted to the Windsor Report.
We, the Standing Committee, declare our support of and
commitment to the vision and way toward an Anglican Covenant set
forth by the Archbishop of Canterbury. We call upon the Bishop
to provide the next Diocesan Convention with a thorough
explanation of the Archbishop’s plan. However, we believe that
the lengthy timetable for the realization of such a covenant
might well make it ineffectual.
We believe the mission of this Diocese, as well as the spiritual
health and growth of its congregations, are both compromised and
jeopardized by association with leaders and institutions that,
by their words and actions, have confused, changed or
contradicted the Apostles’ teaching. Therefore we call upon the
Bishop to disassociate the work of this Diocese from these
actions and leadership.
The consequence of the actions of this General Convention are to
lead the Episcopal Church to walk apart from the rest of the
Anglican Communion and to make necessary a disengagement of
those dioceses and congregations which affirm its actions from
those who cannot and will not.
To this end, we call upon the Bishop to appeal to the Archbishop
of Canterbury for a direct primatial relationship with him for
the purpose of mission, pastoral support and accountability.
Further, we ask the Bishop, in concert with all who support the
Windsor Process, to lead the diocese in vigilantly pursuing:
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protection of
congregations, clergy and assets of the faithful who are
resident in those dioceses of the Episcopal Church which
oppose, in action or precept, Lambeth Resolution I.10 of
1998;
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effective and adequate
episcopal oversight to those same congregations and clergy,
and as defined by them, on a long-term basis;
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an appropriate
realignment or, if it becomes necessary, an “ordered and
mutually respectful separation” of congregations and
dioceses who desire to “opt-in” to the Anglican Covenant,
proposed by the Windsor Report and the Archbishop of
Canterbury himself, as distinct from those portions of the
Episcopal Church which do not desire to do so.
Moreover, we call upon our
brothers and sisters with whom we are partners in ministry to:
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be diligent in daily
prayer and study of Scripture;
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teach and preach the
Word of God with increased diligence and discipline;
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be diligent in teaching
the Christian virtues of chastity and sexual purity;
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instruct youth and
adults, committed to your charge, in the faith once
delivered to the saints, and in our Anglican polity,
doctrine, discipline, and worship.
We ask for your continued prayer for our common mission in the
diocese, trusting in our Father’s provision, our Savior’s love,
and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
The Rev’d Henry L. Pendergrass
Rector, St Nicholas’ Church, Flower Mound
The Rev’d Canon David H. Roseberry
Rector, Christ Church, Plano
The Rev’d Dwight D. Duncan, SSC
Rector, St Matthias’ Church, Dallas
Charles A. Hinton, Jr
Trinity NE Texas, Mount Pleasant
Robert R. Gerber
Holy Nativity Church, Plano
Cheryl M. Wetzel
Good Shepherd, Cedar Hill