Pastoral Note, Following Convention

I sent this message by way of the e-mail distribution list of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh.

Dear Friends,

I returned home a bit earlier this afternoon from diocesan convention at St. Martin's Church, Monroeville. The 143rd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, and my 15th since being received as a priest of this diocese in the summer of 1994.

For me the "highlight" of convention was a wonderful sermon preached at the Convention Eucharist by my friend the Rev. David Wilson, priest-in-charge of St. David's Church, Bethel Park, and President of our diocesan Standing Committee. His gracious and Christ-centered words I think spoke deeply to all of us. Certainly they did to me.

I would also simply share with you that I was sitting near the front of the church, and after receiving communion, administered on "my side of the church" by old friends Mary Hays, for ten years now our diocesan Canon Missioner, and Geoff Chapman, Rector of St. Stephen's Church, Sewickley, simply rested in a prayerful meditation as I watched so many dear friends and colleagues come forward also to receive. During the singing of one of the communion hymns I heard my voice catch, and I realized that I was crying. A very tender moment, and one that was extended for a good long while. And as I looked around, I saw that there were other tears.

In any case, as you may have heard already (and will be much news in the media), with something of a sense of inevitability at this point, in a majority vote by orders (clergy and lay) our convention approved today the second reading of an amendment to our diocesan constitution intended to sever the constitutional relationship of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh to the Episcopal Church. Two objections were made to the validity of this effort prior to the vote, both of which were overruled by the Chair after consultation with the Chancellor. The actual vote was about 80% - 20% among the clergy and 65% - 35% among the laity.

Following that approval, a canon was adopted to "align" the diocese with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of South America.

Since actions of convention do not come into effect until the convention adjourns, the members of convention were invited to remain in their places, singing a hymn, after adjournment, as members of the diocesan Standing Committee held a brief meeting. They then announced that in response to their invitation Archbishop Venables, of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, had appointed Bishop Duncan as his "Commissary" or I guess we would say "deputy" for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. (While Bishop Duncan's deposition ended his ability to function in the ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church, he will now resume that ministry actively within the realigned "Southern Cone" diocese and congregations.)

The Standing Committee also announced that a special convention would be held for the Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Southern Cone on Friday, November 7, and Saturday, November 8, for the purpose of "electing a diocesan bishop" (presumably Bishop Duncan). The convention was then sent out, to lunch and home, with a dismissal sentence.

Although this convention was an incredibly sad and difficult event, it was led with dignity and restraint, and my own impression is that members on both sides of the critical question conducted themselves with grace and gentleness.

What of the future?

This we will speak about, learn about, and engage together in the coming days, months, and years. As you know, the Vestry of St. Andrew's has expressed with clarity that our parish will continue as a parish within the Episcopal Church, and will not recognize or participate in the organization of the "realigned diocese."

On leaving St. Martin's this afternoon canonically resident Pittsburgh clergy were asked to take certificates licensing them as deacons or priests of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in the Southern Cone Province, and I declined to receive the one with my name on it. As I have indicated to you, I will remain a priest of the Episcopal Church, U.S.A.

Again: much sadness, and a sense of profound loss. I personally have expressed my deep respect and love for many dear friends and colleagues who have chosen today to walk in a different direction--and my hope and prayer that in many ways the spirit of friendship and shared ministry that we have known in the past may be able to continue. But of course there will be changes, and it will be necessary to move forward to the new challenges that await us without being overly-encumbered by what lies in our past. We'll have to figure that out as we go on.

I am glad to note that those clergy, laity, and congregations of Pittsburgh intending, like us, to remain in the Episcopal Church, have prepared carefully over the past months for this possibility, and I am confident in the strength and vision of our ordained and lay leadership. I will myself do what I can to support the reorganization of our diocese, and I know St. Andrew's will have an important role to play. I will again especially highlight the good work and leadership of two St. Andreans, Mary Roehrich and Tom Moore.

I would also note that the leadership of the Episcopal Church and the Presiding Bishop have been engaged, supportive, and respectful in their work with us thus far, and they have promised their continuing support as we make the decisions locally that will reconstitute the orderly life of our diocese.

As of Monday morning there will be a new office, mailing address, and phone number for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, and the "Across the Aisle" website will soon become our official diocesan website. You may wish to click on that link and bookmark the URL for future reference. There is information on the site now that may answer many of our questions about how the reorganization will take place. An important feature, on the "front page" of the site, is a letter from the Rev. Jim Simons, Rector of St. Michael of the Valley Church in Ligonier. As a member of our diocesan Standing Committee Jim will have a key leadership role in the coming days, as the diocese begins to reorganize according to our continuing Constitution and Canons.

In conclusion, I ask for your continuing prayer and spiritual witness. That we would continue in love and prayer with old friends from around our diocese--and especially Bishops Duncan and Scriven, and their families, and the clergy and people of all our congregations: those that will be in continuing fellowship with us in the reorganized Episcopal Diocese, and those that will now come into a new and different relationship with us in the "realigned" diocese. We would pray that God will shower his blessings richly upon the lives and ministries of all these friends, and upon all of us, with forgiveness and the gift of renewal in him. And that by our words and our examples all of us might be true and holy servants of our Lord Jesus--and most especially in these difficult days ahead.

At St. Andrew's, on Sunday morning, October 5, at the 10 a.m. "Coffee and Conversation" hour, our clergy and lay deputies will share their impressions of convention, and we are all invited to attend.

Affectionately, and in Christ,

BruceR