VirtueOnline obtained the letters from "Concerned Lay Episcopalians Who Want Their Church to Remain Faithful to Orthodox Christianity."

The questionnaire asks three questions of the bishops.

Question 1: If you were to vote today in SECRET balloting on whether you NOW would prefer that General Convention 2003 had or had not approved a measure supporting consecration of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson, how would you vote?

Question 2: If you were to vote today in SECRET balloting on whether you NOW would prefer that General Convention 2003 had or had not allowed Episcopal Church measures permitting procedures for priests to bless or officially recognize same-sex domestic partners, how would you vote?

Question 3: Is your desire to remain personally in the Anglican Communion stronger than your desire for solidarity within ECUSA, whether or not ECUSA is in the communion?

The questionnaire requested a response before March 15 where the raw data would be personally reviewed within 15 business days after the questionnaire period.

Lord Carey commended the group for their efforts and wrote a letter saying he commended this initiative of concerned Lay Episcopalians who wish their church to remain faithful to Orthodox Christianity. "I am confident they will handle all matters with due regard for the truth," he wrote.

In their memorandum to the House of Bishops, the lay orthodox group made it clear that they were not in any way affiliated with any other Episcopal or Anglican organization, other than a parish church in ECUSA. "There is no cross-leadership, governance or affiliation with Integrity, the American Anglican Council, The Anglican Communion Network, Anglicans United, Via Media, or other Episcopal group or advocacy organization."

"The objective in this work is bringing and holding together as many Episcopalians as possible in a single, diverse, inclusive province of the Anglican Communion. Personal conversations, studies of bishops' statements and knowledge of deep collegiality and institutional cooperation among the Bishops have led some Episcopalians to wonder whether new, confidential expressions of opinion by the Bishops might reflect different consensus than those recorded at General Convention 2003 and later voting occasions.

"It is believed that the House of Bishops, its members and others may benefit from having such independent survey information which may assist reconciliation efforts. Within 15 days after prompt tabulation, a preferential courtesy mailing of all new data and compilation of survey results will be made to all members of the House of Bishops.

The memo concludes with the following:

GUARANTEED ANONYMITY - The sponsor assures you that neither the questionnaire nor return envelope is marked or otherwise keyed to identify any participant. Further, to assure that postmarks cannot be used to associate with returned questionnaires, return envelopes will be opened exclusively by an attorney-trustee of a non-profit foundation and the envelope shredded by the attorney IMMEDIATELY and without inspection by any person. The sponsor promises highest ethical standards in all aspects of this research. The sponsor is well aware of and will abide by all laws which prohibit misrepresentation or fraud by mail or other means.

The Memo concludes:

Thank you

END