ACN CONVOCATION DEANS CONDEMN BISHOP'S RESPONSE TO TWO FLEEING PARISHES

ACN CONVOCATION DEANS COMMENT ON TWO CALIFORNIA CHURCHES' DISASSOCIATION FROM THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

By John Guernsey & Cynthia P. Brust

As Convocation Deans for the Anglican Communion Network (ACN), we are strongly supportive of St. James' and All Saints' Anglican Churches who have disassociated from the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA). While the ACN operates under the Constitution of ECUSA, our goal is to unify faithful Anglicans in the US, and we offer non-ECUSA congregations "partner status".

These are faithful, orthodox parishes that have consistently upheld the authority of Scripture and have attempted to foster Biblical reconciliation with their diocese and bishop. Their decision to withdraw from ECUSA is further evidence of the doctrinal crisis fracturing the Episcopal Church.

In coming under the jurisdictional oversight of the Diocese of Luwero, Anglican Province of Uganda, St. James' and All Saints' have found safe harbor.

We deeply regret the aggressive response of Bishop Bruno and his attempted inhibition from priestly duties as well as his threat to depose clergy no longer under his authority. During this season of realignment, we call upon each individual and congregation to seek the Lord Jesus Christ and to obediently follow His direction.

Like St. James' and All Saints', some churches will choose to disassociate from ECUSA while others will remain. We exhort faithful Anglicans to support one another whether in or out of ECUSA, recognizing that we are one family as members of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

We offer our prayerful support to the clergy and parishioners of St. James' and All Saints' Anglican Churches and look forward to continued ministry with our colleague, the Rev. William Thompson, rector of All Saint', Long Beach and Dean of the Western Convocation.

The Rev. John Guernsey, Mid-Atlantic Convocation

The Rev. James McCaslin, Southeast Convocation

The Ron McCrary, Mid-Continental Convocation

The Rev. William Thompson, Western Convocation

The Rev. William Murdoch, New England Convocation

The Rev. David Moyer, Forward in Faith North America Convocation