ANGLICANS UNITED CONDEMNS HOB DEPO PLAN AS SERIOUSLY FLAWED

By Todd H. Wetzel

One week ago, I challenged ECUSA’s House of Bishops to commit to a plan for Adequate Episcopal Oversight showing compassion for those who disagreed with GC 2003.

Their March 24 procedure is seriously flawed. It grants sole decision-making power to the diocesan bishop—not to the aggrieved.

That, by definition, is not adequate oversight. The Archbishop of Canterbury made clear: the aggrieved party has the right to determine what constitutes adequate oversight—not the adjudicating bishop.

This report shows no sign the House of Bishops will even read, let alone heed, the Eames Commission report or the Primates’ October 2004 decision.

The crisis deepens. The meeting points squarely to the necessity of intervention by the Anglican Communion—because ECUSA is past self-healing. It lacks both the resources and the will.

This institution, long claiming to champion the oppressed, finds not a shred of compassion for those marginalized by its own decisions.

The House of Bishops’ stubborn refusal to consider they may be in error has brought this church to crisis. They were warned repeatedly by global leaders: blessing homosexuality would do immeasurable harm—and still, they proceeded.

Why is it so hard for ECUSA’s power structure to acknowledge the rights of dissenters? The only hope of avoiding ecclesiastical war is for moderates in the House to find courage and act. This report offers little hope.

We must wait for the October decision of the Eames Commission and the next Primates’ Meeting. Only then will the orthodox in ECUSA know if there is any hope for this sinking ship.

The Rev. Todd H. Wetzel is Executive Director of Anglicans United & Latimer Press.