FRANK GRISWOLD WRITES TO THE BISHOPS AND THE CHURCH

January 22, 2004

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has issued a comprehensive letter addressing the state of the Episcopal Church following recent controversies.

In his message to the House of Bishops and the wider church, Griswold expressed gratitude for how bishops and clergy are helping their dioceses navigate these challenging times with grace, regardless of individual perspectives.

Griswold emphasized that despite internal difficulties, the church remains focused on mission—"the restoration of all people to unity with God and one another in Christ." He noted that General Convention devoted significant attention to reaching beyond the church's walls, with the current budget reflecting this outward commitment.

Acknowledging divergent views on scriptural interpretation and the work of the Holy Spirit, Griswold stated: "There is no neutral reading of scripture, and we interpret various passages differently while seeking to be faithful to the mind of Christ. People of genuine faith can and do differ in their understandings of what we agree is the 'Word of God.'"

The Presiding Bishop addressed tensions arising from different expectations of what the church should be versus what it might become. These differences were dramatically exposed at General Convention last summer when consent was given to ordain as bishop a man in a committed same-sex relationship.

Griswold highlighted the Anglican tradition's distinctive ability to accommodate difference within common prayer: "Our differences are reconciled not by our cleverness or ability to compromise but through our common adherence to the risen Christ who meets us in word and sacrament."

He spoke of what he calls "the diverse center"—people across theological perspectives who share commitment to one another as members of Christ's body and can live with tension, seeing it as potentially creative rather than threatening.

The Presiding Bishop concluded by noting that the church's renewed commitment to mission and its difficult season of living with differences are both connected to faithfully proclaiming the Gospel. He assured readers of his prayers and requested theirs in return.