REC PRESIDING BISHOP ACCEPTS HOTCHKISS RESIGNATION

Special Report

By David W. Virtue

TO THE BISHOPS AND STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CHURCH

Dear Brethren:

It is with great heaviness of heart and deep personal distress that I write to provide you with the following information. Under date of November 30, 2003, I have received a letter from Gregory K.  Hotchkiss in which he officially vacates his episcopal office and renounces his ministerial orders in the Reformed Episcopal Church. In his correspondence he cites changes in his moral and theological understanding which have resulted in a growing distance between himself and the Reformed Episcopal Church. In particular he makes reference to the official statements issued by the bishops of the Reformed Episcopal Church in response to the 2003 General Convention of the Episcopal Church and in response to their consecration of a practicing homosexual to the episcopate. He affirms his disagreement with our church’s stated position, and states that he can no longer continue in good conscience as an ordained clergyman in this denomination.

Accordingly, in conformity with Canon 31, Section 1 (d) of the Canons of the Reformed Episcopal Church, I have accepted his voluntary renunciation of all

gifts, authorities, prerogatives and duties which were conferred upon him at

the time of his ordination and consecration. As a consequence, he is no longer a

minister of the Gospel, or a bishop in the church of God. I commend him and

his family to your intercessory prayers.

May God enable us to see beyond the distress and disappointment of these

events to the good purpose for which He has called us to Himself in Christ Jesus,

and which He is working out among us from day to day. And may we dedicate

ourselves anew to the unchanging truth of His eternal Word, to the imperative of

uncompromising Gospel witness, and to the privilege of working together to

build this portion of His Kingdom as that opportunity has been entrusted to us in

this promising day and time.

Faithfully yours, in Christ,

(The Most Rev.) Leonard W. Riches

Presiding Bishop

SC STANDING COMMITTEE URGES BISHOP SALMON TO DROP LAWSUIT

Report from the President of the Standing Committee Regarding All Saints Parish

January 09, 2004

Following the actions in December 2003 of the Vestry of All Saints Parish, Waccamaw, to change their Corporate Charter, to leave the Diocese of South Carolina, and the Episcopal Church, the Standing Committee met with the members of that vestry.  We met in the hope of reaching a positive resolution, and in an effort to avoid the actions that ultimately took place at the January 8, 2004 meeting of the Parish.

As evidenced by the resolutions passed at the Special Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina held in October of 2003, the Diocese, including the members of All Saints, are deeply concerned about the crisis in the Episcopal Church.  We strongly believe that our working together is the best witness in this struggle.

At our meeting on January 5th, the Standing Committee, in an effort to find common ground made the following proposal:

1.) Recommend to the Bishop he consider dropping the appeal to the lawsuit filed by All Saints against the Diocese.

2.) Recommend that seat, voice and vote be given to All Saints at the upcoming Diocesan Convention.

3.)  Recommend the reinstatement of the Vestry

4.)  Recommend the restoration of Parish Status

5.)  Recommend the scheduled meeting with a replacement vestry be cancelled.

We asked the Vestry simply to a) rescind their vote and to b) put on hold the proposed Parish vote on the resolutions altering their Charter and severing their relationship with the Diocese until at least January of 2005.

Following that meeting, we shared our proposal with Bishop Salmon, who immediately acted on our request by canceling the scheduled meeting with the replacement vestry.  In light of the fact that the appeal of the lawsuit has already been heard, and the ruling from the court is still pending, the Bishops discernment was to wait for the courts ruling.  However, the Bishop was more than willing to engage in all manner of discussions regarding the use, and ownership of the Church property.  In addition, Bishop Salmon was willing to reinstate the vestry and restore All Saints to Parish status. He also supported the Standing Committees recommendation that All Saints be given seat, voice and vote ad the upcoming Convention.

Our efforts included the support of the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, and Moderator of the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes; as well as the overwhelming majority of the clergy of the Diocese, who urged All Saints not to take this action. Sadly, despite the efforts on the part of the Standing Committee and the willingness of the Bishop to find some common ground, the vestry of All Saints was unwilling to rescind their vote, or to delay the Parish meeting so as to avoid the tear in the fabric of our Diocesan Common life. We recognize this is a difficult time for all faithful Orthodox Anglicans. We continue to offer our love and prayers for the members of All Saints Parish, whom we know to be our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Craige N. Borrett,

President

The Standing Committee

END