“We commend the primates for calling the Episcopal Church to an unequivocal, wholehearted repentance marked by an end to both all authorizations of same-sex blessings and all consents to the consecration of bishops in a same-sex relationship.” - Ralph Webb, IRD Director of Anglican Action
Contact: Loralei Coyle, The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, jwalton@ird-renew.org
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- The leaders of Anglican Communion provinces (called “primates”) concluded a nearly week-long meeting on Monday, February 19, with a strongly-worded communiqué that looks to the healing of the Anglican Communion and makes several requests of the Episcopal Church toward that end.
IRD Director of Anglican Action Ralph Webb said, “We at the IRD commend the primates for their long, diligent work in preparation for and during the meeting. The final communiqué was released only after much effort, and we are grateful for their perseverance in completing it.
“We commend the primates for their strong reaffirmation of the Anglican Communion’s standard of teaching on marriage: that it is a permanent union between one man and one woman, and that Christians are to be abstinent outside of marriage.
“We commend the primates for their pastoral concern for all Anglicans—including those in the United States who have either left the Episcopal Church for other Anglican jurisdictions or who remain within the denomination but find themselves at odds with either their bishop or the Episcopal Church’s presiding bishop.
“We commend the primates for calling to an end to all lawsuits over property issues.
“We commend the primates for calling the Episcopal Church to an unequivocal, wholehearted repentance marked by an end to both all authorizations of same-sex blessings and all consents to the consecration of bishops in a same-sex relationship.
“We urge the Episcopal Church to meet the requests of the primates out of a clear conscience concerned with the healing of the Anglican Communion and adhering to orthodox faith and social witness.”
The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches’ social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, thereby contributing to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad.
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