The Episcopal Church Executive Council has decided to “voluntarily withdraw” its official participants from a June global steering committee meeting of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
A statement, sent to Anglican leaders, was issued April 13 at the close of a special session of the council in Mundelein, Ill. It came after primates, or chief bishops, of the worldwide communion asked in February that the Episcopal Church voluntarily decline to participate in the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) until 2008.
After facing international criticism for the election of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire, the Episcopal bishops in March placed a self-imposed moratorium on the election of any new bishops until mid-2006. At the same time, they agreed not to bless same-sex unions at least until the church gathers next year for its general convention.
The Executive Council called the issue of participating in the June consultation in Nottingham, England, “a weighty matter,” given their concern about unity. Even though Episcopalians will not be official participants, they will still attend the meeting “to be available for conversation and consultation.”
The Episcopal representatives are expected to officially rejoin the gatherings when the 77 million-member Anglican Communion holds its once-a-decade meeting in England in 2008.
(RNS)
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