http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/2421/
[Stand Firm] 1 Mar 2007--Clearly one of the matters that will have to be decided is whether the requests of the primates, by their very form, would call upon us to violate the polity of the Episcopal Church. We must remain clear that our Church, in an admittedly sometimes cumbersome process, makes decisions which include representation of all the baptized people of God in General Convention. Too often this seems to be misunderstood across the Anglican Communion. The House of Bishops could make some interim decisions which involve the specific responsibilities of the bishops, but a full response which would effect all the Episcopal Church would need to come from the General Convention of 2009. I would not be in favor of a special General Convention as I believe it would bad stewardship of resources and time. The problem, of course, is that the Communique has given what feels to many an ultimatum, specifically that the House of Bishops respond to the requests by September 30, 2007. It may well be that the House of Bishops may have to say something like, “Thank you. We respect your request and desire, but the polity of the Episcopal Church will not allow us to make a response until the summer of 2009.”
Will the House of Bishops use the polity card as an excuse not to take action? They can certainly go on record as committing themselves and the dioceses they lead to compliance. They can even call for a special general convention. The bishops can do a lot more than they are willing to admit.
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