House of Bishops Begins Discussion of Primates' Communiqué

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=3143

[The Living Church] 20 Mar 2007--The primates’ Feb. 19 communiqué and its Sept. 30 deadline for a response from the House of Bishops have been topics of discussion from the outset of the House of Bishops’ March 16-21 meeting at the Camp Allen Conference Center near Houston. This is the first time the bishops have gathered since Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was elected during General Convention last June.

The communiqué was also addressed by Bishop Jefferts Schori in plenary during a question-and-answer session on the primates’ meeting. While no response to the communiqué is planned for this meeting, sources present told The Living Church a number of bishops believe the request is improper. Several bishops have argued that the primates do not have the authority to dictate a specific course of action, nor can the bishops bind The Episcopal Church to its recommendations. Objections have also been raised to the use of 1998 Lambeth resolution 1.10 on human sexuality being made a benchmark for the Communion.

The strength of the opinions offered in opposition to the Dar es Salaam communiqué do not necessarily mean that its rejection is certain, one bishop told TLC. This first meeting allows for a “venting” of opinion, he stated.