Ramifications of ECUSA's Actions

http://www.americananglican.org/News

January 30, 2004

These are some of the ramifications that have been reported as of the end of December 2003. The fallout is expected to continue in 2004.

Ecumenical

1. The following Churches have postponed or suspended dialogue with the Episcopal and/or Anglican Church:

• Roman Catholic Church
• Russian Orthodox Church
• Coptic Orthodox Church
• Syrian Orthodox Church
• Armenian Orthodox Church

2. Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox have expressed solidarity with orthodox Episcopalians, as have the worldwide leaders of the Anglican Communion. The Russian Orthodox Church specifically expressed a desire to “maintain contacts and cooperation with those members of the Episcopal Church in the USA who clearly declared their loyalty to the moral teaching of the Holy Gospel and the Ancient Undivided Church.”

3. Interfaith Dialogue Meeting Between the Anglican Communion and Al Azhar Al Sharif, one of the most authoritative centers of the Islamic World, was cancelled because of Muslim outrage over the consecration.

International Anglican Communion

1. Nine provinces within the Anglican Communion (representing over 38 million Anglicans – a majority), have announced they are in some form of impaired or broken communion with ECUSA:

• South East Asia
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• Uganda
• Tanzania
• Rwanda
• Central Africa
• Congo
• Southern Cone (South America)
• Zambia (diocese)

Within ECUSA

1. The new Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes has been formally launched. It was formed at the suggestion of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Organizing Convocation was held January 19-20, 2004, in Plano, TX. Twelve Episcopal dioceses sent representatives to the Convocation.
2. Broad-based harassment, persecution and intimidation tactics used against orthodox clergy and laity and parishes by revisionist bishops, dioceses and/or churches.
3. Some dioceses have repudiated the consecration of Robinson and refused to recognize him as a bishop.
4. There has been widespread redirection of funds away from dioceses and the national church.
5. Some Episcopalians have already left the church and many others are still trying to determine what to do.