ACTIVITIES FOLLOWING THE 2003 GENERAL CONVENTION

	Repudiated the majority decision by the representatives at the 2003 General Convention to confirm Gene Robinson, a non-celibate homosexual as bishop. They also repudiated the decision to introduce a local option in the blessing of same-sex relationships.
	Proclaimed "God's transforming power for everyone seeking sexual purity and wholeness." This presumably means that God will empower those with a homosexual orientation to remain celibate.
	Committed to withhold donations to "those structures that support the unrighteous actions of the General convention."
	Appealed to the Primates of the worldwide Anglican Communion to: "Discipline those bishops in the Episcopal Church who, by their actions, have departed from biblical faith and order; Guide the realignment of Anglicanism in North America; Encourage orthodox bishops as they extend episcopal oversight, pastoral care, and apostolic mission across current diocesan boundaries; and Support isolated and beleaguered congregations and individuals in their life and witness as faithful Anglican Christians."

It is unclear how the Primates can discipline bishops in the Episcopal Church. The organization of the Anglican Communion has no provision for that. The reference to extending "eipscopal oversight" apparently implies that conservative Bishops will attempt to impose their authority over members in adjacent liberal dioceses. This is an interesting concept: to have one diocese ruled by two bishops. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this has been proposed in the past 18 centuries of Christian history. Their reference to "isolated and beleaguered congregations and individuals" appears to be a recognition that they represent a small conservative minority within the Episcopal Church.

	The confirmation of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, and
	The vote by the diocese of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada to allow the blessing of same-sex unions.

Some comments:

	Archbishop Michael Peers, primate of Canada, said: "We are still in communion but there are dark, dark clouds on the horizon, particularly around the consecration of the bishop of New Hampshire."
	Rev. Frank Griswold, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA, said: "I stand fully behind the careful process used by the diocese of New Hampshire to discern who it wishes to have as its next bishop....different points of view can be held...without the issue of sexuality becoming church dividing."
	Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, said that the Communion had grown closer as a result of the meeting which produced "no winners of losers." He also commented: "Undoubtedly there is a huge crisis looming....I think what we have achieved this week, though, is at least to find some way of talking through the crisis without instantly jumping into what appear to be quick solutions....When and if the ordination of Canon Robinson goes ahead in the U.S., we shall immediately have some responses from around the world, I am sure. But what we have done is to give ourselves a sort of 12 month-plus thinking time, inviting provinces to reflect on their reactions and also having a central commission in the Anglican church which will look at the possible implications of a split because there are constitutional, legal questions for all the churches involved." He expressed concern for the effect that the North American decisions will have on Anglican churches in the Middle East, etc. He said: "Minority churches which exist in places like Pakistan and elsewhere depend quite a lot for their status and their public voice on being associated with a ... worldwide body. When parts of that worldwide body make decision which may be thought to commit or involve those small local churches, they can be placed in appallingly difficult positions."
	Rev. Colin Coward of Britain's pro-gay group Changing Attitudes said: "The dream of a church that was open and welcoming to gay and lesbian people was realistically never ever going to happen. The relief is that for the moment the communion stays together because that means the conversations can continue, that is certainly good news."
	Archbishop Gregory Venables, leader of the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone of America, representing the church in Latin America predicted: "There will be a split, because there is no option."
	Canadian Bishop Michael Ingham acknowledged the pain caused by the decision of his diocese of New Westminster. He said: "We would say as well for our part that the act of rejecting and discriminating against homosexual people around the world causes pain and distress around the world too. Nobody has a monopoly on pain." 7,8