News for Week Ending 2/1/2010

Conservative primate resigns from Standing Committee

The primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & the Middle East (and bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Egypt) Mouneer H. Anis has announced his resignation from what has lately been called the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion (formerly the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council). In his five-page explanation of this action, dated January 30, 2010, Anis, who stressed his faithful attendance of Standing Committee meetings, declared that his participation “has no value whatsoever” and that his voice “is like a useless cry in the wilderness.”

Anis’ seems most unhappy with the failure of the Anglican Communion to discipline The Episcopal Church, but his letter contains additional complaints and observations. Episcopal News Service has a story describing his letter and providing background information.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams issued a brief statement of regret in response to the Anis announcement.

CoE/ACNA resolution amendment announced

As reported by Pittsburgh Update here, next week’s Church of England General Synod is to consider a resolution asserting the desirability of the CoE’s being in communion with Archbishop Robert Duncan’s Anglican Church in North America. According to Thinking Anglicans, Bishop Mike Hill will introduce an amendment to the resolution that acknowledges that ACNA wishes to remain in the Anglican Communion and that this raises issues that “relevant authorities” need to explore.

ENS launches new publication

Episcopal News Service announced the mailing of the first issue of Episcopal News Monthly January 27, 2010. The publication replaces the 20-year-old Episcopal Life. The new publication, like its predecessor, is being mailed to Episcopalians in many Episcopal dioceses. (The undivided Diocese of Pittsburgh sent its own publication, Trinity, to Pittsburgh Episcopalians. The reorganized Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has not yet established its own print publication.) Two new church magazines from ENS, Episcopal News Quarterly and Quarterly Magazine will debut later this year.

Former Pittsburgh priest named Kentucky bishop candidate

On January 21, 2010, the Diocese of Kentucky announced its slate of four candidates to succeed Bishop Edwin F. “Ted” Gulick Jr., who intends to retire in August. One of the candidates for his post is the Very Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, dean of Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix. Knisely served as rector of St. Barnabas’, Brackenridge, from 1993–1998. Biographical information on all the episcopal candidates can be found here.

Liberal bishop announces retirement

At the annual convention of the Diocese of Washington, Bishop John Bryson Chane, 65, announced his intention to retire. According to a press release from the diocese, Chane believes it is “time to elect a younger person” to lead the influential diocese. Chane has been a strong defender of The Episcopal Church and an advocate for the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the church. Chane predicted that his successor could be elected in May or June 2011. The Washington Times covered Chane’s announcement here, calling his episcopate “lackluster.”

Judge orders property transferred to Episcopal Diocese

On January 29, 2010, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas judge Joseph M. James gave Archbishop Robert Duncan and his diocese 20 days to turn over to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh financial records and other material needed to “hold and administer” diocesan property properly belonging to the Episcopal Church diocese. The judge’s order implements the October 2009 determination by the court that the Episcopal diocese is the proper custodian of property held by the diocese before the 2008 vote of the diocesan convention to leave The Episcopal Church. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) The court order includes a list of assets to be given over to the Episcopal diocese, including cash, cash equivalents, liturgical furnishings, and real estate. The list of real property includes Sheldon Calvary Camp, the Donegal property, Old St. Luke’s, and more than 25 churches being used by the Anglican diocese. The Anglican diocese announced in November that it intended to appeal the court’s decision. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.)

The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh issued a statement here. Nothing has yet appeared on the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh site.