News for Week Ending 10/24/2011

Australian diocese votes against Covenant adoption

According to Comprehensive Unity: The No Anglican Covenant Blog, the synod of the Diocese of Newcastle in the Anglican Church of Australia has voted by a large majority that the church should not adopt the Anglican Covenant. (The diocese is in New South Wales.) Dioceses are to offer their views on the Covenant by December 2012. The Australian General Synod will take up the adoption question in 2013.

California disapproves Covenant

On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, the Episcopal Diocese of California adopted a strongly anti-Covenant resolution on October 22, 2011. The entire resolution can be read on The Lead. Here is a sample paragraph:

We cannot accept an Anglican Covenant that seeks to replace our democratic decision making process with a process that allows foreign bishops to extend their jurisdiction into the Episcopal Church as well as other provinces around the world.

Resolution to say Episcopal Church cannot accept Covenant as written

Episcopal News Service reported October 24, 2011, that Executive Council will offer a resolution at the 2012 General Convention that will say that the church is “unable to adopt the Anglican Covenant in its present form.” The resolution is designed to avoid the suggestion that the Communion itself is being rejected. More details can be found in the ENS story. The report from the D020 Task Force, which includes the resolution, can be found here.

Church continues support of San Joaquin

At its Salt Lake City meeting, Executive Council agreed to continue its support of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin in its rebuilding efforts. Executive Council agreed to lend the diocese $285,000 for 2012 operating expenses. Council also gave the diocese a $40,000 grant for Hispanic ministry. Details can be read in the story from Episcopal News Service. (A message from Executive Council describing its work during its October 21–24, 2011, meeting can be read here.)

Fort Worth gets order to protect property

On October 20, 2011, the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth finally got an order from the court protecting diocesan property and requiring the breakaway defendants to post a $100,000 bond to proceed with their appeal of the decision granting property to the Episcopal Church diocese. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) Details can be read on the diocese’s Web site here. The order can be found here.

Duncan appeal rejected

On October 17, 2011, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the defendants in the Calvary lawsuit (former Bishop of Pittsburgh Robert Duncan, et al.) their request to appeal to the high court. This leaves in place the decision of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County awarding diocesan property to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. The order of the court can be read here. The response from the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh can be read here.