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.