News for Week Ending 8/13/2012

Global South letter to Crown Nominations Commission available

In an earlier story, we noted that The Lead published the text of a letter from Global South primates to the Crown Nominations Commission, which is responsible for identifying the next Archbishop of Canterbury. A PDF version of the letter, dated July 20, 2012, is now on the Web, complete will all signatures. (The Lead indicated that one signature was missing on the copy of the letter that it had obtained.)

Forward in Faith calls for moratorium on ordaining women

Forward in Faith North America (FIFNA), the Anglo-Catholic organization described as a partner of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), held its 2012 Assembly in Belleville, Illinois, July 11–13. Among the resolutions passed at the gathering was one calling on ACNA College of Bishops to initiate a moratorium on the ordination of women “until a comprehensive theological inquiry is undertaken and completed on the question of the ordination of women as it relates to the wider question of the nature of faith and order of the church (ecclesiology).” The groups that formed ACNA hold differing positions on the ordination of women, but ACNA has agreed to consecrate no women bishops. A summary of the FIFNA Assembly can be found here. Resolutions adopted at the Assembly can be found here.

AMiA chaos strikes Pawleys Island church

The ongoing disintegration of the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) has now disrupted the AMiA’s flagship parish, All Saints, Pawleys Island. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) VirtueOnline reported August 10, 2012, that the vestry of the church is split over whether the Rev. Rob Grafe, rector of All Saints, should stay or go. Last month, Grafe sent out a letter, apparently without consulting the vestry, suggesting that All Saints should join the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The vestry, however, is divided on the matter. See the VirtueOnline story for additional details.

General Convention Summary published

Episcopal News Service announced August 10, 2012, that a summary is now available of all the actions taken by the 77th General Convention. The document also includes other information about the General Convention. “A Summary of the Actions of the 77th General Convention,” as well as the Episcopal Church budget for 2013–2015 can be found here.

Groton church being returned to Connecticut diocese

After years of legal battles to retain the parish property, the congregation of the Bishop Seabury Church of Groton, Connecticut, a congregation that left The Episcopal Church for the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), held its final service in the Groton building August 6, 2012. The congregation is returning the property to the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut after its final appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) Episcopal News Service covered the story here. A press release from the diocese is here. The Web site of Bishop Seabury Anglican Church is here.

Connecticut to allow same-sex blessings/officiating at civil marriages

The three bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut issued a letter to diocesan clergy August 3, 2012, granting permission to use the recently approved liturgy “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” in the diocese. Additionally, clergy have been given permission to officiate at civil marriages of same-sex couples. Episcopal News Service reported this story August 6. The ENS story includes the text of the bishops’ letter.