”Continue in the Apostles’ Teaching and Fellowship”

24th Diocesan Convention

Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 & 18, 2006
at St. Peter & St. Paul Episcopal Church, Arlington

Resolved, this convention make provision for those Episcopalians in this diocese who wish to withdraw their membership from The Network of Anglican Dioceses and Parishes and to accede to the authority of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church; and

Be it further resolved that the Secretary of this Convention send a letter to the Network of Anglican Dioceses and Parishes, copying the Executive Council, removing from Network membership the parishes, missions, clergy and laypeople who request it, those parishes, missions, clergy and laypeople having notified the Secretary by February 15, 2007; and

Be it further resolved that the Secretary of this Convention send a letter to the Executive Council, with the list of those who accede to the authority of General Convention, those parishes, missions, clergy and laypeople having notified the Secretary by February 15, 2007; and

Be it further resolved, that the procedure for notification of desire to leave the Network and to accede to the authority of General Convention be outlined in the next issue of the Forward and in all parish and mission newsletters; and

Be it further resolved, that vestries and bishops committees consider these matters between this Convention and February 15, 2007.

EXPLANATION

Some parishes, missions, clergy and lay people do not wish to be members of The Network of Anglican Dioceses and Parishes. Some parishes, missions, clergy and laypeople do not agree with Bishop Jack L. Iker and the Standing Committee that The Episcopal Church has chosen to "walk apart" from the Anglican Communion. They do not agree with actions of Bishop Iker and the diocesan leadership that work to distance our diocese from the national Church: disassociating themselves from actions of General Convention; making all Episcopalians in the diocese members of The Network for Anglican Dioceses and Parishes; seeking Alternate Primatial Oversight, and proposing to withdraw from Province VII of the Episcopal Church. Even though we disagree on these issues, we believe it is possible to live together in love while working continuously for the reconciliation to which we are called by Jesus Christ.