The Executive Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth voted on Wednesday, Jan. 21, to concur with the previous decision of the Standing Committee to join the newly formed Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes and officially ratified and adopted the Charter for the Network.

The Network, which shall operate in good faith within the Constitution of the Episcopal Church, seeks to uphold and propagate the historic Faith and Order of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church under the ultimate authority of the Holy Scriptures. The highest priority of the Network is “to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in unity with the See of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion.” To date, 13 Primates of the Anglican Communion have officially recognized the Network and stated that they are in full communion with its members.

The concept of forming the Network first developed when 13 Episcopal dioceses found it necessary to oppose two decisions of the General Convention in August 2003: the approval of the consecration of a declared and sexually active homosexual as a bishop and the tacit approval given to the blessing of same-sex unions. These actions were in violation of the instruments of Anglican unity and are contrary to the declarations of the Anglican Communion made by the Lambeth Conference in 1998, which were thereafter reaffirmed by the Primates’ Meeting of October 2003.