Stand Firm

A statement from Bishop Dobbs, Dean of the Province on the joint Communion service involving Bishop Edgar of the ACNA and Ruth Woodliff-Stanley of the Episcopal Church: Brothers and Sisters in Christ, A situation has arisen in our Province that has given great offense to many who worship in our churches. I want to address this and be plain about the position of the Anglican Church in North America. At issue is the recent participation of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, ACNA, with a bishop of The Episcopal Church in a joint dedication of a local school chapel. Many within our Province have been shocked by what appears to be renewed communion with The Episcopal Church, while others are confused by the controversy. As such, I want to reaffirm the position of the Anglican Church in North America and renew the biblical call to repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is now nearly two decades since many of us separated from The Episcopal Church, whose leadership abandoned the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Departing from those with whom we worshiped and served was costly to our parishes and to our souls. It remains painful for many of us. It was, however, the right thing to do. Just as our Lord is faithful to His children, He calls us to be faithful to His Word. That is unequivocal. The Global Anglican Council has called those who hold leadership office in the Global Anglican Communion to a principled disengagement from any who promote false teaching. That same principle governs our relations here in North America with those who have departed from the faith we have received through the Word of God and expressed in the formularies of our Church. The Anglican Church in North America is not in communion with The Episcopal Church, and those who hold ecclesiastical authority in our Province bear a solemn responsibility to uphold this position. Let it be clearly understood that principled disengagement does not mean indifference. Our position has always been to pray for those who have departed from the faith and to call them to repentance. We continue to plead with the Lord that He would grant them a change of heart and restore them to the faith. It is because we long for that day that we speak plainly. Until it comes, however, we cannot be in communion with those who have distorted God’s Word. The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina has communicated with his diocese regarding his original intentions in participating in the dedication and the resulting controversy. Next month, as part of the scheduled College of Bishops meeting, I will lay the seriousness of this situation before the bishops and ask them to consider with me what faithfulness to our Lord and the faith we have received requires of those who have been entrusted with ecclesiastical authority. In the interim, please kneel with me before God’s throne of grace to pray for the renewed faithfulness of His Church. In Christ alone, The Rt. Rev. Julian M. Dobbs