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Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Episcopal Church House - Mount St. Alban - Washington, DC 20016-5094
STATEMENT OF
THE RT. REV. JOHN B. CHANE, BISHOP OF WASHINGTON
ON THE AGREEMENT WITH ST. JOHN'S PARISH
ACCOKEEK, MARYLAND
FATHER, MAY THEY ALL BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE
There has rarely, if ever, been a time in the life of Christianity when conflict has not been a part of
the Christian community. Conflict for the sake of conflict is a bad thing, but conflict arising from
issues of the Christian faith and life and the meaning of Christ's teaching has always been followed
by significant gain in the church's outreach and ministry. Historically, one of the great gifts of the
Anglican Communion has been its ability to acknowledge the existence of conflict over substantive
issues. The willingness to recognize the creative tension inherent in conflict has been among the
unique qualities of Anglicanism as a denomination within Christendom and has allowed it to balance
dissonance with respectful disagreement.
Within the last decade, because of many factors, we who live into a relationship with Jesus through
the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church have found such balanced dissonance
hard to comprehend and accept without self- righteous indignation. We have not always been
respectful of one another, and we have not listened well to one another. The failure to respect
differences of perspective that are held in good faith too often has led to the threat of schism, the
fracturing of relationships, the demonizing of those who disagree with a given point of view, and the
idolatrous confessing of other people's sins rather than our own.
However, the Anglican way and the very nature of Christ's Gospel call us to oneness of body and
spirit. No two parts of the body are alike, yet through the mystery of the Holy Spirit all parts are
called into the unity of one body, one Christ and one Church. If we are to be true to the Gospel we
proclaim, the time for respect, listening, and healing must begin now.
The relationship between Christ Church, Accokeek and the Diocese of Washington has now moved
to a place where we share the desire to seek unity while respecting our differences. We believe that
such unity is possible. We have come to understand that, although we disagree on some
interpretations of scripture, tradition, reason, and the role of the Church in culture, we are both in
fact parts of one Body in Christ. With that understanding, we now present to one another and to the
larger church our desire to live together as fellow Christians and Episcopalians, connected through
the Diocese of Washington.
This decision has not come without great difficulty for both parties. Some wounds have healed, yet
scars remain. Other wounds are still open. Yet we believe that, through the power of Jesus Christ,
all things are possible and ultimately healing will occur.
In order for both Christ Church and the Diocese of Washington to move forward, we have placed
ourselves in the reconciling hands of God, who through Christ Jesus reminds us that forgiveness
rests with us while judgment rests with God alone. Trust lies at the root of our next steps together --
trust amplified by respect for one another even in great disagreement. By moving forward in trust,
we will come to experience the love of Christ and the unity that can incorporate our differences.
To that end, as the Eighth Bishop of Washington I have approved the unanimous decision of the
Vestry of Christ Church, Accokeek to call the Rev. Stephen Arpee to become rector of this parish.
The Vestry of the parish has agreed that dialogue will continue between the Office of the Bishop and
representatives of the congregation, the Vestry, and those parishioners injured by the past conflict.
In addition, Christ Church through its Vestry has agreed to resume its participation in both the
legislative and pastoral life of the Diocese of Washington.
These actions are taken following the compass points of trust and mutual respect while at the same
time claiming our differences and realizing that we must continue as rector, vestry, people, and
bishop in an ongoing dialogue to seek that place where we are able to lift up to the larger church
and the Anglican Communion the strength of our mutual ministry with one another. We believe that
the time is now right to proceed in this direction.
As bishop, rector, vestry, and people, we realize that we must continue our dialogue until we are
able to lift up the strength of our mutual ministry. There is a whole world out there beyond our own
parochial boundaries that is starving for the food that Christ and his church can offer. The need to
be united in working at mission, locally, nationally and globally, must claim the higher ground in our
lives. Disease, hunger, suffering, torture, and death caused by religious wars and the curse of world
debt that imprisons so many of God's people in Third World countries and the Southern Global
Church deserve our attention, our energy and our very best efforts. We cannot address these issues
as a divided church or as the broken Body of Christ.
I ask your prayers for all those persons at Christ Church, in the Diocese of Washington and in the
larger Anglican Communion who now seek a new opportunity to heal and to grow together in
Christ's love and forgiveness. The time of fractured relationships must end if we are to do Christ's
work in a hungry and broken world.
The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane
Bishop of Washington
August 29, 2002
Christ Episcopal Church, St. John's Parish, Accokeek, Maryland
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