Resolution on Compliance with the Windsor Report

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(Preliminary draft of the resolution that was
postponed indefinitely at the 2006 Diocesan Convention)

Resolution #4 - on Compliance with the Windsor Report
(postponed indefinitely)

197 - - - Submitted by: Mr. Bradley Hutt, delegate, Christ Church , Clinton; Richard Best, delegate,
198 - - - St. Paul 's, K St ; Mr. David Bickel, delegate, All Saints', Chevy Chase.

199 - - - - - - Resolved, that the One Hundred Eleventh Convention of the Diocese

200 - - - of Washington call upon the 75 th General Convention of The Episcopal Church USA

201 - - - and the House of Bishops to conform to its own constitution, canons, and Prayer Book

202 - - - identity, declaring itself and acting as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion,

203 - - - to "walk together" and comply with the recommendations of the Windsor Report

204 - - - and the Lambeth Commission Primates Communiqué, particularly with its clear

205 - - - affirmation that the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10, as an expression of scriptural

206 - - - teaching, is the Anglican position on issues of human sexuality and has been accepted

207 - - - as such by the overwhelming majority of the bishops of the Anglican Communion;

208 - - - and be it further

209 - - - - - - Resolved, that we commit this Diocese to walk the path of reconciliation

210 - - - and remain in unity with the wider Anglican Communion, including the creation

211 - - - of The Anglican Covenant; and be it further

212 - - - - - - Resolved, that diocesan staff mail a copy of this Resolution within 90 days after

213 - - - convention to all Primates of the Anglican Communion, all ECUSA Bishops and all 75th

214 - - - General Convention Chairpersons.

Explanation: This Diocese is and always has been a constituent body of the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA), which in itself is and always has been a constituent member of the Anglican Communion. Recent actions of the General Convention have brought into serious jeopardy ECUSA's commitment to remain a part of the Anglican Communion. This resolution expresses the mind of this Diocese that it wishes always to be a part of the Anglican Communion and in fellowship with the Christian Community.

As set forth in commendable detail in the Windsor Report 2004, within Anglicanism "scripture has always been recognized as the Church's supreme authority, and as such ought to be seen as a focus and means of unity." (¶53). For God commanded us to be one in the body of Christ. That is why we say in the Nicene Creed that we are part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church, and why that language is in our constitution. The BCP prayers we do for unity in church each Sunday are not just to other Episcopalians and Anglicans, they are to all Christians. Moreover, the 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10, as an expression of scriptural teaching, is the Anglican position on issues of human sexuality and has been accepted as such by the overwhelming majority of the bishops of the Anglican Communion and is the overwhelming consensus of the Christian community.

The Lambeth Commission's Windsor Report 2004 represents an exhaustive treatment
of these issues and a realistic path towards reconciliation of the ECUSA with our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion. This resolution accepts the Windsor Report's
key findings and recommendations on these critical points.

This resolution also accepts the findings set forth in the February, 2005 Newry Communiqué from the Primates of the Anglican Communion regarding our church's appropriate response to the Windsor Report, and urges ECUSA to accept the requests made in that Communiqué.

The Windsor Report offers a way forward for The Episcopal Church and the entire Anglican Communion. The issues and recommendations of the Report are time-critical. The support
of the Diocese of Washington, combined with that of other dioceses, will encourage
our General Convention, House of Bishops and Presiding Bishop to make a speedy and supportive response to Windsor Report of the Lambeth Commission Primates Communiqué.

Attachment :
Lambeth Conference 1998: Resolution 1.10 Human Sexuality

This Conference:

commends to the Church the subsection report on human sexuality;
in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage;
recognises that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God's transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ;
while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialisation and commercialisation of sex;
cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions;
requests the Primates and the ACC to establish a means of monitoring the work done on the subject of human sexuality in the Communion and to share statements and resources among us;
notes the significance of the Kuala Lumpur Statement on Human Sexuality and the concerns expressed in resolutions IV.26, V.1, V.10, V.23 and V.35 on the authority of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality and asks the Primates and the ACC to include them in their monitoring process.

Budget Impact: There would be approximately $500 worth of mailing costs in addition
to staff time.

Recommendation: The Resolutions Committee recommends this resolution for consideration.