A Pastoral Letter

Bishop Baxter's Response to the Primates' Meeting in Dar es Salaam

February 23, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am sure that many are aware of the communiqué which has come from the meeting of Anglican Primates in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I am also aware that many of us are concerned as to what is being demanded, how our Episcopal Church can respond in good conscience and faithfulness; and further, what may be the consequences, depending upon our responses. Here are my immediate reflections and responses.

First, there have been many immediate and predictable responses from groups within our Church holding specific theological/political views. However, given the decision-making process of our Church, the only official responses can come from the House of Bishops and the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, a body which includes laity, priests and deacons. This is an example of the difference in decision making in our Church and that of many other Provinces of the Anglican Communion, where an Archbishop or a "House of Bishops" has uncontested Episcopal or executive authority. Much of the pressure is for our Presiding Bishop and the House of Bishops to demand compliance. Given the nature of our Episcopal polity and manner of making Church decisions, the ability of either the Presiding Bishop or the House of Bishops to demand compliance would be very limited, even if they desired to do so.

Secondly, the next official step for the Episcopal Church will be at the Spring meeting of the House of Bishops in March. During that meeting, there will no doubt be a thorough discussion of the requests from the Dar es Salaam Conference and what responses we prayerfully discern as possible or appropriate. Given our long commitment to live in the tension of inclusive justice and the authority of scripture, especially as interpreted in the spirit of Christ as revealed in the Gospels, this will be a difficult but necessary discussion. Whatever comes from these intense discussions of the House of Bishops will, at some point, include consultation with the Executive Council.

Thirdly, remember that we continue to call this process "discernment," for we can not be guided solely by the threat of marginalization. This is an even more important time to continue listening intensely for the voice of God in both our larger beloved Anglican Communion, and in our long experience of Christ revealed in the lives of diverse but faithful Episcopal brothers and sisters who also share with us in baptism and have demonstrated among us a common love for God and the Church.

For some within the Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion, theological integrity may seem relatively simple and straight forward---that is, through scripture clearly stated in a more literal reading and the moral certainty of long held teachings and traditions. But historically, there has been a faithful pattern of constant discernment in the American Church which has caused us to hold interpretation of Scripture, familiar mores, and traditional ethical assumptions in tension with our experience.  We often refer to the tools of theological discernment as a three legged stool, i.e. scripture, tradition and reason, as famously articulated by Richard Hooker. Unquestionably, scripture is the chief authority for all in this time of discernment. The central issue is how we interpret the Bible, in both the letter of our best scholarship and the spirit of Jesus as revealed in the Gospels. This has been the challenge for our Episcopal Church in responding theologically to social and moral issues in every age---whether slavery, women's suffrage, divorce or the place of faithful Christians who are in life long committed same-sex relationships. These are experiences we know and which we cannot ignore. For at least a generation, we have been prayerfully and openly seeking to reconcile scriptural interpretations and long held moral assumptions with the integrity of these clear experiences. This is historically and presently the hard and costly work of our Episcopal Church.

For the moment, this work means we must continue to discern: to prayerfully wait, and to listen and confer with others, who like us, are still seeking God's will. For it is essential that, whatever our actions and responses, they must have spiritual integrity. Impatience and precipitous responses, even when felt justified, is never helpful in the collective work of spiritual discernment. Whatever the ultimate cost or opportunities, this is the discerning and prayerful work we must do, whether in response to leaders of the Anglican Communion or the reconciling of diverse perspectives and needs of those truly desiring to remain part of the Episcopal Church. This is our work, our arena of discernment and influence.

Fourthly, there is also hard work yet to be done by the Primates, some of whom are very sympathetic to the discerning efforts of our Church. In the past, the Primatial gatherings of the Anglican Communion emphasized pastoral fellowship, seeking non-binding consensus on matters of theology, mission and pastoral leadership. What is emerging seems to be an effort to establish a central authority with the power to intervene or discipline across national and provincial boundaries. The Primates, including our Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts-Schori, are seeking to determine if there can be agreement on the appropriate boundaries of Anglican Provinces; and also, what should be the essentials of theological interpretations and commitment for full membership in the Anglican Communion. These are decisions and outcomes over which we as Episcopalians have little or no influence, except through the voice of our Presiding Bishop. She is the pastor God has given us, and I ask you to hold her fast in your personal and corporate prayers.

Finally, it is so appropriate that we are called to this time of discernment in the season of Lent. Lent is a time of spiritual discipline; a season of reflection, restraint and sacrifice which can heighten our ability to hear the voice of God with increasing clarity. This is necessary, no matter how certain our current views may seem, pro or con. When truly waiting on God, no time is lost or wasted. So, as we do our work of discernment this Lent, let us pray rather than conclude, listen rather than act, hope in God rather than succumb to fear. Let us see where God leads your heart, mine, and that of our beloved Episcopal Church. In doing so, may our Lenten prayer for ourselves, our Church and the Anglican Communion be as St. Augustine admonished: "Unity in things necessary, liberty in things unnecessary, and in all things, Charity."

In Christ’s love for each of you,
+Nathan D. Baxter,
Bishop of Central Pennsylvania