Northern Indiana affirms Windsor Report
Romans 5:6, 8-10 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly … God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.
August 3, 2005
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
Attached is a simple and direct letter from the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northern Indiana to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, and the Archbishop of Canterbury. In this letter the Standing Committee states our endorsement of the Windsor Report and the Communiqué from the Primates Meeting of February 2005. As a rule, Northern Indiana’s Standing Committee has not been inclined to make such statements, hence this letter of explanation. However, as we do our work in upholding the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, we felt it imperative at this time to let our voice be heard on the matter of the reconciling work of the Church.
The Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion once again faces a crisis which threatens the unity of our Church. Our divisions are real, deep and, for many, quite unhappy. The temptation to polarize and divide has been growing and will likely continue through and beyond General Convention 2006. In the midst of our struggle, however, there continue to be calls to step back from the conflict and come to the table of reconciliation.
Reconciliation is not an ancillary theme within Christianity, it is central to who we are and what we do. We were reminded several Sundays ago (Proper 6) in the Letter to the Romans that reconciliation is at the heart of Paul’s understanding of the work of Christ. Indeed, our Catechism defines our mission in terms of reconciliation: “The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” (BCP 855). The Standing Committee’s hope in endorsing the Windsor Report and the Primates Communiqué is, simply and directly, to urge the Church to engage in our own work and mission.
Faithfully in Christ,
Brian Grantz, President
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northern Indiana
August 3, 2005
The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold
and The Executive Council of the General Convention
The Episcopal Church Center
815 Second Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Dear Bishop Griswold and Members of the Executive Council,
In consideration of recent events in our Church and the Anglican Communion, as the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northern Indiana we endorse fully the Windsor Report and accept the primates’ recommendations issued at their meeting in Dromantine in February 2005.
We strongly urge that the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in a spirit of reconciliation and humility and in order to restore the full trust of our bonds of affection across the Communion, accept and implement the recommendations of the Windsor Report and Primates’ Communiqué.
It is our prayer that such acceptance will provide a time for healing and reconciliation within the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.
On behalf of the Standing Committee, I am your servant in Christ,
The Reverend Brian Grantz, President
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northern Indiana
cc: The Most Reverend Rowan Williams
Posted at 9:22 am 9.30.2005 | Permalink