A Statement from the Gathering of Worldwide

Mainstream Anglican Leaders

We are mainstream Anglican leaders from Provinces around the world comprising a majority of the world’s 76 million Anglicans.

We have gathered on the eve of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church our of profound love for the church and a deep concern for the constitutional crisis that confronts us.

The proposed actions by General Convention to confirm a non-celibate homosexual as a bishop of this Communion or to approve the creation of liturgies for the blessing of relationships outside of marriage would shatter the church.

Such unconstitutional actions by the Episcopal Church would:

• Separate it from historic Christian faith and teaching,

• Alienate it from the fellowship and accountability of the worldwide Anglican family, and

• Confuse the witness of the Church to the love and joy of Christian marriage.

In response to this crisis, we reaffirm our commitment to:

• The teachings of the historic Christian Church,

• Our fellowship with sisters and brothers in the global Anglican family, and

• The joyful proclamation of Christ’s love for the Church as reflected in the sacrament of marriage.

The proposed actions will precipitate a dramatic realignment of the Church. The American bishops at this meeting have prayed, planned and are prepared to respond as faithful members of the Anglican Communion.

Should these events occur, the majority of the Primates anticipate convening an extraordinary meeting at which they too will respond to the actions of General Convention.

July 23, 2003