The Bishop and standing committee in the Diocese of Olympia have reached an agreement which respects the independence of two congregations that voted to leave in 2004 and allows them to remain in their buildings for the next 7 ½ years without paying rent or assessments.

“We have all tried to take a gospel approach,” said Canon Betsy Greenman, Canon to the Ordinary. “Everyone involved tried to approach this from a perspective of remaining in relationship. It was a faith journey for everyone involved.”

A preamble states that the agreement has been undertaken in a “spirit of reconciliation and to provide a time for the worldwide Anglican Communion to address serious issues over which its members are not in agreement. It is the intention of all parties to remain members of the Anglican Communion.”

Under terms of the covenant, St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Oak Harbor, Wash., and St. Charles’ Anglican Church in Poulsbo will maintain their current worship schedules. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will have use of the property occupied by St. Stephen’s Anglican for Sunday worship at a mutually agreed upon time. The covenant also provides for a means of resolving potential disputes.

“In the event of an allegation of material breach of this agreement, both parties will follow the process of conferring,” the covenant states. “If the effort to confer is unsuccessful, the parties will take the matter to the Rt. Rev. Edward S. Little II, Bishop of Northern Indiana, or if unavailable, someone mutually agreed to by the parties.”

Bishop Little and Judge Terrence Carroll, retired Washington State Superior Court Judge and a member of the Judicial Dispute Resolution Center in Seattle, helped to draft the covenant during two days of mediation talks last July. Publication of the covenant has been delayed until now in order to allow time for the relevant governing bodies to study the document and approve it.

Canon Greenman told The Living Church that negotiations between the diocese and leadership at the two parishes has been ongoing since shortly after the 74th General Convention in 2003. Olympia Bishop Vincent Warner consulted with the Presiding Bishop throughout the process and the final agreement had been shown to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori prior to its implementation. The diocesan standing committee has also been consulted and approved it.

“The agreement provides for St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church to once again worship in its church,” Bishop Warner said in a prepared statement. “The agreement provides a number of years in which no action will be taken regarding property. The essence of the agreement is to provide space and time for the worldwide Anglican Communion to address the issues it faces and for the people in our congregations to be at worship with their friends and neighbors, building and rebuilding relationships.” He added that putting the emphasis on the values of relationship and ministry has helped find a way to build an agreement based on faith and trust rather than litigation and judgment.

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