Writing on June 30 with a “heavy heart,” the Rt. Rev. Peter H. Beckwith, Bishop of Springfield has sent a pastoral letter to members of the diocese informing them that the standing committee met in special session June 26 and approved a resolution requesting Bishop Beckwith “to intentionally and deliberately explore avenues” for alternative primatial relationship.

“Arguably, this is the lowest ebb of our beloved but beleaguered Church since perhaps the Civil War, if not the American Revolution,” Bishop Beckwith wrote. “However, I believe the future for faithful, orthodox Anglicans currently in ECUSA hasn't been brighter for a long time. I believe a new structure will emerge in the USA which will be in full communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other 37 Anglican Provinces, and of which you and I would be proud to be members. I am committed to doing everything in my power to assist in that Godly effort.”

When contacted by The Living Church, Bishop Beckwith said the Diocese of Springfield was still a “constituent member of The Episcopal Church” and he would take no action at this time to change that status. A copy of the resolution was sent to Lambeth Palace today, he said.

Springfield is the sixth of The Episcopal Church’s 110 dioceses in which the Bishop and standing committee have requested alternative primatial oversight. The others are in order of their request: Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, San Joaquin, South Carolina and Central Florida.

The idea for a special session of the standing committee occurred to Bishop Beckwith during the 75th General Convention as he began to consider the possibility that he and the Diocese of Springfield might be forced into some sort of impaired status with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the Anglican Communion as a result of what happened. He was surprised, however, at the language approved, which was much stronger than what he envisioned. Bishop Beckwith elaborated on the resolution in the pastoral letter.

“Many are disappointed if not embarrassed by what happened and what didn’t happen at General Convention,” he said.

“Archbishop [Rowan] Williams’ statement issued last Tuesday morning, June 27th, is stern testimony that General Convention was not up to the task of complying appropriately with the pleas of the Windsor Report. Though B033 was passed at the eleventh hour, it was seen as a mere smokescreen when placed in context with the overall tenor of Convention’s words and actions," he said. "What we appear to be saying in reality is that The Episcopal Church desires to be a member of the Anglican Communion, but only on its own terms. No relationship prospers under that kind of orientation.”

Bishop Beckwith was unable to say with certainty what the next step will be for the Diocese of Springfield. He said the future will probably become a littler clearer after a diocesan council meeting in August.

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