Canterbury Supportive of Southern Cone’s Invitation to Fort Worth, Convention Told

 Bishop Frank Lyons of Bolivia, a guest at the Diocese of Fort Worth’s annual convention, told delegates and visitors that Archbishop Gregory Venables had “received a positive response” from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams last September when he informed Archbishop Williams that his province would likely extend a formal invitation to Fort Worth and other U.S. dioceses. 

In advance of a possible move to affiliate with another Anglican province, the diocese bolstered its current position on women’s ordination during convention, which met Nov. 16-17 in Fort Worth. 

 In addition to approving changes to its constitution and canons, delegates also approved two resolutions, one welcoming an invitation of temporary affiliation with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, and another expressing gratitude to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference. Last January the panel affirmed continued support within the Anglican Communion for the diocese, the majority of whose leadership believes that God has not called women to the ordained priesthood or episcopacy.

During debate over the resolution on the invitation from the Southern Cone, Judy Miller from Trinity Church, Fort Worth, asked Bishop Jack Leo Iker whether the possible move to the Southern Cone would result in cancellation of canonical licenses for the half a dozen vocational deacons in the diocese who are female, either because the Southern Cone does not recognize the order of deacon as a separate ministry or because it does not permit females to serve as deacons. Bishop Lyons was invited to respond on behalf of the province. He told convention that partly because the Southern Cone was currently composed of dioceses stretching across several South American countries and cultures, the constitution and canons of the province permitted wide deference to diocesan bylaws. 

 “Your constitution and canons would largely govern how you function,” he said.

 In further debate over Resolution Two, the Rev. Fred Barber, rector of Trinity, said his parish would probably take advantage of a provision approved on first reading at convention which would permit the congregation to remain with The Episcopal Church in the event of a future split.  “We will be voting against this,” he said, directing his remarks toward Bishop Iker, who was presiding. “But I want to thank you for your offer and your generousness. Our vote is not a reflection on you. We simply feel called to stay.”

Steve Waring

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