Delegates to the annual council meeting of the Anglican Communion Network declined removing the organization from under the authority of the constitution of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church during a plenary session July 31.

The proposal would have deleted language from the group’s organizational charter that the Network “shall operate in good faith within the Constitution of the Episcopal Church.”

Instead, the council adopted a bylaws resolution that says Network affiliates outside The Episcopal Church are not required to submit to the constitution of The Episcopal Church.

The decision followed a plea by the Rt. Rev. James Stanton, Bishop of Dallas, that the council not act prematurely. Bishop Stanton pointed out that the General Conventions of 1964 and 1967 defined The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion.

“If somebody is going to be faithless to that vision, I want it to be them, not us,” Bishop Stanton said, referring to the majority of leadership in The Episcopal Church. “We are in danger of doing exactly on the right what they have done on the left. I pray we will not do that.”

The Rev. Russell Martin of San Diego, who had offered the motion to strike the language about The Episcopal Church’s constitution, said he was willing to withdraw his motion but that the council also needed to speak decisively.

“What the world needs from us is to be clear about our allegiance to Jesus Christ,” said Fr. Martin, who is among Network affiliates that do not belong to The Episcopal Church.

The new motion, proposed by the Rev. John Liebler of Central Florida, passed unanimously.

The council then approved suggested changes to the Common Cause Partnership’s articles of incorporation and its theological statement. The council ratified the theological statement on its first day of business, and ratified the articles of incorporation without dissent earlier today.

Douglas LeBlanc

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