Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori informed Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh on Jan. 15 that the Title 4 Review Committee had accused him of abandonment of communion. But Bishop Duncan will not be inhibited because the Presiding Bishop was unable to obtain the canonically required consent from the three senior bishops with jurisdiction.

 

“On 11 January 2008 they informed me that such consents would not be given at this time by all three bishops,” Bishop Jefferts Schori wrote in her letter to Bishop Duncan. “In due course I shall forward the Review Committee’s certification to the House of Bishops for its consideration. Pursuant to the time limits stated in Canon IV.9, the matter will not come before the House at its next scheduled meeting in March 2008, but will come before the House at the next meeting thereafter. I would however welcome a statement by you within the next two months providing evidence that you once more consider yourself fully subject to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of this Church.”

 

Bishop Duncan offered a brief response to the news in a statement posted on the diocesan website. “Few bishops have been more loyal to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church,” he said. “I have not abandoned the Communion of this Church. I will continue to serve and minister as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.”

 

The review committee’s certification said that it had received some 40 pages of material alleging Bishop Duncan’s abandonment of communion from “counsel representing individuals who are either clergy or communicants in the Diocese of Pittsburgh” and from the Presiding Bishop’s chancellor, David Booth Beers, and his colleague, Mary E. Kostel.

 

Last November, the annual convention in the Diocese of Pittsburgh approved the first of two required amendments to the diocesan constitution to remove itself from The Episcopal Church.

 

Episcopal News Service contributed to this report.

 

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