The House of Bishops has issued a “Covenant Statement” after their recent meeting.
I think it is a good statement and good movement forward for the U.S. Church. The suspension of all approval of elections and subsequent consecrations of new bishops until the next General Convention in 2006 in Columbus, Ohio is a strong statement that the Church will honor the Windsor Report by not consecrating new bishops who are openly gay and with partner and also respecting gay and lesbian people by agreeing to not consecrate any new bishops.
I am glad to see, also, that the bishops reaffirmed their dedication to and support of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. This is the statement that details the elements Anglicans and the Episcopal Church in the U.S. believe to be necessary for ecumenical relations, including intra-Anglican relations.
It seems that the bishops are taking seriously the need to present to the wider Anglican Communion a strong theological statement, along with biblical justifications, for why the U.S. Church in Convention during 2003 supported the election and subsequent consecration of Bishop Robinson and acknowledged that various diocese and parishes within the U.S. Church are moving forward on blessing same-sex unions. This will be good for all of us!
I have been saying for a while now that the “accommodationist” position is not well stated beyond appeals to emotion and victimization (among many other valid things). Accommodationists need to meet “prohibitionists” on their plain of understanding as much as prohibitionists need to acknowledge and address the justifications and understanding of the accommodationists. We need to talk with each other and strive to understand the position of our “opponents.” Anyway, I look forward to the theological statement coming from the House of Bishops.