Olympia Bishop, Priest Recount Covenant Process
The Living Church
12/29/2006

Early next year, the Rt. Rev. Vincent W. Warner, Jr., Bishop of Olympia, and the Rev. Duncan Clark, rector of St. Charles' Anglican Church in Poulsbo, Wash., will travel together as friends to a conference on church planting sponsored by Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, and founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.

The trip will be a milestone in a relationship that by logic and tradition should have ended in mutual recrimination and litigation on Oct. 19, 2004. On the day after the Windsor Report was released Fr. Clark, then rector of St. Charles’ Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Carol Harlacher, rector of St. Stephen’s, Oak Harbor, informed Bishop Warner that their congregations had voted overwhelmingly to leave the diocese and affiliate with an overseas Anglican bishop.

Instead of litigation, Bishop Warner and leaders from the two parishes attempted mediation. The talks were lengthy and complicated by the presence of both a sizeable remnant from St. Stephen’s that wanted to remain Episcopalians and some persons in the diocese who pressured Bishop Warner to punish the clergy and take possession of the properties. In spite of the many obstacles, the parties announced agreement to a covenant on Dec. 13. the rest


Network Moderator Hails Olympia Agreement
12/29/2006

The Rt. Rev. Robert W. Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh and moderator of the Anglican Communion Network, lauded a covenant agreement involving, among others, the Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, Bishop of Olympia, and two congregations whose clergy and members voted to leave the diocese and The Episcopal Church to affiliate with an overseas Anglican province.

“Both sides are satisfied that this is a good and fair settlement,” Bishop Duncan said. “I commend Bishop Warner for trying to provide space and time for healing to occur. He has provided us with a very significant example of servant leadership.” the rest