Bishop Robert Duncan's Pre-Convention Report
11th September, A.D.2007

TO THE CLERGY AND LAY LEADERS OF THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Each year my pre-Convention report takes the form of a pastoral letter. This year will be no different.

MOMENTOUS DAYS AND MOMENTOUS DECISIONS
It appears to many of us – bishops, clergy, laity – that a moment of decision has arrived in the Anglican Communion. The Windsor Report and Primates Communiques from Dromantine and Dar es Salaam have asked The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to take clear actions committing these two Provinces of the Anglican Communion to “walking together” with rather than “walking apart” from the Communion. After four years the official, as well as general, response from The Episcopal Church seems to be “we’ll do it our way.” Moreover rejection (by both the House of Bishops and Executive Council) of proposals to allow sufficient integrity to dioceses like Pittsburgh, concerning traditional Faith and Order, now seems all but final. A last minute reversal by the House of Bishops (prior to a September 30th deadline established by the Communion) seems most unlikely. In light of these events, with heavy hearts, and for the sake of our mission it appears the time has come to begin the process of realignment within the Anglican Communion. the rest