ADV Issues Statement of Support for Central Union Mission Despite Legal Threats

FAIRFAX, Va. (September 23, 2008) – The Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) issued the following statement in response to a lawsuit filed by Bishop John Chane of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C., and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) among others. The lawsuit will impede the efforts of a local homeless shelter, the Central Union Mission, to provide much needed services including food and medical care to the needy. St. Brendan’s, one of ADV’s 21 member parishes, holds services at the shelter.

“We strongly support the work of the Central Union Mission and are dumbfounded that at this time of economic downturn the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington would sign onto a lawsuit that will directly affect the work of the homeless shelter. This is the time for people to band together to help the poor and the needy. This is not the time for a leader of The Episcopal Church to encourage costly litigation at the expense of helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We should join together to help our neighbors in their time of need and are hopeful that Christian leaders will recognize that their time would be much better spent on caring for the very people this shelter serves,” said ADV Vice-Chairman Jim Oakes. (via email)

The Anglican District of Virginia (http://www.anglicandistrictofvirginia.org/) is an association of Anglican congregations in Virginia. Its members are in full communion with constituent members of the Anglican Communion through its affiliation with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a missionary branch of the Church of Nigeria and other Anglican Archbishops. ADV members are a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a community of 77 million people. ADV is dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples while actively serving in three main capacities: International Ministries, Evangelism, and Strengthening Families and Community. ADV is currently comprised of 21 member congregations.