Reorganization Underway in Pittsburgh

The Living Church
October 16, 2008

Following the Oct. 4 vote by convention deputies in the Diocese of Pittsburgh to realign with the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone, one standing committee member, the Rev. James B. Simons, rector of St. Michael’s, Ligonier, was removed by the majority.

Fr. Simons and two new members he appointed were subsequently recognized by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as the ecclesiastical authority and charged with reorganizing a diocese of The Episcopal Church in that region. (The constitution and canons of the diocese permits the standing committee to appoint new members to fill vacancies.)

Bishop Jefferts Schori also wrote the other seven members of the standing committee on Oct. 9. Citing Title 1, Canon 17, Section 8, she said that she no longer “recognize[d]” them as the ecclesiastical authority. the rest