Western Louisiana Backs Bishop on Church Polity

May 7, 2009

The standing committee of the Diocese of Western Louisiana voted unanimously May 6 to approve a statement that affirms the integrity of diocesan governance in The Episcopal Church.

“As a diocesan standing committee, we acknowledge and desire to be a diocese in full communion with the wider Anglican Communion and the See of Canterbury,” the statement reads in part. “As a diocese we oppose any actions by General Convention that would mandate financial assessments from dioceses to the General Convention budget, or exercise control of trust interests on diocesan or congregational assets.”

The statement is intended to demonstrate the standing committee’s support for its diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. D. Bruce MacPherson, who is one of 11 diocesan bishops who recently endorsed a statement of concern that the polity of the The Episcopal Church as a “voluntary association of equal dioceses” was in grave peril because of uncanonical actions by the Presiding Bishop and her appointed staff. the rest