On August 5, 2003 the General Convention of The Episcopal Church meeting in Minneapolis granted consents to the election of a partnered gay man, Canon V. Gene Robinson, as Bishop of New Hampshire. Following the consents a group of 19 bishops led by Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, which included Bishop Daniel Herzog and Suffragan Bishop David Bena from the Diocese of Albany, issued a statement of protest and walked out of the convention.
On August 8 Bishop Herzog issued this pastoral letter.
Two weeks later on August 22 the Bishop announced that he was calling a special meeting of the Diocesan Convention on September 20 for the purpose of responding to the controversial actions of General Convention.
This was the background in the Diocese of Albany that led a small group to assemble in Lake George. The Rev. Keith Owen, then Rector of St. Paul's, Albany, wrote in an op-ed piece for the Albany Times Union of September 13, one week before the date of the special convention:
Here in the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, Bishop Daniel Herzog and other leaders have openly condemned the actions of the General Convention. They have called a special convention of the diocese on Sept. 20 to discuss a possible response to these events. They are proposing to disavow the approval of the Rev. Robinson and the convention's resolution on same-sex unions.
A handful of other dioceses in the United States are doing the same thing. The practical effect will be for these dioceses to distance themselves from the Episcopal Church while also claiming to be the true Episcopal Church. They will then appeal to like-minded bishops in the wider Anglican fellowship to recognize them as the true expression of Anglicanism in this country.
Ten days ago, a small group of clergy and laity met to discuss this development. We composed a letter expressing our concern and began quietly circulating it over the weekend. As of this writing, approximately 150 people have endorsed or signed the letter. Anyone wishing to read the letter may e-mail us at AlbanyViaMedia@aol.com and we will provide a copy. Individuals may also add their names to the letter by using the e-mail address.
The circulating letter was dated September 4. In a message to priests and deacons on September 12 Bishop Herzog wrote:
Next week we will have a special meeting of the convention of the diocese so that we can address the consequences. It will be an opportunity to discuss these matters in a Christ-like way. Without such an open forum there will be only rumor, innuendo and anxiety.
Let me state what will not happen:
There will be no proposal to leave the Episcopal Church.
Albany has a distinguished history as a diocese based on firm principles of churchmanship and loyalty to the apostolic faith. It has been a diocese that admitted a diversity of opinion while affirming our allegiance to Jesus Christ and to the mission He has entrusted to us. We can continue as a solid part of the Church even if we dissent from the recent decisions on sexuality.
A copy of the letter of September 4, 2003 that circulated from the meeting described by the Rev. Keith Owen follows.
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September 4, 2003
Feast of Paul Jones, Bishop
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Diocese of Albany,
We, the undersigned, wish to communicate our deep sense of concern about the impending special meeting of the Diocesan Convention. We are sending this letter to all the clergy and vestries of the parishes in the Diocese. We will distribute it by hand at the Convention. We invite clergy to add their names. We also invite Vestries to add their names, either as corporate bodies, or by individual signature. We invite the signatures of any communicants of the Episcopal Church in this Diocese.
At the outset, let us share that we are not of one mind with regard to the recent actions of General Convention. Some of us rejoice at the election of Gene Robinson, and the consents granted by the deputies and bishops. Some of us mourn these actions. Some of us believe General Convention went too far regarding liturgies for blessing same-sex unions. Some of us believe General Convention did not go far enough. We are “liberals” and “conservatives” on these and other issues.
We are united, however, in opposition to the precipitous actions being proposed at this Special Convention. We agree on the following positions:
Though we disagree whether it was good or appropriate, we nevertheless recognize the constitutionality and legality of the election of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson to become Bishop of New Hampshire by a duly constituted convention of that Diocese. We recognize the constitutionality and legality of the consents granted for his consecration by the General Convention.
Though we disagree about liturgies for blessing same-sex unions, we nevertheless receive the action of General Convention regarding such liturgies as an interim expression of our Church's divided mind on this issue. We await confidently for the Holy Spirit to lead us.
We vigorously oppose any action by this Special Convention that reduces further our Diocesan contribution to the program budget passed by General Convention. We will reconsider our own giving to the Diocesan program should such actions take place.
We oppose the appointment of any official delegation to the October meeting in Plano, Texas, called by the American Anglican Council. We vigorously oppose using diocesan funds for the support of the meeting or of individual attendees. We encourage anyone who wishes to attend to do so at their own expense.
We refuse to recognize or to support any so-called “realignment” of the American branch of the Anglican Communion. We recognize The Episcopal Church in the United States of America as the one embodiment of the Anglican fellowship in the United States. We recognize the General Convention as the final arbiter of the “doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church”.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who unifies us all, we pray that this Convention will refrain from any action that further damages the fragile unity of the Church. We believe that time will reveal God's judgment upon what happened in Minneapolis. We know, however, from the painfully consistent teaching of history, that further division will only make weaker, smaller, and less fruitful the broken pieces that result.
Should you wish to add your signature to this document, please write, call, or email Fr. Keith Owen, Fr. James Brooks-McDonald, or Fr. John Sorensen, or email our association at AlbanyViaMedia@aol.com. Above all, attend the Convention, speak your mind, and if you are a delegate, vote.
We join our bishops, and all of you, in prayer and fasting in anticipation of our Special Convention. May it truly be the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of faith, hope, and charity, who guides us.
Signed,
(names omitted)