Dallas Via Media responds to Dar es Salaam Communique

The Primates express their displeasure with the actions of TEC for failing to "adopt the Windsor Report in full," but minimize the actions of their own members who have intruded into the jurisdictions of Bishops of TEC while claiming that they are "Windsor Compliant." The Windsor Report called for these intrusions to cease, but the Primates responsible for the intrusions refuse to cease. And the Primates, as a whole, have stated that there is no "moral equivalence" between these intrusions and the actions of TEC. Thus, the Primates effectively rejected responsibility for the dissension their intrusions into the TEC have caused by encouraging division in the Church in Dallas, Virginia, and elsewhere.

Healthy communion demands respect for jurisdictional bishops and requires cessation of these intrusions. The Primates seem not to understand or care about the results of their actions. Under the current structure of the Anglican Communion each province (national church) determines its own religious practices. The Primates' actions are a blatant interference in the affairs of an independent church, the TEC.

The Primates also seek to impose their will by pressuring the Bishops of TEC to cease all same-sex blessings or consecrating Bishops in same-sex relationships. This ignores the polity of TEC, which calls for policy to be determined at the General Convention by both Houses of Convention, including all historic orders and the laity. Lay involvement in setting policy may be foreign (if not repugnant) to some of these Primates, but it is fundamental to the workings of TEC. Via Media Dallas, a largely lay-led organization, rejects any notion that the Primates of the Anglican Communion -- or the Bishops of TEC - can by themselves set policy for TEC. We demand the rightful and historic role of laypersons in these discussions and decisions.

We are particularly disheartened by the sanctimonious acts of some Primates who refused to commune with our Presiding Bishop by either not participating in a joint communion or by refusing to accept the host or chalice in her presence. This attempt to "purify" themselves by not associating with our Presiding Bishop reveals a distinct lack of understanding of the example set by Jesus for communion, love and forgiveness. Sadly, within TEC itself some bishops, priests, and laity refuse to associate with one another or the Presiding Bishop because they believe these persons have acted wrongly in the consecration of Bishop Robinson or by other acts. Via Media is committed to the idea that we should continue to break bread together and share in the communion cup, even when we disagree -- that we are one body even when not of one mind.

Finally, the majority of the Primates assert that they cannot commune with TEC if our Church does not reject teachings with which they disagree. We reject the Primates' view of Anglicanism that agreement must precede communion and that disagreement "tears" communion apart. Via Media calls on TEC, regardless of its response to the Primates on issues of homosexuality, same-sex blessings, and ordinations, to maintain communion while preserving the authority of each national church to manage its own affairs without interference.

Communion is a two-way street, and TEC should always extend its hand to its brothers and sisters around the globe. If some in the communion announce a "break" in or "impairment" of communion, we support our Presiding Bishop's call for patience in resolving these differences and work toward fully restored communion with all Anglicans.

Signed by the Dallas Via Media Steering Committee:

Scott Cantrell, Edward Fordyce Jr., Duane Harbin, Dixie Hutchinson, Dick Kerner, Liz Oliphant, David Pyke