Pittsburgh: Church of the Atonement offers its Perspective through a Resolution

Posted by Kendall Harmon at TitusOneNine:

* WHEREAS Church of the Atonement, Carnegie, PA being founded in 1884, and a part of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and The Episcopal Church (USA) for the purpose of maintaining and teaching the historic faith and order of the Christian Church within the Anglican tradition; and
* WHEREAS The Episcopal Church (USA) has failed to discipline it's bishops and other clergy who have taught in a manner grievously contradicting the historic faith and order of the Christian Church ; and
* WHEREAS The Episcopal Church (USA) has brought innovations in to the teaching of the Church, ignoring the goodly council of the Primates of the Anglican Communion; and
* WHEREAS The Episcopal Church (USA) has deposed the duly elected bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh in violation of the clear reading of the Constitution and Canons of the The Episcopal Church (USA); and
* WHEREAS as The Episcopal Church (USA) has failed to resolve disputes in a Christian manner with dioceses and congregations who hold to the historic faith and order of the Christian Church; and
* WHEREAS as The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has changed its Constitution and Canons in accordance with the Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Canons and Constitution of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh in a manner to accede to a province of the Anglican Communion other than The Episcopal Church (USA),


* BE IT RESOLVED that we, the vestry and wardens of the Parish of the Church of the Atonement deplore the situation which has resulted in the secession of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh from The Episcopal Church (USA). We continue to hope and pray that the divisions within the Diocese and within the Episcopal Church (USA) may be resolved without further litigation, wasting the resources committed in good faith to Christ and his church. We reluctantly but unanimously support the resolution adopted at the Diocesan Convention on October 4, 2008 and will continue to operate as a faithful parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh within the Anglican Communion.
* BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we encourage the leadership of The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh to move forward with full resolve in the formation of a North American Anglican Province committed to the faith and order of historic Christianity, keeping in mind the desire and hope that The Episcopal Church (USA) return to the historic faith and order of the Church.