40 Days of Discernment - Timeline of Signficant Events in the Episcopal Church

From Week 1: Understanding the Crisis

Timeline of Significant Events in the Episcopal Crisis

“Beginning in the early 1870s, a theology deeply skeptical about many of Christianity’s central claims began to influence the leadership of the Episcopal Church, and then spread throughout it. By the late 1960s it had come to dominate the Church entirely.” So observes Dr. Les Fairfield. The following timeline highlights some of the significant events in the Episcopal crisis.

1966-1967
Bishop James Pike charged, but never tried, with heresy for denying the doctrine of the Trinity

1976
General Convention commenced dialogue on sexuality and ordination of homosexual candidates (resolutions A068 and B101)

1977
Bishop Paul Moore (New York) ordained an openly homosexual ordinand

1979
Several bishops refused to abide by General Convention’s reaffirmation of traditional Christian ethics on sexuality and marriage (resolution A053)

1985
General Convention resolved to “dispel myths and prejudices” against homosexuality (resolution D082)

1987 & 1989
Heresy charges against Bishop John Spong (Newark) dismissed by panel of peer bishops

1988
General Convention continued dialogue regarding sexuality (resolution D102)

1989–1991
Bishops Spong and Walter Righter (Newark) and the Diocese of Washington, D.C., ordained non-celibate homosexual ordinands

1991
General Convention rejected a resolution calling clergy to abstain from sex outside of marriage
Over 75% of dioceses began a three-year dialogue about sexuality

1993
Bishop Richard Grein (New York) led Sunday Eucharist liturgy that praised pagan deities Ra and Ausar at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

1994
General Convention began considering rites blessing same-sex unions (resolution D049)
90 bishops and 144 deputies signed “Koinonia Statement” defining homosexuality as morally neutral

1996
Heresy charges against Bishop Righter dismissed due to “no clear doctrine” prohibiting ordination of “persons living in committed same gender sexual relationships”

Integrity counted over 100 ordinations of openly homosexual candidates to date

1997
Virginia Theological Seminary began revision of policies to admit actively homosexual seminarians and to provide shared housing for non-celibate unmarried faculty and students

1998
Lambeth Conference of global Anglican bishops reaffirmed “the primary authority of the Scriptures” (resolution III.1; cf. III.5) and reaffirmed “homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture” (resolution I.10 by vote of 526 to 70)

2000
General Convention acknowledged relationships other than marriage and disagreement on church’s teaching (resolution D039)

2001
Anglican Primates acknowledged estrangement in Communion due to changes in theology and practice regarding sexuality and called provinces to avoid actions that may damage the Communion’s “credibility of mission”

2002
Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) urged dioceses and bishops to refrain from unilateral actions that would strain the Communion

2003
Primates negated authorization of rites for blessings of same-sex unions

Bishop Michael Ingham (New Westminster, Canada) issued rite for blessings of same-sex unions

General Convention rejected affirming the authority of Scripture (resolution B001); confirmed the episcopal election of a priest openly living in a same-sex relationship; and recognized blessings of same-sex unions as “within bounds of our common life” (resolution C051)

Primates’ emergency meeting declared that General Convention’s decisions “will tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level”; reaffirmed 1998 Lambeth Conference resolutions Presiding Bishop Griswold consecrated a priest openly living in a same-sex relationship as bishop

2004
Bishop Otis Charles (Utah, retired) “married” his homosexual partner

Bishop J. Jon Bruno (Los Angeles) performed blessing of same-sex union

Bishop John Chane (Washington, D.C.) performed blessing of same-sex union

ECUSA promoted pagan Druid eucharistic liturgy on its website

Lambeth Commission released the Windsor Report which reaffirmed traditional Christian morality

2005
Primates’ Meeting endorsed Windsor Report; called ECUSA to withdraw its representatives from the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) until Lambeth 2008; requested ECUSA’s explanation for recent actions

ACC endorsed Primates’ call for ECUSA withdrawal; ECUSA presented To Set Our Hope On Christ as its official response to Windsor Report

2006
General Convention rejected Windsor Report’s “moratorium” on consecrations of those who are “living in a same gender union”; and instead called for restraint “by not consenting” to any candidate “whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church”; did not address a moratorium on same-sex blessings

Archbishop of Canterbury Williams acknowledged “deep division” in the Communion

7 orthodox dioceses that uphold the teaching of the Anglican Communion and reject the actions of General Convention petitioned the Archbishop of Canterbury for “alternative primatial oversight”