Pastoral Letter from The Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton, DD

To be read in the churches of the Diocese of Dallas on Sunday, August 10, 2003

To the Clergy and People of the Diocese of Dallas,

Dearly Beloved in the Lord,

As you know, this past week the General Convention of the Episcopal Church voted to affirm the election of the bishop-elect of New Hampshire, who is living in a sexual relationship outside the bonds of holy matrimony. In addition, the General Convention has recognized that local faith communities are exploring and experiencing same-sex unions, thereby appearing to legitimize this practice.
Such actions are contrary to the clear teaching of Holy Scripture and the historic catholic faith and order.

The Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops in 1998 proclaimed that same sex relationships are "incompatible with the Holy Scriptures." Just prior to the meeting of General Convention, the Archbishop of Canterbury sent a letter to the primates of the Anglican Communion urging them not to make decisions that would cause disunity in the Anglican Communion. The primates of the Anglican Communion are the presiding bishops of their countries.

This convention's actions have effectively divided the American Episcopal Church from millions of Anglicans worldwide and caused a crisis in the Anglican Communion, as well as in our own church family. The Archbishop of Canterbury has already called for "an extraordinary meeting" of the Primates to be held in London in mid-October to address this crisis.

Please know that I as your bishop stand firmly with the Primates of the Anglican Communion and the vast majority of the 78 million Anglicans worldwide in upholding "the historic Faith and Order" of the Christian Church to which the Constitution of the Episcopal Church explicitly commits us.

The convention of the diocese of Dallas has long asserted its will to affirm the Holy Scriptures in matters of human sexuality, some of these decisions predate my consecration as your bishop. I am determined to uphold these expressions of our common mind, and I expect all the clergy of this diocese to do the same. My Godly Admonition to the clergy of this diocese is that no rites or blessings not contained in the Book of Common Prayer, 1979, or the Book of Occasional Services, be celebrated or performed in this diocese.

I am committed to our diocese remaining together as a welcoming, safe, and wholesome church family for all. I am also committed to being firmly grounded in the apostles' teaching, found in Scripture, and a part of the Anglican Communion that is faithful to the historic Faith and Order.

Such conflict in the Church is not new. That grand hymn, "The Church's One Foundation" reminds us that the Church is often "by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed." Now is the time for saints to keep their watch, to pray, and to stand firm in your faith, constant in your prayers, faithful to the Scriptures, and open to the future which God has in store for us.

On Tuesday, August 12th, I will be consulting with the Executive Council, Standing Committee and other key leaders of our diocese. On Tuesday, August 12, 2003 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Matthew's Cathedral, I am calling for a meeting of the clergy of the diocese along with members of our deputation to General Convention.

I ask your prayers for our Diocese and our church at this time, as well as your counsel.

"Now," as St. Jude encourages us (Jude 25, 26) "to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."

Faithfully,

James M. Stanton
Bishop VI of Dallas