Resolution of the Vestry of St. Vincent's Cathedral

Whereas the Vestry of the Cathedral Church of St. Vincent in Bedford, Texas is deeply saddened by the actions of the 2006 General Convention of the Episcopal Church meeting in Ohio and by the general state of affairs in the Episcopal church;

Whereas the Convention could not affirm the uniqueness of Christ for salvation nor could it affirm the Scriptures as the Word of God;

Whereas the Convention was unable to embrace the minimal requirements of the Windsor report in that it could not agree to a moratorium on same-sex blessings or further consecrations of active homosexual persons, nor could it express regret for “breaking the bonds of affection” with the Anglican Communion by consecrating V. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire;

Whereas the Convention promoted same sex marriage by opposing any constitutional amendments which seek to prohibit them;

Whereas the 2006 General Convention demonstrated its determination to reject the counsel of the Anglican communion and the witness of the whole Church in history by the election of Katherine Jefforts Schori who has, by her own words, rejected Jesus as the way, the truth and the life; who in her first public sermon as Presiding Bishop elect made the provocative statement: “ Mother Jesus who has given birth to a new creation…;” who has publicly rejected the “right” of the Anglican Communion to impose itself on the Episcopal Church; who has promoted the blessings of same-sex unions in her own Diocese of Nevada and also has given her blessing to the Consecration of V. Gene Robinson; and who has made it clear she will lead the church in the same direction;

Whereas the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in his statement of June 27, 2006 has concurred that the Episcopal Church did not conform to the Windsor Report;

Whereas the Episcopal Church by its own actions has (in the words of the Windsor Report) chosen to “walk apart” from the Anglican Communion and has departed from historic Christian faith; and

Whereas the diocese of Fort Worth, along with other dioceses, have already declared their desire to seek oversight by an alternate Presiding Bishop or Archbishop;

Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The Vestry and Parishioners of St. Vincent Cathedral Church reaffirm our previous resolutions expressing our desire to disassociate ourselves from the actions of the General Convention of 2003;

The Vestry and Parishioners of St. Vincent Cathedral Church affirm our desire to disassociate ourselves from the actions of the General Convention 2006;

The Vestry and Parishioners of St. Vincent Cathedral Church affirm Bishop Iker's call for Alternative Primatial Oversight;

The Vestry and Parishioners of St. Vincent Cathedral Church affirm our desire to remain a constituent member of the Anglican Communion;

Finally that the Vestry and members of the Cathedral boldly stand alongside our Bishop, as he leads the way through these uncharted waters and we firmly support the actions of the Standing Committee and the Executive Council.

Unanimously adopted, Aug. 21st, 2006