A Special Message
Bishop MacPherson's message for November 2009
This is a portion of a special message sent out by e-mail on October 14, 2009 in the context of my weekly Bishop's Leadership Update, thus I realize a number of you have already seen it. It is being reprinted in this issue of ALIVE!, as I feel it important for all to share in, and only this portion of the e-mail pertained to our Diocesan Convention.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I want to share with you my pleasure with the Diocesan Convention this past weekend, our 30th annual such gathering. The tone and spirit reflected the ministry of the diocese, and the Service of Rededication for Mount Olivet Chapel was a highlight that was noted across Louisiana. As you may know, the service was telecast live on NBC across central Louisiana, and as a result I have heard from a number of people outside of the Church about how wonderful the service was, and the positive statement it conveyed. Further information on the convention and Mount Olivet will be provided in the November ALIVE!, and also information about the DVD on Mount Olivet that will soon be available.
Now a word about convention, and in particular, the resolution that was passed with respect to the Anglican Covenant draft. Let me lead off that it was with gladness to observe a virtually unanimous vote on this important issue. There were only four votes expressed in opposition to the resolution, and I am confident that each of these folks had good cause in their hearts to vote in this manner.
As to the Covenant resolution, a few people have inquired as to whether I may have felt let down due to Resolution 6 from the Standing Committee being tabled. This is not the case, the emphasis in my address on the Standing Committee resolution was due to the fact it contained all of the necessary language with respect to the Anglican Covenant draft, and was the only one of the three resolutions that embraced the inclusion of Section 4 of the proposed document in the context of the resolution.
Resolution seven, proposed by St. Mark's Cathedral, after being amended to include in the endorsement in principle, the inclusion of the language pertaining to all sections of the draft, including specifically Section 4, brought about the same desired result. Although the overall language is not as strong as the Standing Committee resolution, it does indeed serve the same purpose for our diocese in our relationship with The Episcopal Church and importantly, the wider Anglican Communion as it endorses the draft in principle and highlights the importance of all four sections being included in the final Covenant.
Thus, the bottom line for all of us is that we have stood fast and made it known that we indeed not only supported in principle the entire Ridley Cambridge draft of the Anglican Covenant, but see it as a critical instrument in the continued continuity and unity of the Anglican Communion worldwide. And for this, I give thanks to you, the Diocese of Western Louisiana.
Blessings, prayers and affection.
The Rt. Rev’d D. Bruce MacPherson,
D.D.
III Bishop of Western Louisiana
