The Diocese of Western Louisiana
becomes a "Windsor-compliant" diocese

by Robert Harwell

October 14, 2006, ALEXANDRIA, LA-Delegates to the 27th annual convention of the Diocese of Western Louisiana adopted not one but two resolutions which firmly position the diocese as "Windsor Compliant," which has been sought by their bishop, the Rt. Rev'd D. Bruce MacPherson.

The stronger of the two resolutions adopted, which was submitted by the vestry of Grace Episcopal Church in Monroe, states that Western Louisiana "fully accepts and endorses The Windsor Report as has been delivered to us by the Anglican Consultative Council and the Archbishop of Canterbury."

The Grace resolution supports the position of Bishop MacPherson, who is a declared "Windsor Bishop": a bishop who fully accepts and endorses The Windsor Report.

Also adopted was a resolution proposed by the vestry of St. Mark's Cathedral in Shreveport which affirmed "The Windsor Report not as a judgment but as part of a process with goals of healing and reconciliation as its basis. The resolution also said "we commit ourselves to the process outlined in The Windsor Report as the way forward."

The two resolutions adopted were among five sent to the convention floor by the Convention Resolutions committee.

Before the start of deliberation on the proposed resolutions, Convention okayed voting by secret written ballot. Another move to adopt a vote by orders on the proposed resolutions was also adopted. A vote by orders is a vote in which clergy and lay ballots are tabulated separately, and to pass a proposition must receive a majority of both clergy and lay votes.

The vote tallies for the two resolutions were: Grace resolution-Clergy votes - yes 34 and no 20; Lay votes - yes 99 and no 37; St. Mark's resolution-Clergy votes- yes 30 and no 22; Lay votes-yes 74 and no 61.

The 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church held in June, had as one of its main tasks the acceptance or refusal of the responses called for in The Windsor Report. Many in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion have stated the belief the General Convention made an inadequate response to The Windsor Report; a position shared by Bishop MacPherson, who at the close of General Convention's Windsor deliberations publicly declared in the House of Bishops that he was "disassociating (himself) from the actions of General Convention 2006 that are not compliant with The Windsor Report."

In the wake of General Convention, Bishop MacPherson has strongly urged the adoption of a position identical to that stated in the Grace, Monroe resolution. The Bishop has said that such a position is needed "in order for Western Louisiana to participate in the process of going forward on the relationship of the Episcopal Church to the rest of the Anglican Communion."

Resolution adopted by 27th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Western Louisiana:

Submitted by: The Vestry of Grace Episcopal Church, Monroe, LA

Whereas Bishop MacPherson has declared himself a "Windsor Bishop", and has publicly declared in the House of Bishops that he is "disassociating (himself) from the actions of General Convention 2006 that were not compliant with the Windsor Report":

Therefore be it resolved, that the Diocese of Western Louisiana fully accepts and endorses the Windsor Report as has been delivered to us by the Anglican Consultative Council and the Archbishop of Canterbury, and

Therefore be it resolved, that the Diocese of Western Louisiana intends to remain faithful to the constitution of the Episcopal Church in its relationship to the Anglican Communion, and intends to follow whatever process or pathway that ensures our continuing place and recognition as constituent members of the Anglican Communion in communion with the See of Canterbury.

Resolution adopted by 27th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Western Louisiana:

Submitted by: The Vestry of St. Mark's Cathedral

Whereas, we the members of the Vestry of St. Mark's Cathedral, do value the bonds of affection as constituent members of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, and find strength in the common history and Christian unity of our global communion, and

Whereas we respect and affirm the words of Archbishop Robin Eames, Chairman of the Lambeth Commission, who said in his introduction to the Windsor Report: "This report is not a judgment. It is part of a process. It is part of a pilgrimage toward healing with reconciliation," and

Whereas we affirm within the Windsor Report, but not exclusively, the Instruments of Unity as bodies constituting a process not of formal power but of moral authority, and we affirm the process set forth in the Windsor Report, and

Whereas we affirm the work of our Bishop in his efforts along with other bishops and the Archbishop of Canterbury in finding a way through the current dispute that will maintain, sustain and strengthen our unity and respect for one another in the Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Diocese of Western Louisiana affirm the Windsor Report not as a judgment but as part of a process with goals of healing and reconciliation as its basis, and that we commit ourselves to the process outlined in the Windsor Report as the way forward, and

Therefore, be it resolved that we commit ourselves to exhibit the Anglican spirit of mutual respect, openness and valuing of diversity while being faithful to Scripture, tradition and reason as we pray for and work towards the unity of our Church, and that out of this adversity we may find a renewed strength to carry out the greater mission of the Church.

—Robert Harwell is the communications officer of the Diocese of
Western Louisiana.

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