Sydney supports Bishop Duncan

Posted on September 22, 2008 
Filed under News

Bishop Bob DuncanThe standing committee of the Diocese of Sydney has expressed its strong support for Bishop Robert Duncan of the American diocese of Pittsburgh, saying it is ‘deeply distressed’ that he has been deposed by the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Duncan, who has been negotiating to withdraw his diocese from the Episcopal Church because of revisionist teaching, was the subject of a deposition vote by the US House of Bishops and with 15 bishops missing, including Texans because of Hurricane Ike, the vote passed 88 to 35.  

Because of his stand on biblical authority and the historic teachings of the church, it was claimed that Bishop Duncan’s “actions over recent months and years constitute ‘abandonment of the communion of this church’”.

Bishop Duncan is one of the foremost conservative leaders in the North American wing of the Anglican communion and the Sydney standing committee commended him “as he stands firmly for the authority and teaching of the Bible.”

It also “commends Archbishop Gregory Venables for receiving Bishop Duncan into the Province of the Southern Cone and prays that God will richly bless their ministries”.

The Sydney motion is to be conveyed to Bishop Duncan, Archbishop Venables, the Episcopal Church (USA), the standing committee of the General Synod of the Anglican church of Australia and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Soon after the TEC vote, Archbishop Peter Jensen said Bishop Duncan remains in good standing with the majority of the communion.

Several significant figures in the Anglican Communion have also support him, including the primate of the Province of Southeast Asia, Dr John Chew, who said the news that the TEC had deposed “ a faithful bishop of the Gospel and the diocese under his care” was received with great distress.

Bishop Colin Bazley, the former Primate of the Southern Cone, went further and wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury asking for the Episcopal Church to be suspended from any further participation in activities of the Anglican Communion and to formally recognise a new Province in North America.

Also at its September meeting, the Sydney standing committee commended Archbishop Jensen for his work with GAFCON saying it strongly supports his involvement and encourages his efforts as honourary secretary of the Primates council.

– Russell Powell reports at SydneyAnglicans.net