September 28, 2007

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

I have just returned from the House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans. I was there with my wife Sharon, Rodney Michel, Bob and Nancy Ihloff and Sharon Tillman, our Communications Editor. Attached are two communiqués from the House, one on the specific questions and concerns before us and one on the context of our work in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Please circulate this letter and both of these communiqués as is best and appropriate.

On the matter of the concerns before us from the Primates and the rest of the Anglican Communion, I want to offer a few reflections. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, was with us to both hear from us and to share with us. In addition were members of the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates. They listened to us, were fully a part of our work, and spoke to us. I believe that we came away with a better understanding of one another. Of greatest importance, is that we understand what it means to be in communion, and on an even deeper level, what it means to be the Church. We are in challenging times, and also times of great opportunity, if we can truly listen to one another and walk together. My analogy is that when people are trying to walk and talk it is often the case that one is walking ahead of the other which makes it impossible for the other to hear or be heard. My hope and my prayer is that this meeting will make it possible for us to walk together and to truly listen, one to the other. Some of you may feel that we gave up too much; others may feel that we did not go far enough. I understand these feelings. It is critical that you know I have never seen the House of Bishops work more respectfully or more prayerfully. All bishops were engaged, across the theological spectrum.

We went to New Orleans to offer our support for the rebuilding after hurricane Katrina. Last spring the Presiding Bishop challenged all of the dioceses to offer financial support and to consider if they could raise $10,000.00 each. Our effort was focused around our convention and the presence of the Bishop of Mississippi, the Right Rev. Duncan Gray, III. I am pleased to say the total gift to date is $11, 410.00! And we can keep on giving. In addition a separate gift of $2,500.00 was given by KERMIT. In total the House of Bishops raised just under one million dollars! We also gave time to work and most of us from Maryland went to Mississippi. Bob and Nancy worked on a health clinic in New Orleans. I was challenged to see the work that is remaining and am committed to continuing the good work we have started. Our support is still needed and absolutely critical!

I want to commend the leadership of our Primate and Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori whose transparent, firm but gentle, leadership made it possible for us to truly work as a community of bishops.

In the coming weeks I will be announcing other opportunities for us in the Diocese of Maryland to strengthen our work in the Anglican Communion. In our companion relationship with the Diocese of Accra, and in other opportunities, I want us to be fully a part of the prayerful and faithful mission and life in the Anglican Communion.

I am most appreciative of your prayers during our meeting and let us now pray and work for a deepened sense of God’s call to us in the Diocese of Maryland, the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

In Christ’s peace,