We are in a very difficult time following the decision by the last General Convention of the Episcopal Church to validate the consecration of an active homosexual as the Bishop of New Hampshire. Of this pending consecration the Primates of the Anglican Communion have written,

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Creation and Fall, translated by John C. Fletcher. (New York: Macmillan, 1959), p.11

The Church will survive and overcome those "who think the thoughts of the old world" in our present situation. It always has. The Church is an eternal army marching down the ages under the sign of the Cross through the very portals of heaven itself. Our present struggles will end up being a footnote in Church History, and that history in the long view will reveal that we either have been faithful to Holy Scripture and the ongoing tradition of the Church, or we have not. The men of this world who try to lay claim to the Church will themselves be called to a decision that they cannot avoid.

In the meantime, as Christians faithful to the revealed Word of God, we are also called to account for our own actions and decisions. Will we take an active responsible part in the affairs of the Church today? For that reason I presented a motion to our Diocesan Convention on October 18th, 2003. That motion reduced our diocese's contribution to the national church from $512,161 to zero. The motion passed. The $512,161 will be placed in an account designated for mission work to be administered by our Diocesan Executive Council. In presenting the motion I made the following remarks. First the motion was not made out of a desire to be punitive or vindictive. Rather it is simply a response that comes from grief and sorrow at the actions of the National Church. Second, our offering and oblations are holy. We cannot use holy offerings for something that we feel is not holy. The question was, "Do we support financially the decision to consecrate an active homosexual as the Bishop of New Hampshire?" The answer is "No." A "mind of the house resolution" was also passed that would allow some churches "to send funds to the national church should their vestries approve."

I also actively supported two other significant resolutions. Both passed. One resolution stated in part "holy matrimony shall mean the exclusive physical and spiritual union of one man and one woman entered into within the community of faith" and also made it clear that this standard applies to all clergy within the diocese. It is a shame to have to define this, but it is a reflection of the times in which we live. The other resolution asked Canon Robinson to renounce his position as bishop-elect of the Diocese of New Hampshire. I don't believe that he will, but it is important for us to make our position clear.