"The American province is lost and something will have to replace it," said Anglican Communion Network moderator the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan.
Last month, Duncan invited conservative leaders and major breakaway Anglican groups to initiate discussions on forming a separate Anglican structure in the United States and take their "Common Cause Partnership" to the next level.
The network is "a step forward for Common Cause that allows the constituent partners to retain their identity and autonomy while forming a more coherent and accountable structure. None of the groups disappear and none of the groups stop their gospel mission... Yet we are forming a more coherent whole," Bishop-elect John Guernsey said.
The Episcopal Church, which widened rifts in the Anglican Communion when it consecrated an openly gay bishop in 2003, has been given a Sept. 30 deadline to unequivocally pledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorise official prayers for same-sex couples.
Although The Episcopal Church expressed desire to remain in the Anglican Communion, Duncan believes the U.S. branch will "walk apart" from the global communion. A meeting for the discussion is scheduled for Sept. 25-28.
Meanwhile, several lawsuits over church property continue to wrack The Episcopal Church as breakaway Anglican parishes continue to worship in the churches while Episcopal dioceses file suit to reclaim the properties for The Episcopal Church.
The Anglican Communion Network's Annual Council passed a resolution Tuesday urging all existing litigation between The Episcopal Church and those that have split be suspended. Moreover, the network resolved to declare its willingness to engage in mediation to find a mutually agreeable way forward. The resolution echoes the request made by primates (leaders of the Anglican Communion's 38 provinces worldwide) earlier this year, asking The Episcopal Church to drop all litigation over property issues. Litigation, however, has continued.
Each of the Common Cause Partnership's 10 members is independently considering the ratified Theological Statement.
The Anglican Communion Network was birthed in March 2004 and is currently comprised of over 900 parishes and over 2,200 clergy.
