Bishop Responds to Primates Meeting Communiqué

Bishop Michael Bird has expressed his "profound disappointment" ‎with news arising from the recent Primates Meeting that The Episcopal Church will be suspended for a period of three years from formal leadership roles within the Anglican Communion. "We stand together with our sister and brother Anglicans in The Episcopal Church," said the Bishop, and "give thanks for their faithful witness to the loving purposes of God."

The Bishop is holding in his prayers all those whose dignity is impacted by the Communiqué from the Primates, especially those who identify as LGBTQ2. While we recognize the pain experienced by many as a result of the decisions taken at the Primates Meeting, Bishop Michael echoes Archbishop Curry’s words that our vocation may be to help the Communion “grow in a direction where we can realize and live the love that God has for us all.” 

Bishop Michael also deeply appreciates our own Primate's gracious leadership and his invitation to continue to pray for the primates as well as for ourselves that we might be faithful to our calling to "be the face of Jesus in this world." The Anglican Church of Canada has issued an initial statement by our Primate and a more fulsome statement is expected on Monday. 

As part of his own ongoing commitment to the Anglican Communion, Bishop Michael participates in an annual Consultation of Anglican Bishops in Dialogue. Given the developments at the Primates Meeting, Bishop Michael feels that this gathering continues to be "so important in the life of the Anglican Communion." Since 2010, the rotating group of African and North American bishops have met annually at locales around the world. Their gatherings facilitate learning about each other’s contexts and finding pathways for healing and reconciliation. The next consultation is scheduled for May 2016 in Ghana.

Bishop Michael also reiterates his hope and expectation that all Anglicans in Niagara will prayerfully engage with recent report of the Commission on the Marriage Canon entitled "This Holy Estate" in the lead up to our General Synod this July.