from Episcopal Clergy in Dallas

The following statement is being circulated among clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. The text follows. Signatures are still being collected, according to a priest there. The statement has been posted on the Via Media Dallas website.

It must take great courage to sign a statement such as this, given the tenor of things under the current Bishop of Dallas. Prayers go up for these faithful Episcopalian Christians!

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.

We, the undersigned priests of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, hereby state our intent to remain members of The Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

We make this response to the statement made by the Standing Committee of the Diocese calling for “disassociation” from the actions and leadership of The Episcopal Church. We will not participate in any such “disassociation.”

We are not now, and never have been, of one mind about decisions made by the triennial meetings of the General Convention - nor the annual meetings of the Diocesan Convention. When we differ, there are canonical processes through which we are called to resolve our differences. We believe that God’s Truth is found in staying together and living with our different understandings of that Truth. This is at the heart of the Episcopal tradition. The Body of Christ, at any time in history, has flourished with differing interpretations of Holy Scripture, differing appreciations of tradition and differing understandings of the function of reason in its common life. This is a time to cling to one another and to Christ for the work of His Church. We are bound to one another and with all members of the Church in and by Christ.

We are encouraged by the Bishop’s call for a time of listening prior to our October Diocesan Convention, and in that spirit, it seems right that those among us who do not plan on leaving The Episcopal Church state that clearly at this time.

Thomas Blackmon, The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
Joy A. Daley, The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
Jerry D. Godwin, The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
Amy G. Heller, Parish Episcopal School and Episcopal Church of the Ascension
Virginia Holleman, The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
Donald K. Johnson, St. Barnabus Episcopal Church, Denton
Barbara S. Kelton, The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
Ernest Wyatt McAfee, Episcopal Church of the Ascension
Wylie Miller, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church
Kai Ryan, Episcopal Church of the Ascension
Trudie Smither, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church
Sharon Turner, The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
Stephen Waller, The Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle
Christianne McKee, The Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle
George E. Luck, retired, assisting at The Cathedral Church of St. Matthew
Jay A. Hobbs, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (Dallas)
James Frensley (Colorado) licensed in Dallas, St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, Auxiliary
James W. Murphree
Arthur L. Sargent, retired
Nancy Smalley
Micahel Winsor (New York)
David H. Knight (Virginia), licensed in Dallas, St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
Mark S. Anschutz, retired
Christiana Olsen (Massachusetts) licensed in Dallas, Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
The Rev. Jim Frensley (Colorado), licensed in Dallas, St. Michael & All Angels
The Rev. Ernest E. Hunt, III (American Convocation of Churches), retired, licensed in Dallas
The Rev. Jimmye E. Kimmey (New York), licensed in Dallas, St. Barnabas, Denton
The Rev. Raymond C. Ball, All Saints' Episcopal Church
The Rev. Pamela Theodore, (licensed in Arkansas)