12 Pittsburgh Clergy Break with Bishop

Eight rectors and four other priests in the Diocese of Pittsburgh have broken ranks with their bishop, the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, saying they will continue to work for reform from within rather than leaving The Episcopal Church.

 

“We are rectors and clergy in good standing of the Diocese of Pittsburgh who believe the best way forward for renewal and reformation of The Episcopal Church is support for the Windsor Report and its recommendations,” said the statement, which was addressed to the “people and clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.”

 

“While we understand the need of many of our brothers and sisters to leave The Episcopal Church, we have determined to remain within, and not realign out of The Episcopal Church. We intend to ‘keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints’.”

 

The 12 do not have an official spokesperson, according to the Rev. Jim Simons, rector of St. Michael’s, Church, Ligonier, Pa., and a member of the president of the House of Deputies’ council of advice.

 

“This is a very loosely organized group of folks,” he said. “If you are in the room at a particular point, then it means you intend to stay.”

 

Fr. Simons said the clergy had first expressed their concerns to Bishop Duncan about plans to remove the diocese from The Episcopal Church prior to the diocesan convention in November.

 

“Most of us like and respect Bishop Duncan very much,” said the Rev. Scott Quinn, rector of Nativity, Crafton, and the senior member of the Pittsburgh clerical order. “We are not in theological disagreement,” he said, but added, “We feel he is going in a wrong direction in trying to leave.”

 

Fr. Simons said the group decided to go public now partly because they wanted to let Anglicans who are still part of The Episcopal Church in Western Pennsylvania know that there is a viable alternative to realignment. The all-but-certain reorganization of the diocesan leadership after disaffiliation does not have to mean surrendering leadership of the Episcopal diocese to the minority who are opposed to reform, he said.

 

Fr. Simons said the clergy signed as individuals, not on behalf of their congregations, but he is confident that supporters of their position already outnumber supporters of another group determined to remain, Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh (PEP). Both Fr. Simons and Fr. Quinn said the 12 clergy have no plans at this time to coordinate or consult formally with leaders of PEP.

 

“At some point we will have to figure out how we relate to each other, especially if we are both going to remain within The Episcopal Church,” Fr. Quinn said.