For the House of Bishops

My dear brothers and sisters:

The Council of Advice has just met with me and, given the fact that its members are elected from each of the nine provinces, their reports on the state of the church from their several perspectives were immensely helpful to me. What they had to say confirmed much of what I have been hearing from you and others about the life we share in Christ and the complexities of the present moment. 

Our first order of the business was the election of a new president of the Council. I am happy to report that Charles Jenkins was unanimously elected. 

Once again I was made aware of the incredible work that so many of you have done in caring for your dioceses following the General Convention, and of the sacrificial expenditure of yourselves in listening to various voices and serving as ministers of interpretation and encouragement.  Never have I felt more privileged to be a member of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church. 

I have certainly had my burdens to bear as well, though in a somewhat different way, and have had to experience the deep sadness of relationships becoming impaired or broken.  At the same time I find an unexpected confidence stirring within me, and look ahead with a hope not of my own making. 

One of the matters the Council discussed at some length was Supplemental Episcopal Pastoral Care and the draft that was circulated to you all on October 31 for discussion and, where appropriate, immediate implementation.  I note here that the draft was marked "confidential" in order to insure that you received it before it found its way onto the web.  At this point, you can certainly strike "confidential" and share it as you wish.

You will be hearing from Charles Jenkins shortly about the Council's expectation that Supplemental Episcopal Pastoral Care will be discussed thoroughly at forthcoming provincial meetings of bishops.  We will then gather reactions both to the draft and the implementation of its provisions in preparation for further revision and discussion by the House as a whole at our meeting in March. 

Shortly after sending the draft on Supplemental Episcopal Pastoral Care to you I sent it along to the Archbishop of Canterbury through his chancellor, who has been in conversation about it with my chancellor.  I have been in consultation with the Archbishop, and in a conversation earlier this week he made it clear that the responsibility for working out a form of extended episcopal ministry lies within our province.  Indeed, the consultation envisaged in the statement of the primates following our October meeting is precisely that and does not involve some kind of direct intervention on his part. 

The matter of Supplemental Episcopal Pastoral Care in the Episcopal Church is clearly the responsibility of our bishops - to whom is given the ministry of oversight - and we are obliged to treat it with full seriousness. It is my firm belief that by exercising generosity and pastoral sensitivity in a spirit of trust we can meet the needs of all of our congregations. 

I note here how important it is for all of us who hold jurisdiction to be full partners in this work, regardless of our points of view.  The various speculations about alternative structures and realignments are unhelpful and draw us away from the hard work we must do together in order to be faithful as chief pastors to all of our people, and to honor our call to be ministers of Christ's reconciling love.

As we journey through these Advent days let us remember that the one who came among us and will come again is with us now. With open and undefended hearts may we welcome the one who is the Word and allow ourselves to be drawn more fully and deeply into his ongoing work of drawing all things to himself.

This comes as always with my gratitude and love,

Yours in Christ,

Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate