Citing disagreement with 2006 and 2003 General Convention actions, the standing committee of the 41-congregation Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, on June 26 asked its bishop to "explore" avenues for alternative primatial oversight.
The standing committees of the dioceses of Central Florida, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, San Joaquin and South Carolina have made similar requests, none of which is as yet ratified by a diocesan convention.
The Springfield action brings to six the number of standing committees seeking alternative primatial oversight among the Episcopal Church’s total 110 dioceses and one comparable geographic convocation.
"...[T]The Standing Committee of this Diocese requests our Bishop to intentially and deliberately explore avenues for alternative primatial oversight, and, as appropriate, notwithstanding this Diocese’s status as a constituent member of the Episcopal Church," the Springfield Standing Committee’s resolution reads in part.
The resolution is attached to a June 30 pastoral letter, posted to the diocesan website, from Springfield Bishop Peter Beckwith. In his pastoral letter, Beckwith also issues a "pastoral direction and solemn pastoral warning” prohibiting use without "my specific, written permission granted in advance” of the Revised Common Lectionary and liturgical "Rites of Passage” observances approved by the 75th General Convention.
Full text of Bishop's Pastoral Letter: http://www.episcopalspringfield.org
Related ENS report: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_76450_ENG_HTM.htm
