This resolution was presented at the 2002 Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of WNY by the clergy and vestry of St. Bartholomew's, Tonawanda;  the clergy and vestry of St. Stephen's, Niagara Falls;  the clergy and vestry of St. Michael and All Angels, Buffalo;  and the clergy and council of St. Peter's, Forestville.

Resolution — AFFIRMING OUR UNITY WITH THE WORLDWIDE ANGLICAN COMMUNION

1    Resolved, that this 165th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Western New York does
2    affirm its unity with the worldwide Anglican Communion in the matter of traditional
3    sexual values; and

4    Be it further resolved, that this affirmation of unity asserts that both Holy Scripture and
5    the tradition of the worldwide Anglican Church "uphold faithfulness in marriage between
6    a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believe that abstinence is right for those who
7    are not called to marriage" (Lambeth, 1998; Resolution 1.10).

Explanation
On October 4, 2001, the Rt. Rev. Wayne P. Wright, the bishop of Delaware, authorized the blessing of same-sex relationships.   On June 17, 2002, the Rt. Rev. Michael Ingham of the Diocese of New Westminster, Canada,  assented to a decision at the diocese's annual meeting to proceed with same- sex blessings.  On July 1, 2002, Bishop William E. Smalley of the diocese of Kansas decided to permit homosexual couples and unmarried heterosexual couples to have their relationships blessed.

On September 25, 2002 the Anglican Consultative Council, the interim executive body that addresses matters of the Anglican Communion between Lambeth Conferences, unanimously passed a resolution urging individual Anglican dioceses to consider the impact of their actions upon the wider Anglican Communion.  Both former Archbishop Carey and current Archbishop Williams have expressed their concern in this regard.  Archbishop Carey has stated, "In short, my concern is that our Communion is being steadily undermined by dioceses and individual bishops taking unilateral action, usually (but not always) in matters to do with sexuality; and as a result steadily driving us towards serious fragmentation and the real possibility of two (or, more likely, many more) distinct Anglican bodies emerging." 

Similarly, Archbishop Rowan Williams on the day of his appointment in a letter to his fellow primates addressed the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution which said homosexual practice was not compatible with scripture.  He said, "the resolution clearly is the mind of the overwhelming majority of the Communion, and what the Communion will not approve or authorize."  He further stated, "I accept that any individual diocese or even province that officially overturns or repudiates this resolution poses a substantial problem for the sacramental unity of the Communion."

Therefore, the purpose of  this resolution is to be a public statement of record declaring that the Diocese of Western New York is of like mind and spirit with the worldwide Anglican Communion in matters of appropriate sexuality.   Furthermore, by this public declaration the Diocese of Western New York announces its intention to govern itself in a manner consistent with the traditions and values, which have proceeded out of the wisdom and vision of the Anglican Church in its faithfulness to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The clergy and vestry of St. Bartholomew's, Tonawanda;  the clergy and vestry of St. Stephen's, Niagara Falls;  the clergy and vestry of St. Michael's and All Angels, Buffalo;  and the clergy and council of St. Peter's, Forestville recommend ADOPTION of this Resolution.