ARCIC co-chairman, Frank Griswold, to step down
29 November 2003 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4950
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has received the resignation of the presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (USA), Bishop Frank Griswold, as Anglican Co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission. Following recent events in the life of ECUSA, Bishop Griswold has written to the Archbishop of Canterbury to announce his decision, in the interests of “not jeopardizing the present and future life and work of the Commission”. In his response, Archbishop Williams thanked Bishop Griswold for his “outstanding labour and commitment.” The text of the letters is below.
ARCIC began work in 1970, following the historic meeting of Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI in Rome in 1966. It has produced agreed statements on many of the questions that have divided the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, particularly in the areas of Eucharist, Ministry and Authority. Bishop Griswold has been the Anglican Co-chair since 1998. The Roman Catholic co-chair is Archbishop Alex Brunett, Archbishop of Seattle. A new Anglican co-chair will be appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, after consultation with the Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council.
Text of the letter from Bishop Frank Griswold:
My dear Rowan,
Given recent events in the life of the Episcopal Church in the United States, and the strain they have caused in the relationship between the Holy See and the Anglican Communion, I wish to submit my resignation as Anglican Co-chair, and member of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission. I do so not without regret, but in the interest of not jeopardizing the present and future life and work of the Commission of which I was privileged to be a member.
With continuing prayer for the full and visible communion of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, for the sake of our broken and divided world, I am,
Yours sincerely in Christ,
The Most Revd Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate
Episcopal Church, USA
Text of reply from Archbishop Rowan:
Dear Frank,
This is to confirm formally that I have received the notice of your resignation from ARCIC. As you will know, I am very sorry that this has seemed the best course, but I cannot let the moment pass without paying tribute to your outstanding labour and commitment in this context over many years. Thank you for all you have done for this crucial dialogue.
With every blessing,
+Rowan Cantuar