A News Release from the Communications Office of the Diocese of Virginia

November 17, 2006

Standing Committee Takes Further Review of Special Committee Report

At a regularly scheduled meeting of the diocesan Standing Committee today in Fredericksburg, the Standing Committee further considered the report of the Special Committee appointed by Bishop Lee in late 2005 to help those churches continuing in conflict over the decisions of the 74th General Convention in 2003 to get on with their mission in as close a union as possible with the Diocese of Virginia.

Though the Standing Committee today did not approve or endorse the report, the Standing Committee views the report as a potentially useful way forward for those congregations in a period of deliberate discernment over their future relationship with the Episcopal Church.

“We view the report of the Special Committee as one of several possible approaches to achieving a mutually acceptable agreement,” said Col. Jean Reed, president of the Standing Committee.

The full report of the Special Committee can be found here (.pdf).

At a joint meeting Nov. 9 of the Executive Board with the Standing Committee, both bodies voted to receive the report but did not endorse or approve the report.

“The Standing Committee intends to meet with those churches proposing to separate from the Episcopal Church and review their situations on a case by case basis,” said Col. Reed.