Bishop Stanton’s corrections of AP story

Subject: Comments from Bishop Stanton

To:* dallasclergy@listserve.com

*Subject:* [Dallas Episcopal Clergy] AP Story – Corrections

Brothers and Sisters:

One among you sent me an AP story. You may get questions about this, or
may have already had questions about similar stories.

I give you this message as a correction of what may be read:

A recent Associated Press story by Matt Curry concerning the Diocese of
Dallas is in error. Here are excerpts which should be corrected:

“Dallas Bishop James M. Stanton is among the leaders of seven Episcopal
Dioceses who have rejected the authority of the denomination’s incoming
national leader, Nevada Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, as the debate
over the Bible and gay relationships tears at the church.”

I have not “rejected” the authority of anyone. I have steadfastly
maintained that I would live under and uphold the Constitution and
Canons of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Shchori is the duly elected
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. I acknowledge and accept that
fact.

“For now, Stanton has asked Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the
spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans, for oversight from an
Anglican leader instead of being under the American church.”

This is simply not the case. I have made no such request from the
Archbishop, and would not do so. The exercise of oversight in this
Church is vested in the Bishop of the Diocese. This Diocese is a diocese
“under the American church” – fully a diocese of the Episcopal Church.

Whether that changes, and when, and how depends on the Convention of the
Diocese. It does not depend on me or the Archbishop of Canterbury.

“The Diocese of Dallas withheld payments to the national church after
Robsinson was confirmed.”

The Executive Council of the Diocese gave each congregation the right to
send or redirect their contributions to support the General Church. This
decision was confirmed by the Convention of the Diocese. Support or
non-support is a parish decision.

Because something shows up in print – and does so again and again – does
not make it so.

Faithfully,

The Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton

Bishop of Dallas