Memorandum of Agreement
The undersigned bishops of the Episcopal Church ("ECUSA"), being of a common mind on the unfortunate divisions and canonical oppression within our Church, declare a need to establish a Network of Confessing Dioceses and Congregations, and to that end agree as follows:
- The purpose of the Network is to bring together those dioceses and congregations which hold to the centrality and authority of Holy Scripture and, in keeping with the Preamble to the Constitution of ECUSA, to be faithful in upholding and propagating the historic faith and order; pursuing the apostolic mission to a troubled and fallen church, nation and world.
- The Network shall be formed and shall operate in good faith within the Constitution of ECUSA.
- Membership in the Network shall be open to those dioceses and congregations which share the intent of this agreement.
- We hereby appoint the Rt. Rev Robert William Duncan as Moderator and Convening Authority of the Network to be formed.
- The Moderator shall direct the preparation of an appropriate Charter as the incorporating document for the Network for formal adoption by member dioceses.
- The Moderator shall appoint a steering committee to provide for the prompt and orderly formation of the Network.
- The Moderator shall take necessary steps to obtain recognition of the Network from Anglican Primates and Provinces, as well as from other churches with which we have or may have ecumenical contact.
- The Network, in cooperation with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Primates, shall participate in the providing of adequate episcopal oversight to congregations within ECUSA that request it.
- The signatory parties may amend this Memorandum of Agreement by subsequent written agreement.
In witness whereof we have fixed our hands this twentieth day of November 2003.
+Edward L. Salmon
Bishop of South Carolina
+Jack L. Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth
+James M. Stanton
Bishop of Dallas
+Robert W. Duncan
Bishop of Pittsburgh
Nine additional bishops have also added their names to the Memorandum. A diocese affiliates with the Network through a vote of its annual convention.