A statement of loyalty

The Continuing Episcopalians of Tennessee (CET) are a growing group of concerned lay people and clergy in the Diocese of Tennessee committed to remaining within the Episcopal Church. We believe that our common faith in Jesus Christ is more important than anything that might divide us.

The issues faced by the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion are as important as they are complex.We believe that they can be resolved within the framework of the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church (USA) which all of our bishops, priests, and deacons have vowed to uphold. We also believe that the sole appropriate venue for deciding the Episcopal Church’s response to concerns that have been expressed by our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion is in the General Convention, at which the interests of Tennessee Episcopalians are represented by our bishop and elected deputies.

Whatever its merits for individuals who disagree with the actions of the General Convention, a decision by our diocesan convention to affiliate with the Anglican Network would only bring further divisions and animosity to our diocese. We are also concerned that affiliation with the Network could be used as a pretext to attempt to divide our diocese from the Episcopal Church.

Even the CET as an association is not entirely of one mind about the issues that are facing the Church today, however, we do believe that our differences can be worked out in the context of our common prayer and discipleship.We reaffirm our full confidence in Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Church, and we place our whole trust in his grace and love, which is more than sufficient for these times.

[COVENANT, Number 21, September 2005]