The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
December 2006

Bishop Swing Delivers Keynote Convention Talk

Encouraging words about the Episcopal Church were delivered to delegates in the keynote address delivered by the Rt. Rev. William Swing, recently retired bishop of California.

"We're going through some bumpy times, and some talk about leaving," said Swing. "But there are only nine or 10 (bishops) in that camp; 110 others will not budge," he said.

He said that there is an overwhelming sense of unity among the members of the House of Bishops. "I don't worry about the Episcopal Church. I do worry about the Anglican Communion," he said.

The actions of the Episcopal Church have found some opposition among some members of the Communion. "But the Church is as close to being in the 21st Century as it can be, and more than anyone else. God has called us to do a very specific thing—and by God, we're doing it," he said to thunderous applause.

Instead of relying on the passing of "more resolutions," he encouraged church members "to hold to the truth."

He said that there are two enormous fallacies in the Anglicans Communion.

One deals with the failure of some provinces to respect diocesan boundaries. Swing noted the integrity of diocesan boundaries was decided in the year 325 at Nicea.

The other is "that gay-lesbian is the last issue that will ever divide Christians. The big, the really big issue is coming, and is exclusivity in Jesus Christ. Is there any salvation outside Jesus Christ, outside the Christian Church?"

That issue will loom, and dwarf other issues, in the coming decade, he predicted. But the church will come through that issue, as it will the current ones, he predicted.

"I believe the church is the Holy Spirit," he said.

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