In a communication to Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams extended thanks to the Episcopal Church's Executive Council for its decision to withdraw its three American members from official participation in the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Nottingham, England in June.
"I have just received the news of the decision about ACC. Thank you all," Williams said. "I can guess how hard it will have been, but you have acted very generously and constructively and I hope this will bear the fruit that it should."
The Council's letter, addressed to the Rt. Rev. John C. Paterson, chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, stated that "In the spirit of the Covenant Statement recently adopted by our House of Bishops, we voluntarily withdraw our members from official participation in the ACC as it meets in Nottingham. As an expression of our desire 'to bear one another's burdens' (Galatians 6:2), we are asking our members to be present at the meeting to listen to reports on the life and ministry we share across the Communion and to be available for conversation and consultation."
