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An effort to bar the Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, from active ministry (known as an “inhibition”) has not been supported by The Episcopal Church’s senior bishops.

The news, along with a copy of the allegations made by the chancellor to The Episcopal Church’s (TEC) Presiding Bishop against Bishop Duncan and the TEC Title IV Review Committee’s decision to certify that, in their opinion, Bishop Duncan “had abandoned the communion of this church,” came in a letter from Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori late in the day on January 15.

Bishop Jefferts Schori’s letter stated that under Canon IV.9, “the Title IV Review Committee certified to me that you have abandoned the Communion of this Church.” Bishop Jefferts Schori enclosed with her letter the 40 page “Certification.” Bishop Jefferts Schori then stated:

“Pursuant to that Canon, I submitted the matter to the three senior bishops of this Church having jurisdiction - Bishop Frade of Southeast Florida, Lee of Virginia, and Wimberly of Texas - and asked that they consent to your inhibition pending consideration of this matter by the House of Bishops.  On 11 January 2008, they informed me that such consents would not be given at this time by all three bishops.” In fact, both Bishop Peter Lee of Virginia and Bishop Donald Wimberly of Texas have since stated that they both rejected the move to inhibit Bishop Duncan.

Bishop Duncan offered a brief response to the news, saying, “Few bishops have been more loyal to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church.  I have not abandoned the Communion of this Church. I will continue to serve and minister as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.”