We, the bishops of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, stand in unity under Jesus Christ, who makes us one by the Spirit of his Father. Our communion of churches remains strong in the thrice-bound cords of divine love that the Spirit makes possible, especially in our weakness.

As bishops of the People of God it is first and foremost our duty to guard the faith, doctrine, and unity of the Church. When we fail to do that, the faithful of the church are vulnerable to scandal and injury. It is to fulfill this duty that we speak openly now, to comfort the sheep of this little flock and to let the skeptics visible and invisible know that this communion's bishops stand sure in the confidence and peace that Christ alone gives.

As the senior bishops met in Thomaston, Georgia, June 7-8, we re- dedicated ourselves to that ongoing work of unity, charitable engagement, and truth-seeking. The commitment continues.

As has been reported widely, our brother bishop, The Most Rev. Frederick Fick, and his auxiliary bishop, The Most Rev. Donald Miles, resigned from the Charismatic Episcopal Church in late May. The resignations of a majority (but by no means all) of the clergy and parishes of the Great Lakes Diocese, while never received in writing by us, were also widely reported.

Bishop Fick's resignation took us by surprise, as he had left the recent House of Bishops meeting (in mid-March), along with all his brothers, reenergized and renewed about the vision and work of the Charismatic Episcopal Church and dedicated to making us a better church. He publicly stated his loyalty to his brothers and pledged to work together with us as we built this church for the next generation. The bishops were disappointed by this unilateral departure taken without their advice and counsel.

The bishops of the Charismatic Episcopal Church were eager to share with Bishop Fick that, if by things done or things left undone, we had contributed to his sudden and alarming departure, we publicly request his forgiveness and the forgiveness of all the faithful clergy and laity who have been affected.

Out of deep love and respect for their brother, and for the clergy and people of the Great Lakes Diocese, Archbishop Adler, Archbishop Sly, and Bishop Bates traveled to Detroit this week to meet with Frederick Fick, and with those clergy of the diocese who were able to meet with them on such short notice.

Honest discussions and confrontations ensued concerning a variety of problems in our church and perceptions concerning some of the leaders. While the bishops repeatedly asked for specificity or some verifiable charge, no specific heresy, immoral act, or gross negligence was proffered against any leader of the Charismatic Episcopal Church. The issues, though varied, revealed at least one significant factor that led to the resignations: a breakdown in communication between Bishop Fick and his brother bishops and between Bishop Fick and his clergy, a breakdown for which Bishop Fick acknowledged sole responsibility throughout the meetings in Detroit.

Some progress was achieved in a spirit of reconciliation, but there is yet more work to be done.

We are pleased to announce that Bishop Frederick Fick and Archbishop Adler have mutually withdrawn Bishop Fick's resignation from the Charismatic Episcopal Church. He requested an indefinite sabbatical from the episcopacy, and will continue to pastor St. John the Apostle Church in Clinton Township, Michigan. It is our fond hope that he will continue to work with young men as a mentor of ministers and ministries.

At Bishop Fick's suggestion, all of the clergy of the Great Lakes Diocese were given 90 days to prayerfully consider whether to remain in the Charismatic Episcopal Church and were immediately invited back by the bishops without question or suspicion. Many clergy confessed they did not need additional time to make such a decision and afterward renewed their commitment to our communion of churches.

A few may have received reports that the Most Rev. Philip C. Zampino and the clergy and laity of Life in Jesus Community in Maryland have also resigned from the CEC. This is true, but their resignation has not been accepted by the bishops. We are diligently seeking to restore our table fellowship with these our precious brothers and sisters in Christ. The churches of Bishop Zampino's diocese, with the exception of one parish and one new mission, remain committed to the vision and work of our church and are not leaving. We trust that this serious tear will also, by divine mercy, be healed.

A meeting of the Eastern Province clergy (Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) has been called for June 22 at which Archbishop Randolph Sly, Bishop Richard Lipka, Archbishop Randolph Adler, and Bishop Craig Bates seek to encourage, clarify and strengthen their brothers in God and to pray for reunion and divine blessing.

In the meantime, we actively reach out to all clergy and congregations that remain estranged from the communion and ask your contrite prayers that God will have mercy on the Charismatic Episcopal Church and its clergy and people.

We ask all of the faithful to walk as instruments of peace and to walk in love. "Love bears all things. Believes all things. Hopes all things. Love never fails." Please bear yourselves in charity toward all our brothers and sisters in this difficult time.

We believe God called us into existence for a reason. We remain dedicated to the founding vision of our communion and ask all of the faithful to stand with us as intercessors and spiritual warriors, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

As bishops we bear responsibility for all that happens within the Charismatic Episcopal Church and we ask your forgiveness for any errors or injuries real or perceived, known to us or unknownwe have committed by omission or commission. We are truly sorry for this tear in our unity and accept that we bear, as the spiritual heads of our communion, this burden. We covet your prayers.

We are thankful to God for the reunion achieved this week and ask for grace from the Throne of God to make our reconciliation complete and lasting.

The peace and benediction of Christ be with you all,

Signed: The Patriarch's Council of the Charismatic Episcopal Church