For my entire Episcopacy and for most of my ordained ministry, we have faced controversy - in many instances it is just a new challenge at the same locale. My friends, we cannot become paralyzed.

I value Anglican Communion, I value the work we have done with members of the Communion as a Diocese, as congregations and as individual members, and I know that we, as the Diocese of Long Island and as individuals, congregations and members, are valued, in turn, by the Communion because, to quote from the Archbishop of Canterbury, "an isolated local church is less than a complete church." But let me emphasize that I more deeply value who we are as The Episcopal Church because our democratic decision-making processes define us as a Church, and I hold office as your bishop due to those processes. We must be true to the Church that we are, and we cannot be defined by others.

You have often heard me say that I am in "middle management." In that role, I am charged with leading this Diocese and all within its boundaries to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be mission-minded as we go about carrying out our ministry. Alternative primatial oversight, alternative Episcopal oversight, regular primatial oversight for those who wish to remain when others depart are but a few of the plethora of questions that canon law scholars, theologians and chancellors from around this church will be wrestling with for years to come. I will let others work on those weighty decisions and go on about my middle management work and ministry, and I encourage you to do likewise.

While working at my desk today, I prepared a request for an extension of a religious worker's visa for a priest of this diocese. In that request, I described the relationship and interdependence of The Episcopal Church and the Church of that Province. I pray that the immigration officer is not reading the newspaper, thereby making a premature assumption that my statement is not accurate. There is so much at stake here on all levels, and this immigration matter is but one small but important example.

In closing, I ask that you pray for the unity of the Church, to pray for our Primate and Primate-elect, for the leaders of the Anglican Communion, and for all who feel excluded and marginalized, no matter their location on the religious political spectrum, and finally to pray that we, as faithful witnesses, may carry on while this current storm rages on about us. Pray for the Church.

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

The Right Reverend Orris G. Walker, Jr.
Bishop of Long Island

Linda Malvin for Bishop Walker