[Athanasius]

PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release

24 November 2003, Office of the Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican
Church in South East Asia

Breaking of Communion with the Episcopal Church of the United States of
America consequent on the purported consecration of a gay bishop

The Synod of the Province of the Anglican Church of South East Asia ('the
Province') unanimously reject the purported consecration of Dr Gene J
Robinson ('Robinson') on 2 November 2003 by the Episcopal Church in the
United States of America ('ECUSA') in New Hampshire, as a bishop in the
Anglican Church. The Province views the purported consecration as a flagrant
disregard of the fundamental teachings of the Bible and the long established
doctrines of the Church.

As Dr Gene J Robinson is a practising homosexual who had divorced his wife
and has for the last 13 years been living with a male partner, the Province
cannot and do not recognize his consecration and ministry in the Anglican
church.

In view of ECUSA's action in proceeding with the consecration despite the
warnings and pleas of a large majority of Anglican churches worldwide, the
Province regrets that communion with the ECUSA as well as those who voted
for the consecration and those who participated in the consecration service
is now broken.

This means that the Province no longer treats those in ECUSA who carried out
and supported the act of consecration as brothers and sisters in Christ
until and unless they repent of their action and return to embrace Biblical
truths. At the same time, the Province remains in fellowship with the
faithful believers within ECUSA who rightly oppose and reject the erroneous
actions of their house.

This decision was made unanimously at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Synod
held in Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia on 20 November 2003. A copy of the resolution
is attached for general information.

For Media Inquiries, please contact:
The Most Revd Datuk YONG Ping Chung
Tel: 088-245846
Fax: 088-245942
Email: diocesan@tm.net.my

Background on the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia

The Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia is a union of all
Anglican churches in South East Asia, with ecclesiastical responsibility
over 9 nations namely: Malaysia (West Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah),
Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos and Nepal.

Anglican churches are organized into dioceses, with each diocese being
headed by a Bishop. Each diocese is then part of a province, which is led by
its overall spiritual leader, known ecclesiastically as the Primate. The
Primate of the Province is currently Archbishop, Most Rev Datuk Yong Ping
Chung of the Diocese of Sabah.

The Anglican Communion is a historical fellowship of Anglican churches
worldwide. They meet formally at Lambeth Conferences (named after the
Lambeth Palace, where the Archbishop of Canterbury as Primate of the Church
of England presides) once every 10 years for fellowship and to discuss
matters concerning church doctrines and issues that may impact the church
and/or society. Provinces are represented at these Conferences by their
bishops and Primates. There are altogether 38 Primates in the Anglican
Communion. In between Conferences, Primates meet for consultations.

At the Lambeth Conference 1998, the attempt to authorize and implement
public blessing of same-sex unions/'marriages' was defeated by a large
majority of bishops despite strong lobbying from ECUSA [Episcopal Church of
the United States of America] and some bishops in England, Canada and
Australia. The Province of South East Asia has consistently maintained that
same sex unions are against the course of nature, totally against Biblical
teachings and Church doctrines and an abomination to God.

[Ted Logan]

Good news, in my opinion.