With the approval of the Standing Committee, the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh has released the full text of the appeal for Alternate Primatial Oversight (APO).  The appeal, which lays out the request of the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Central Florida, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Joaquin, South Carolina and Springfield, was sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury on July 20.  It explains why the dioceses involved believe that a different form of oversight is necessary (see editor's note) and what that oversight might look like.  Since July, Dallas has withdrawn its request, but Quincy has joined the other appellants. 

“Since the Annual Convention will be asked to confirm the Standing Committee’s request for Alternative Primatial Oversight, it seemed right to make the text of the original appeal available,” said Bishop Robert Duncan.  “The actual form of APO negotiated may look somewhat different (because the appeal is in the Primates’ hands), but the functions of the Presiding Bishop to be considered for assignment are clearly stated, as are the theological teachings of Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori that have cause the appeal to be initiated,” he continued.

The full text of the appeal, available as a PDF file, is here.