Clergy Brethren and People of the Diocese of the West:

Undoubtedly you have read and or heard of the news from the Vatican regarding our petition to be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The House of Bishops of the ACA held a meeting via teleconference soon after the announcement was made and a statement was issued which appears on our Diocesan and ACA Websites. This was our initial public response. There is much more work in dialogue and other communication necessary before any action will be taken by the ACA. We first need to receive the complete document "Apostolic Constitution" in order to study its requirements to determine whether it is something the ACA wishes to accept. Until that document is in the hands of the House of Bishops, anything you hear is mere conjecture (which turns into unnecessary and hurtful gossip!). At the Clericus which precedes Synod next week, I will share with you all the information I will have received by that time and we can discuss the matter together. I believe there will be an extraordinary ACA Synod scheduled to discuss the issue and determine the course of action our body will take. This special Synod has not yet been announced, because the date has not been set, but I understand it will take place sometime within the next three months.

So, in summary, please draw no conclusions about the issue of Unity with Rome until ALL the information is available to us. There are no secrets now and I trust there will be none in the future. It is a very important time in the life of the Church Catholic and I ask your prayers for us all, that we may make godly decisions which will grow the Church and glorify Our Father in heaven.

Faithfully,

+Daren K. Williams, Bishop Ordinary
Diocese of the West.