In 2015, the session of Christ Church Moscow (CC) requested the formation of a voluntary advisory committee. This body was never constituted as a committee of Council. The advisory committee subsequently submitted a two-part report to CC in 2017. The report was not judicial or binding; it was offered as counsel and advice in response to the request of CC. The second portion of the report exceeded the scope of what had originally been requested. The Council of the CREC acknowledges that this matter was mishandled in two significant respects.
First, the report—entitled Presiding Ministers’ Report, under the CREC logo—was erroneously presented in a manner that suggested it reflected the findings of the CREC as a whole. In addition, the initial mission statement of the committee referred to itself as a “Committee of Council.” But the committee responsible for the report had not been established by the Council, did not report to the Council, and its conclusions were neither discussed nor ratified by the Council. By failing to make these distinctions explicit at the time, the Council unintentionally allowed the public misunderstanding to arise—and persist—that the committee’s conclusions represented the official position of the CREC. This was never the case.
Second, the report was published on the official CREC website, further contributing to the mistaken impression that it carried the formal endorsement of the denomination. This, too, was in error, and the report has since been removed from the site.
The CREC deeply regrets treating the advisory committee’s report as authoritative. The Council has sought and received forgiveness from Christ Church Moscow, which was graciously and freely extended.
Presiding Minister of Council,
Rev. Dr. Uriesou Brito
