Excerpted from the 12/5/2008 AAC Email Newsletter.
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to [King Nebuchadnezzar]...'If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods, or worship the image of gold you have set up.'" (Daniel 3:17-18 NIV)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, members and friends of AAC, in TEC,
Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
With the formation of the Anglican Church in North America, a "Province in Formation," many of you are asking, understandably, and with some concern, "What is to become of us who choose to remain in TEC?" What about those of us who are stuck in a heterodox Episcopal church? What about those of us who have had to affiliate for the moment with another sort of church because there is no orthodox Anglican church in the ACNA within driving distance? Is our only option to stay where we are, in the furnace, and make our stand and our witness like Daniel's friends?
First, on behalf of the AAC, let me assure you that we are here, just as we have been since our beginnings, to serve you. We understand the conscientious reasons why you have chosen to remain in TEC. We honor your decision. We pray for you. More than that, we stand with you, with resources to help you make your stand in Christ.
Secondly, we believe God has a strategy that involves more than just standing in the furnace and waiting for the fire to consume you. Look at Daniel and his friends, who faced a system and authority more idolatrous and lawless than TEC. They did not conform to the culture they were in, but instead they resolved to witness to it:
* by drawing a firm line in conformity with God's word and not eating at
the King's table (Daniel 1:8),
* by learning as much as they could about Babylonian culture (Daniel 1:3-4,
17),
* by being more excellent ("ten times better") than anyone else in the
kingdom (Daniel 1:18-20);
* by being consistent throughout many changes of leadership (Daniel 1:21);
* by addressing hostile authorities directly, and with wisdom and tact
(Daniel 2:14-16);
* by avoiding isolation, taking counsel and praying together (Daniel
2:17-18);
* by asking God for discernment (Daniel 2:19);
* by resisting peer pressure, malicious accusations, the temptation to
compromise, an unpredictable king, and even a delaying God (Daniel 3:1-18)
By following this strategy, God blessed them in the furnace, brought them out, and used their faithfulness to move unbelieving authorities to proclaim throughout the whole kingdom the uniqueness and sovereignty of our God, "for no other God can save in this way." (Daniel 3:28-29)
If God has called you to remain in TEC, we believe he has a plan for your time and service, just like Daniel and his friends. And we are here to help you do it.
We intend to continue supporting you in every way we can, with resources for mission and ministry at the congregational level, with counsel in regards to TEC canons and other legal issues, and through our presence and activity in the councils of the Anglican Communion. We will be at TEC General Convention in July 2009, as we have at previous General Conventions, to provide a strategic retreat for Biblically orthodox Episcopalians serving as delegates and alternates to General Convention.
We will continue to personally visit our AAC congregations, chapters and affiliates to provide encouragement, equipping, and counsel. (In fact, if you would like a visit, I would be delighted to come to your chapter or congregation.) If you are experiencing persecution from your bishop and diocese, we will extend our support to you "In Pectore." Also, through our weekly e-newsletter and "Salt and Light" column, we will continue to spotlight TEC congregations and AAC members whose ministries witness to a robust Biblical, confessional and missional Anglicanism in 21st century America.
If God leads you into the furnace, we will stand with you. And we will discover again, in God's wonderful saving grace, how God uses that fire to loose us from our chains, and deliver us unharmed on the other side for even greater ministry!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Phil Ashey
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
WISCONSIN: First Episcopal Parish Leaves Diocese of Milwaukee and TEC for CANA
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
12/31/2008
St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in Elm Grove, a congregation founded in 1874 in Milwaukee, voted overwhelmingly this week to leave the diocese and The Episcopal Church and move its canonical jurisdiction to the Convocation of North American Anglicans (CANA) based in Herndon, Va.
The Wisconsin parish congregation is following some 100 Episcopal parishes and four dioceses who have left The Episcopal Church during the past two years because they view the National Church as increasingly hostile to orthodox, traditional Christian belief and practice.
St. Edmund's is the first of what is projected to be several Episcopal parishes in Wisconsin to take this step.
"The difficult decision to make this lateral move within valid jurisdictions of the Anglican Communion was finalized after months of prayer and discussion at the Elm Grove parish. The final declaration was signed by 75 of the 84 adult communicant members of the congregation," said a press release from the church.
A spokesman for the parish note that the final decisions were made during bitter winter conditions that brought out more communicants than anticipated who wanted to sign the declaration.
In a formal letter to Bishop Steven Miller, the Episcopal Bishop of Milwaukee they said the issues were theological and "beyond suffragan episcopal bedrooms in New England" and that the congregation was contending for the 'faith once delivered to the saints' and nothing less.
"We are defending the irrevocable stance on biblical authority and order firmly held by the vast majority of the world's Anglicans," they wrote.
"People of Faith are not leaving the Episcopal Church; The Episcopal Church has left them."
The congregation accused the bishop of showing "callow disrespect" for their faithfulness, good will, integrity and the ability of a congregation of thinking adults to make fully informed decisions. We wish the Diocese of Milwaukee no ill will, they wrote.
The Vestry said in their letter that the corporation of St. Edmund's Church would stay in the hands of the parish. "No action on our part may be construed by any person or persons as a dissolution, devolvement, abolition or alienation of St. Edmund's church and all assets, properties, chattel, and resources of St. Edmund's Church remain those of St. Edmund's Church."
Bishop Steven's said last month in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the new Anglican province of North America would have "no impact on the diocese of Milwaukee."
The parish's complete statement, their doctrinal statement and letter to Bishop Stevens can be read here:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/content/stedmunds_pressrelease.pdf
www.virtueonline.org
12/31/2008
St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in Elm Grove, a congregation founded in 1874 in Milwaukee, voted overwhelmingly this week to leave the diocese and The Episcopal Church and move its canonical jurisdiction to the Convocation of North American Anglicans (CANA) based in Herndon, Va.
The Wisconsin parish congregation is following some 100 Episcopal parishes and four dioceses who have left The Episcopal Church during the past two years because they view the National Church as increasingly hostile to orthodox, traditional Christian belief and practice.
St. Edmund's is the first of what is projected to be several Episcopal parishes in Wisconsin to take this step.
"The difficult decision to make this lateral move within valid jurisdictions of the Anglican Communion was finalized after months of prayer and discussion at the Elm Grove parish. The final declaration was signed by 75 of the 84 adult communicant members of the congregation," said a press release from the church.
A spokesman for the parish note that the final decisions were made during bitter winter conditions that brought out more communicants than anticipated who wanted to sign the declaration.
In a formal letter to Bishop Steven Miller, the Episcopal Bishop of Milwaukee they said the issues were theological and "beyond suffragan episcopal bedrooms in New England" and that the congregation was contending for the 'faith once delivered to the saints' and nothing less.
"We are defending the irrevocable stance on biblical authority and order firmly held by the vast majority of the world's Anglicans," they wrote.
"People of Faith are not leaving the Episcopal Church; The Episcopal Church has left them."
The congregation accused the bishop of showing "callow disrespect" for their faithfulness, good will, integrity and the ability of a congregation of thinking adults to make fully informed decisions. We wish the Diocese of Milwaukee no ill will, they wrote.
The Vestry said in their letter that the corporation of St. Edmund's Church would stay in the hands of the parish. "No action on our part may be construed by any person or persons as a dissolution, devolvement, abolition or alienation of St. Edmund's church and all assets, properties, chattel, and resources of St. Edmund's Church remain those of St. Edmund's Church."
Bishop Steven's said last month in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the new Anglican province of North America would have "no impact on the diocese of Milwaukee."
The parish's complete statement, their doctrinal statement and letter to Bishop Stevens can be read here:
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/content/stedmunds_pressrelease.pdf
Monday, September 8, 2008
REMAIN FAITHFUL: Conference Hopes to Mobilize the Faithful to address New NA Province
Remain Faithful, a lay led organization comprised of orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans is planning to take a very active role in support of the establishment of an orthodox Anglican Province in North America. The Anglican communion in North America has been split into two separate churches with polarizing differences in beliefs over the past 30 years. It is apparent that a reconciliation is not going to occur as the orthodox historic faith is being compromised by new age revisionist theology.
According to noted English journalist Andrew Carey, son of retired Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, "The depressing and urgent situation in The Episcopal Church becomes ever clearer over time, despite all of the efforts of their liberal church leaders to try and persuade the rest of the Anglican Communion that really we're just like you. Close watchers of the US ... will be more aware than most of the state of that Church. Heterodoxy [unorthodoxy ] is never punished, whereas orthodox impatience is the subject of lawsuits all over the country. And the amount of heterodoxy uttered in The Episcopal Church is truly astonishing.
Even leaving aside the virtual atheism of Bishop Spong's 'Twelve Theses', we've had bishops claim that the church can 're-write the Bible', others make sweeping apologies for Christian mission to those of other faiths, while the Presiding Bishop views Jesus as just one way among many."
The laity have realized that The Episcopal Church (TEC) will not change course. Numerous orthodox Anglicans have therefore left or are contemplating leaving the Church. Remain Faithful believes strongly that the answer lies in the formation of an orthodox Anglican Province in North America as has been outlined by the Common Cause Partnership, and endorsed by GAFCON, and is committed to being a strong lay voice beside our faithful Clergy to help make this happen.
As such, Remain Faithful will be hosting its second conference on Saturday September 27, 2008 at St. Vincent 's Cathedral in Bedford, Texas.
All orthodox Anglicans are invited to attend. "Mobilizing the Faithful- Toward a Faithful Future" will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the Saturday morning and will include educational components of how we got where we are and the true differences in our beliefs, factual information for delegates and vestry members, and a call from Remain Faithful to move forward in earnest with the formation of the new orthodox Anglican Province in North America. Please rsvp on our website at http://www.remainfaithful.org/ .The conference will conclude with a lunch around 1:00 p.m.
"All across our planet orthodox Anglicans acknowledge this intolerable situation where the communion has been derailed from its historic faith by revisionists within The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in Canada. We fully support the position reached by the founders of Common Cause Partnership to form a new orthodox Anglican Province in North America, and as was highlighted at the recent GAFCON meeting of orthodox Anglicans in Jerusalem. We call on the Primates of GAFCON to formally acknowledge a new orthodox Province in North American and we stand ready as faithful laity to insure a rapid and complete formation of this new Province.
It should be stressed, we are not leaving the Church - TEC and the Anglican Church in Canada have left the historic Anglican faith. We can no longer stand by and watch the situation deteriorate further. The time for action is now." Chad Bates, Remain Faithful Chair stated.
"We must be devoted to neither man nor institution, but to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, the risen God who lived and died for our sins and is the sole source of our eternal salvation, and His revealed word to us, the Bible, which contains all things necessary for salvation and is authoritative in our behavior and daily lives. We must stand up for our faith, once delivered to the Saints. We must move forward together with our Anglican brothers and sisters in Christ who share our orthodox beliefs to share the Good News of Christ's redemption with the world."
Cora Werley, Spokesperson for Remain Faithful added. Remain Faithful is in the planning stages for how the laity can stand beside and complement faithful Clergy to move forward rapidly with this new Province formation and will b e working in conjunction with Common Cause Partnership to provide lay leadership and support for the new Province.
Remain Faithful was formed in late May of this year, but already has well over 830 members from over 60 Dioceses and over 16 countries.
The membership represents over 33,200 years of membership as Episcopalians and Anglicans. Its membership includes those from The Episcopal Church, Canada, AMiA, CANA, REC, and many other members of the Anglican Communion. For more information on Remain Faithful, go to our website at http://www.remainfaithful.org
According to noted English journalist Andrew Carey, son of retired Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, "The depressing and urgent situation in The Episcopal Church becomes ever clearer over time, despite all of the efforts of their liberal church leaders to try and persuade the rest of the Anglican Communion that really we're just like you. Close watchers of the US ... will be more aware than most of the state of that Church. Heterodoxy [unorthodoxy ] is never punished, whereas orthodox impatience is the subject of lawsuits all over the country. And the amount of heterodoxy uttered in The Episcopal Church is truly astonishing.
Even leaving aside the virtual atheism of Bishop Spong's 'Twelve Theses', we've had bishops claim that the church can 're-write the Bible', others make sweeping apologies for Christian mission to those of other faiths, while the Presiding Bishop views Jesus as just one way among many."
The laity have realized that The Episcopal Church (TEC) will not change course. Numerous orthodox Anglicans have therefore left or are contemplating leaving the Church. Remain Faithful believes strongly that the answer lies in the formation of an orthodox Anglican Province in North America as has been outlined by the Common Cause Partnership, and endorsed by GAFCON, and is committed to being a strong lay voice beside our faithful Clergy to help make this happen.
As such, Remain Faithful will be hosting its second conference on Saturday September 27, 2008 at St. Vincent 's Cathedral in Bedford, Texas.
All orthodox Anglicans are invited to attend. "Mobilizing the Faithful- Toward a Faithful Future" will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the Saturday morning and will include educational components of how we got where we are and the true differences in our beliefs, factual information for delegates and vestry members, and a call from Remain Faithful to move forward in earnest with the formation of the new orthodox Anglican Province in North America. Please rsvp on our website at http://www.remainfaithful.org/ .The conference will conclude with a lunch around 1:00 p.m.
"All across our planet orthodox Anglicans acknowledge this intolerable situation where the communion has been derailed from its historic faith by revisionists within The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in Canada. We fully support the position reached by the founders of Common Cause Partnership to form a new orthodox Anglican Province in North America, and as was highlighted at the recent GAFCON meeting of orthodox Anglicans in Jerusalem. We call on the Primates of GAFCON to formally acknowledge a new orthodox Province in North American and we stand ready as faithful laity to insure a rapid and complete formation of this new Province.
It should be stressed, we are not leaving the Church - TEC and the Anglican Church in Canada have left the historic Anglican faith. We can no longer stand by and watch the situation deteriorate further. The time for action is now." Chad Bates, Remain Faithful Chair stated.
"We must be devoted to neither man nor institution, but to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, the risen God who lived and died for our sins and is the sole source of our eternal salvation, and His revealed word to us, the Bible, which contains all things necessary for salvation and is authoritative in our behavior and daily lives. We must stand up for our faith, once delivered to the Saints. We must move forward together with our Anglican brothers and sisters in Christ who share our orthodox beliefs to share the Good News of Christ's redemption with the world."
Cora Werley, Spokesperson for Remain Faithful added. Remain Faithful is in the planning stages for how the laity can stand beside and complement faithful Clergy to move forward rapidly with this new Province formation and will b e working in conjunction with Common Cause Partnership to provide lay leadership and support for the new Province.
Remain Faithful was formed in late May of this year, but already has well over 830 members from over 60 Dioceses and over 16 countries.
The membership represents over 33,200 years of membership as Episcopalians and Anglicans. Its membership includes those from The Episcopal Church, Canada, AMiA, CANA, REC, and many other members of the Anglican Communion. For more information on Remain Faithful, go to our website at http://www.remainfaithful.org
Anglican Province of America Diocese of the West Joins Reformed Episcopal Church
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
9/7/2008
In a move that could have serious implications for the Common Cause Partnership, an entire diocese of the Anglican Province of America with some 22 plus churches has fled that Anglican jurisdiction and allied itself with the Reformed Episcopal Church in America (REC).
"I pray that you will understand that we are not leaving the APA out of any anger but are entering into the REC so we can fulfill what we have been working on for the past ten years. By transferring to the REC we remain in intercommunion with each other and still brothers," wrote the Rt. Rev. Richard Boyce, OCD Bishop of the Diocese of the West (DOW/ APA.)
In a series of letters obtained by VirtueOnline, Bishop Boyce announced this week that he was taking his diocese out of the APA and formally bringing it into the Reformed Episcopal Church, a move that angered the Presiding Bishop of the APA, the Most. Rev. Walter Grundorf, who promptly relieved Boyce of his position as Bishop and appointed the Very Rev. Douglas King as interim administrator of the DOW.
"You are no longer the Diocesan Bishop of the DOW of the APA as of September 5. I have named the Very Rev. Douglas King as interim administrator." Grundorf then said that all DOW priests and parishes wishing to leave the APA must send a letter of their intention to him and request Letters Dismissory. He then said that until he hears from them, they remain in good standing and has his and the APA's full support.
He concluded his letter saying that the letters would provide for an "orderly transition" to the REC. "We have made such orderly transfers in the past between REC/APA and I hope and pray that this will be no exception."
Boyce responded from his parish in Seattle, saying that Grundorf's understanding of the meaning of the word "jurisdiction" was a misconception on his part.
"I have not resigned my jurisdiction nor has coadjutor Bishop Winfield Mott. We have only requested the REC to receive the Diocese of the West (DOW) which has not been acted upon.
"I would remind you that the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) has similar beliefs, traditions and practices on the Sacraments and Holy Orders particularly as they pertain to women's ordination.
"The DOW is a jurisdiction. I would refer you to Article 2., Sect. 6 of the Constitution of the Anglican Province of America (APA), and Canon 16, Sect. (a) and (e) which refer to the Bishop's jurisdiction. If you recall since the third century tradition has said that "Where the Bishop is, there is the Church, where the Church is there is the Bishop". Boyce went on to say that the Anglican Communion has stated through the Archbishop of Canterbury, that the basic unit of the Church is the Diocese, and you do consider yourself as Anglican."
Boyce said that no one is required by the Constitution or the Canons to send the Presiding Bishop a letter of resignation when leaving the APA. A letter Dismissory is from Diocesan Bishop to Diocesan Bishop.
Boyce blasted Grundorf saying that provincial protocol was a recent invention, "as I do not find it stated anywhere in APA documents. You, as Presiding Bishops have authority only to conduct the meetings of the House of Bishops (HOB) and to take orders for the consecration of Bishops."
"As a result of this restriction you have no authority to declare that I am no longer the Diocesan Bishop of the DOW."
Boyce argued that the APA Constitution states that a bishop shall confine the exercise of his office to his own Diocese. "Therefore as a Presiding Bishop with no authority, and functioning as a Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of the Eastern US (DEUS), you must not intrude into the affairs of the DOW."
"There is no authority conferred to you by the Constitution of the APA nor by the Canons of the APA to appoint the Rev. Douglas King, nor anyone else as an interim administrator of the DOW. This action would appear to follow The Episcopal Church (TEC) as in the case of the Diocese of San Joaquin.
"DOW Priests and Parishes do not need to send you a latter of intention of staying members of DOW. This is a Diocesan matter for DOW.
"This supposed protocol has no standing in the Constitution of the APA nor in the Canons of the APA.
"No Article of the Constitution of the APA or Canon of the APA prevents the DOW from effecting a merger with the REC, with whom we are in communion, as is the APA. We are following the time-line established by the APA and REC as this is the ten year mark leading to the merger. We just plan to do this before the rest of the APA."
Grundorf wrote to all the parishes of the DOW responding to Boyce's letter saying that while he was not totally surprised, "I am disappointed. I am also disappointed that the REC did not discuss this with me if indeed they are fully aware of all of Bishop Boyce's plans."
The Presiding Bishop said the DOW "still exists" with some having notified him that they had no intention of leaving the APA.
"Bishop Boyce has resigned from the APA, therefore he is no longer the Bishop of the APA/DOW." Grundorf who then said he was appointing King to serve as interim administrator "until such time as we can determine who is leaving and who is staying. I will then call an extraordinary Synod to reorganize and elect the appropriate officers."
Grundorf said there would be no attempt to claim church property or funds. "For all concerned in the APA and the REC, this transition must be done in a proper and orderly manner."
The PB said that one of the subjects to be addressed at their next Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (FACA) meeting will be "jurisdiction hopping."
"I am well aware that the motivation of this action has been driven by the Common Cause Partnership (CCP). While I support much of what the CCP stands for I, along with many others, have reservations as to what will be the final decision on the ordination of women, which most of the CCP members enthusiastically support. We have stood our ground for the last 30 plus years to the theological innovations of the Episcopal Church and I do not think we should abandon our principles at this point."
One observer told VOL that APA's Diocese of the West's decision to secede was to join Common Cause by way of the REC. It is believed that, in time, CCP will form the basis of a new North American Anglican Province, an orthodox alternative jurisdiction separate from The Episcopal Church and coming under the oversight of the newly formed Global Anglican Fellowship Conference (GAFCON.)
VOL could not obtain comment from leaders of the Reformed Episcopal Church.
END
www.virtueonline.org
9/7/2008
In a move that could have serious implications for the Common Cause Partnership, an entire diocese of the Anglican Province of America with some 22 plus churches has fled that Anglican jurisdiction and allied itself with the Reformed Episcopal Church in America (REC).
"I pray that you will understand that we are not leaving the APA out of any anger but are entering into the REC so we can fulfill what we have been working on for the past ten years. By transferring to the REC we remain in intercommunion with each other and still brothers," wrote the Rt. Rev. Richard Boyce, OCD Bishop of the Diocese of the West (DOW/ APA.)
In a series of letters obtained by VirtueOnline, Bishop Boyce announced this week that he was taking his diocese out of the APA and formally bringing it into the Reformed Episcopal Church, a move that angered the Presiding Bishop of the APA, the Most. Rev. Walter Grundorf, who promptly relieved Boyce of his position as Bishop and appointed the Very Rev. Douglas King as interim administrator of the DOW.
"You are no longer the Diocesan Bishop of the DOW of the APA as of September 5. I have named the Very Rev. Douglas King as interim administrator." Grundorf then said that all DOW priests and parishes wishing to leave the APA must send a letter of their intention to him and request Letters Dismissory. He then said that until he hears from them, they remain in good standing and has his and the APA's full support.
He concluded his letter saying that the letters would provide for an "orderly transition" to the REC. "We have made such orderly transfers in the past between REC/APA and I hope and pray that this will be no exception."
Boyce responded from his parish in Seattle, saying that Grundorf's understanding of the meaning of the word "jurisdiction" was a misconception on his part.
"I have not resigned my jurisdiction nor has coadjutor Bishop Winfield Mott. We have only requested the REC to receive the Diocese of the West (DOW) which has not been acted upon.
"I would remind you that the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) has similar beliefs, traditions and practices on the Sacraments and Holy Orders particularly as they pertain to women's ordination.
"The DOW is a jurisdiction. I would refer you to Article 2., Sect. 6 of the Constitution of the Anglican Province of America (APA), and Canon 16, Sect. (a) and (e) which refer to the Bishop's jurisdiction. If you recall since the third century tradition has said that "Where the Bishop is, there is the Church, where the Church is there is the Bishop". Boyce went on to say that the Anglican Communion has stated through the Archbishop of Canterbury, that the basic unit of the Church is the Diocese, and you do consider yourself as Anglican."
Boyce said that no one is required by the Constitution or the Canons to send the Presiding Bishop a letter of resignation when leaving the APA. A letter Dismissory is from Diocesan Bishop to Diocesan Bishop.
Boyce blasted Grundorf saying that provincial protocol was a recent invention, "as I do not find it stated anywhere in APA documents. You, as Presiding Bishops have authority only to conduct the meetings of the House of Bishops (HOB) and to take orders for the consecration of Bishops."
"As a result of this restriction you have no authority to declare that I am no longer the Diocesan Bishop of the DOW."
Boyce argued that the APA Constitution states that a bishop shall confine the exercise of his office to his own Diocese. "Therefore as a Presiding Bishop with no authority, and functioning as a Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of the Eastern US (DEUS), you must not intrude into the affairs of the DOW."
"There is no authority conferred to you by the Constitution of the APA nor by the Canons of the APA to appoint the Rev. Douglas King, nor anyone else as an interim administrator of the DOW. This action would appear to follow The Episcopal Church (TEC) as in the case of the Diocese of San Joaquin.
"DOW Priests and Parishes do not need to send you a latter of intention of staying members of DOW. This is a Diocesan matter for DOW.
"This supposed protocol has no standing in the Constitution of the APA nor in the Canons of the APA.
"No Article of the Constitution of the APA or Canon of the APA prevents the DOW from effecting a merger with the REC, with whom we are in communion, as is the APA. We are following the time-line established by the APA and REC as this is the ten year mark leading to the merger. We just plan to do this before the rest of the APA."
Grundorf wrote to all the parishes of the DOW responding to Boyce's letter saying that while he was not totally surprised, "I am disappointed. I am also disappointed that the REC did not discuss this with me if indeed they are fully aware of all of Bishop Boyce's plans."
The Presiding Bishop said the DOW "still exists" with some having notified him that they had no intention of leaving the APA.
"Bishop Boyce has resigned from the APA, therefore he is no longer the Bishop of the APA/DOW." Grundorf who then said he was appointing King to serve as interim administrator "until such time as we can determine who is leaving and who is staying. I will then call an extraordinary Synod to reorganize and elect the appropriate officers."
Grundorf said there would be no attempt to claim church property or funds. "For all concerned in the APA and the REC, this transition must be done in a proper and orderly manner."
The PB said that one of the subjects to be addressed at their next Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (FACA) meeting will be "jurisdiction hopping."
"I am well aware that the motivation of this action has been driven by the Common Cause Partnership (CCP). While I support much of what the CCP stands for I, along with many others, have reservations as to what will be the final decision on the ordination of women, which most of the CCP members enthusiastically support. We have stood our ground for the last 30 plus years to the theological innovations of the Episcopal Church and I do not think we should abandon our principles at this point."
One observer told VOL that APA's Diocese of the West's decision to secede was to join Common Cause by way of the REC. It is believed that, in time, CCP will form the basis of a new North American Anglican Province, an orthodox alternative jurisdiction separate from The Episcopal Church and coming under the oversight of the newly formed Global Anglican Fellowship Conference (GAFCON.)
VOL could not obtain comment from leaders of the Reformed Episcopal Church.
END
Saturday, August 30, 2008
LONDON: Archbishop of Canterbury's rescue plan for Anglican Communion rejected
Hopes of a solution for the split in the Anglican Communion over homosexuality have been further diminished after a rescue plan endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury was rejected by conservative bishops.
By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/2646689/Archbishop-of-Canterburys-rescue-plan-for-Anglican-Communion-rejected.html
August 29, 2008
Clergy who have defected from their liberal national churches to join traditionalist provinces overseas said the scheme to put them in a "holding bay" before returning them home was "demeaning and unacceptable".
Meanwhile orthodox Anglican leaders have pledged to press ahead with the creation of their rival movement, claiming that it is an "illusion" to believe that the damage caused by the election of an openly gay bishop can be undone.
It comes just days after Dr Rowan Williams said that the Lambeth Conference gathering of Anglican bishops last month had exceeded expectations and showed that most wanted the 80 million-strong worldwide Communion to stay together despite deep divisions over sexuality.
A letter written by five bishops who have defected from the ultra-liberal Episcopal Church of the USA to conservative churches in Africa and South America was highly critical of the plan announced at Lambeth to create a "pastoral forum", headed by Dr Williams, that would try to resolve new crises in the Communion and act as a "holding bay" for parishes that have left their home countries.
It said: "We note that the pastoral forum proposal has been developed without any consultation with those most directly affected in North America. This had led to a number of serious misunderstandings with regard to the situation at the local level and the relationship between the bishops, clergy and congregations and their sponsoring provinces.
"We would also observe that the various analogies offered, for example, that we are disaffected children being reunited with our parents or that we are being placed in a holding bay before being restored to our proper province are both demeaning and unacceptable."
They said the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, by electing a gay bishop and sanctioning the blessing of same-sex unions, are now "diametrically opposed" to their beliefs and Anglican teaching, and added: "We can envision no way in which we could be part of pastoral forum in which either Church exercises any leadership role."
Six heads - or Primates - of Anglican provinces who are leading members of the orthodox Gafcon movement met in London last week and have now issued a statement on the outcome of their summit.
They said it was clear that some Anglicans will continue to sanctify "sinful" practices regardless of pleas to stop doing so by Dr Williams.
The Gafcon leaders also said it was right that churches who disagree with the liberal direction of some provinces should "withdraw their fellowship", and that there is "widespread impaired and broken" communion between Anglicans.
They said they were "saddened" that Lambeth did not offer a new way to resolve differences and just repeated calls for liberal innovations, and border-crossing by disaffected clergy, to stop.
The primates pointed out how long the new plans would take to come into effect and added: "Delay itself seems to be a strategy employed by some in order to resolve the issue through weariness."
END
By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/2646689/Archbishop-of-Canterburys-rescue-plan-for-Anglican-Communion-rejected.html
August 29, 2008
Clergy who have defected from their liberal national churches to join traditionalist provinces overseas said the scheme to put them in a "holding bay" before returning them home was "demeaning and unacceptable".
Meanwhile orthodox Anglican leaders have pledged to press ahead with the creation of their rival movement, claiming that it is an "illusion" to believe that the damage caused by the election of an openly gay bishop can be undone.
It comes just days after Dr Rowan Williams said that the Lambeth Conference gathering of Anglican bishops last month had exceeded expectations and showed that most wanted the 80 million-strong worldwide Communion to stay together despite deep divisions over sexuality.
A letter written by five bishops who have defected from the ultra-liberal Episcopal Church of the USA to conservative churches in Africa and South America was highly critical of the plan announced at Lambeth to create a "pastoral forum", headed by Dr Williams, that would try to resolve new crises in the Communion and act as a "holding bay" for parishes that have left their home countries.
It said: "We note that the pastoral forum proposal has been developed without any consultation with those most directly affected in North America. This had led to a number of serious misunderstandings with regard to the situation at the local level and the relationship between the bishops, clergy and congregations and their sponsoring provinces.
"We would also observe that the various analogies offered, for example, that we are disaffected children being reunited with our parents or that we are being placed in a holding bay before being restored to our proper province are both demeaning and unacceptable."
They said the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, by electing a gay bishop and sanctioning the blessing of same-sex unions, are now "diametrically opposed" to their beliefs and Anglican teaching, and added: "We can envision no way in which we could be part of pastoral forum in which either Church exercises any leadership role."
Six heads - or Primates - of Anglican provinces who are leading members of the orthodox Gafcon movement met in London last week and have now issued a statement on the outcome of their summit.
They said it was clear that some Anglicans will continue to sanctify "sinful" practices regardless of pleas to stop doing so by Dr Williams.
The Gafcon leaders also said it was right that churches who disagree with the liberal direction of some provinces should "withdraw their fellowship", and that there is "widespread impaired and broken" communion between Anglicans.
They said they were "saddened" that Lambeth did not offer a new way to resolve differences and just repeated calls for liberal innovations, and border-crossing by disaffected clergy, to stop.
The primates pointed out how long the new plans would take to come into effect and added: "Delay itself seems to be a strategy employed by some in order to resolve the issue through weariness."
END
Good News from the N.A. Realignment Movement
As reported at VirtueOnline:
CHRIST CHURCH in Plano, Texas presented the Diocese of Peru http://www.peru.anglican.org) with a gift of $500,000, enabling the expansion and development of a Leadership Center and Seminary in Lima, Peru. The Rev. Canon David H. Roseberry, rector of Christ Church Plano, said, "We have been sending mission teams to Peru for over eight years and we have been blessed through our relationship with Bishop Bill Godfrey and the people there. Our church family decided it was time to send significant financial resources to make a lasting improvement in the life of that Anglican diocese." The money, a gift from Christ Church Plano parishioners, goes toward the August 28, 2008 purchase of an existing 18,000 square foot building, formerly designed and used as a school. It will be remodeled and reconfigured to house an expanded seminary, diocese administration offices including the Bishop's office, and a worship space for the Mission Ascension. Future plans might include a dormitory for mission teams, or classroom and office space, or both. Christ Church Plano has been a long-time strategic partner of the Diocese of Peru, supplying funds, short and long-term missionaries and prayer partnership steadily throughout the year.
CHRIST CHURCH in Plano, Texas presented the Diocese of Peru http://www.peru.anglican.org) with a gift of $500,000, enabling the expansion and development of a Leadership Center and Seminary in Lima, Peru. The Rev. Canon David H. Roseberry, rector of Christ Church Plano, said, "We have been sending mission teams to Peru for over eight years and we have been blessed through our relationship with Bishop Bill Godfrey and the people there. Our church family decided it was time to send significant financial resources to make a lasting improvement in the life of that Anglican diocese." The money, a gift from Christ Church Plano parishioners, goes toward the August 28, 2008 purchase of an existing 18,000 square foot building, formerly designed and used as a school. It will be remodeled and reconfigured to house an expanded seminary, diocese administration offices including the Bishop's office, and a worship space for the Mission Ascension. Future plans might include a dormitory for mission teams, or classroom and office space, or both. Christ Church Plano has been a long-time strategic partner of the Diocese of Peru, supplying funds, short and long-term missionaries and prayer partnership steadily throughout the year.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Getting Ready for GAFCON
The Rev. Cn. Daryl Fenton
On May 21, two Common Cause “prayer-bloggers,” the Rev. Timothy Fountain and Mr. William Schontz, quietly began to post guidance at www.prayer.united-anglicans.org for those participating in 40 days of prayer and fasting for the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). Every Day, our internal statistics show that scores are logging on and praying with them.
Those of us from the Network attending this historic event are grateful for their prayers. Out of a total of more than 1,000 bishops, priests, deacons and laity who have registered for GAFCON, just over 130 will be from North America. Of the more than 280 bishops registered to attend, 19 are affiliated with Common Cause.
We are a small contingent going to what is likely the most important Anglican event in decades. We are not running the show or driving the agenda. This meeting is not about North America or our problems. It is about expanding a faithful, orthodox Anglican witness worldwide. It is also about working together to sail through the storms assailing the western colonial model that has characterized the Anglican Communion for the past century.
The storms are here and, frankly, the traditional structures of the Anglican Communion don’t appear ready to deal with them. Archbishop Williams is clearly steering the Lambeth Conference away from any sort of accounting for The Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada’s increasingly brazen flouting of orthodox faith and the decisions of the last Lambeth Conference. The Anglican Covenant becomes weaker with every revision. We hear reports that the earliest we could expect to see any covenant in place would be sometime around the 2018 Lambeth Conference.
GAFCON, of course, won’t be able to make those storms disappear. It certainly can’t heal the structures of the Anglican Communion. It will, however, chart the course for world wide ministry together across the globe. It will help us get to know our fellow sailors; to prepare for the voyage ahead. And, it will remind us of where we are sailing. The mission God has given us is not simply to survive, but to live the great commandment to love our neighbor and to fulfill the great commission to share the Gospel.
We are honored to be going to GAFCON. We look forward to representing orthodox Anglicans in North America as we spend time in Jerusalem with our worldwide Anglican family. We will, of course, do our best to keep all in the Network informed about what happens at GAFCON. Expect to see regular email and website updates from us between June 22–29, as well as more in-depth reporting in the August addition of Network News, our printed newsletter.
Keep us in your prayers.
Faithfully yours,
Daryl's signature
The Rev. Canon Daryl Fenton
Chief Operating Officer
Anglican Communion Network
On May 21, two Common Cause “prayer-bloggers,” the Rev. Timothy Fountain and Mr. William Schontz, quietly began to post guidance at www.prayer.united-anglicans.org for those participating in 40 days of prayer and fasting for the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON). Every Day, our internal statistics show that scores are logging on and praying with them.
Those of us from the Network attending this historic event are grateful for their prayers. Out of a total of more than 1,000 bishops, priests, deacons and laity who have registered for GAFCON, just over 130 will be from North America. Of the more than 280 bishops registered to attend, 19 are affiliated with Common Cause.
We are a small contingent going to what is likely the most important Anglican event in decades. We are not running the show or driving the agenda. This meeting is not about North America or our problems. It is about expanding a faithful, orthodox Anglican witness worldwide. It is also about working together to sail through the storms assailing the western colonial model that has characterized the Anglican Communion for the past century.
The storms are here and, frankly, the traditional structures of the Anglican Communion don’t appear ready to deal with them. Archbishop Williams is clearly steering the Lambeth Conference away from any sort of accounting for The Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada’s increasingly brazen flouting of orthodox faith and the decisions of the last Lambeth Conference. The Anglican Covenant becomes weaker with every revision. We hear reports that the earliest we could expect to see any covenant in place would be sometime around the 2018 Lambeth Conference.
GAFCON, of course, won’t be able to make those storms disappear. It certainly can’t heal the structures of the Anglican Communion. It will, however, chart the course for world wide ministry together across the globe. It will help us get to know our fellow sailors; to prepare for the voyage ahead. And, it will remind us of where we are sailing. The mission God has given us is not simply to survive, but to live the great commandment to love our neighbor and to fulfill the great commission to share the Gospel.
We are honored to be going to GAFCON. We look forward to representing orthodox Anglicans in North America as we spend time in Jerusalem with our worldwide Anglican family. We will, of course, do our best to keep all in the Network informed about what happens at GAFCON. Expect to see regular email and website updates from us between June 22–29, as well as more in-depth reporting in the August addition of Network News, our printed newsletter.
Keep us in your prayers.
Faithfully yours,
Daryl's signature
The Rev. Canon Daryl Fenton
Chief Operating Officer
Anglican Communion Network
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