VIRGINIA: Inhibited clergy released from obligations of priesthood
Episcopal News Service. August 2, 2007 [080207-03]
In an official act observed by two presbyters of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and with the advice and consent of the diocesan Standing Committee, Virginia Bishop Peter James Lee took the required canonical action August 1 to remove from the priesthood clergy inhibited by him on January 22, 2007.
The 21 clergy were inhibited following a determination by the diocesan Standing Committee January 18 that they had abandoned the Communion of the Episcopal Church. The possibility of such a determination was explained by the Bishop in a December 1, 2006 letter to the clergy and leadership of the now-former Episcopal congregations. By this action, the former Episcopal clergy are "released from the obligations of Priest or Deacon and ... deprived of the right to exercise the gifts and spiritual authority conferred in Ordination."
In addition to losing their capacity to officiate in Episcopal churches or in any manner as Episcopal priests, the former Episcopal clergy lose their capacity to contribute to pension plans begun during their time as Episcopal priests and any other benefits of service as Episcopal priests or employees of Episcopal churches or institutions. Pension benefits accrued to this point will remain payable.
Those removed from the ordained ministry of The Episcopal Church are the Revs. Robin Adams, George Beaven, Mark Brown, Marshall Brown, Neal Brown, Jeffrey Cerar, Kathleen Christopher, Richard Crocker, Ramsey Gilchrist, Jack Grubbs, John Guernsey, David Harper, David N. Jones, Marion D. Lucas III, Herbert McMullan, Clancy Nixon, Robin Rauh, Valerie Whitcomb, Elijah White, Frederick M. Wright, and John W. Yates II.
The conservative Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes (NACDP) said the decision "will not have force in much of the Anglican Communion or in a number of Episcopal dioceses."
Quincy Bishop Keith Ackerman; Springfield Bishop Peter Beckwith; Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan, NACDP's moderator; Fort Worth Bishop Jack Iker; and San Joaquin Bishop John David Schofield issued a statement saying that they will maintain relationships with the 21 clergy.
"In conscience we must remain in relationship and ministry with these priests, and the many others who have had this canon used against them because of their determination to stand with mainstream Anglicanism," the statement said. "As bishops, we ordain priests for the whole church. Surely we overstep our bounds when we attempt to decide for the whole church that a priest's ministry is ended because he is no longer under our authority."
The statement noted that because the clergy "are priests in good standing in the Provinces of Uganda and Nigeria ... each is recognized as a priest in good standing of the Anglican Communion. Therefore we welcome them to exercise their sacerdotal ministries in our Dioceses. Though we continue to work and pray for a charitable disengagement, actions such as this only make our relationships with each other more difficult and divided."
Of the 21 clergy only one has made a good faith retraction and has had his inhibition lifted, a release from the Diocese of Virginia said. The Rev. Nicholas Lubelfeld "has declared his loyalty to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church" wrote Lee in the notice lifting Lubelfeld's inhibition. Lubelfeld has accepted a call to serve as priest associate of Church of Our Redeemer in Aldie, Virginia, serving under the supervision of the Rev. John Sheehan, rector of that church.
In making his retraction, Lubelfeld sent a letter to Lee dated June 30 in which he states his "intention to remain a member of The Episcopal Church and of the clergy of The Diocese of Virginia." In that letter he also states, "I did not and do not intend to renounce or be disloyal to the doctrine, discipline or worship of Christ as The Episcopal Church has received them." He further states "I have not sought or received admission into any religious body not in communion with The Episcopal Church, or in any way severed my ties with The Episcopal Church."