Bishops Condemn Intereference Attempt
Episcopal News Service. October 2, 1986 [86207]
SAN ANTONIO (DPS, Oct. 2) -- Declaring: "we are convinced that the episcopal office is not a personal possession. It is a gift of grace recognized by the whole Church to the life of a particular diocese in a particular province," the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops unanimously approved a Statement on Episcopal Jurisdiction condemning interference by bishops from one branch of the Anglican Communion in matters concerning dioceses of other branches.
The action, taken here Sept. 25 at the annual interim meeting of the House of Bishops, was prompted by the case of an Oklahoma parish whose vestry has been placed under ecclesiastical discipline and whose rector has been deposed but which has been "adopted" by Bishop Graham Leonard of London.
The previous afternoon, the history of the case was placed before the House by the Rt. Rev. Gerald McAllister, Bishop of Oklahoma, who noted in his presentation that each step in the process and each conclusion were unanimously supported by votes of the Standing Committee, Diocesan Council and diocesan convention of Oklahoma. The deposition of the priest, John Pasco, has been upheld by the Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese of Oklahoma and by a Court of Appeals presided over by the Bishop of West Missouri, the Rt. Rev. Arthur A. Vogel, who offered some theological notes on the relation of bishops to dioceses following McAllister's presentation.
The diocese's action was prompted by financial irregularities at St. Michael's, Tulsa, and litigation is currently being pressed by the diocese to recover church property held in the name of a foundation headed by Pasco. Calling himself a "traditionalist" Anglican, Pasco maintains the diocese removed him because of his continuing use of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and his opposition to the ordination of women.
Shortly after Pasco's deposition, Leonard wrote to the parish, declaring the congregation to be "in communion" with him as a bishop in "the Church God, not by our occupancy of any particular See." He had also said that he would send one of his suffragan bishops to perform confirmations at St. Michael's.
Shortly before the vote was taken on the 25th, word was received from London that following a recent meeting with Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, who is reported to have urged him to change his mind, Leonard has said that he will make the trip himself, instead.
The document, which was drawn up by a committee of five bishops and revised according to suggestions and comments made in response to the reading of the first draft in plenary, makes note of the Oklahoma situation, without mentioning names; gives an outline of the development of dioceses and Jurisdictions within the Episcopal Church; cites the Constitution and Canons regarding the integrity of jurisdictions and the potential consequences for a bishop found in violation of same; and states "the expectation of this House of Bishops that the autonomy of the Episcopal Church will be respected by the other branches of the Anglican Communion and by their bishops. It is inappropriate for a bishop in another jurisdiction to assume that he has the authority to judge the competency of our canonical process or to contradict this process. It is equally inappropriate for a bishop to claim the authority which belongs to a province to establish dialogue, enter into communion, or otherwise recognize schismatic groups that style themselves 'Episcopal' or 'Anglican.' We expect the Primate and House of Bishops of the other branches of the Anglican Communion to challenge, correct, and discipline any bishop of that branch of our communion who attempts by his physical presence or his episcopal office to enable a deposed priest of our church or a removed vestry to circumvent the canons."
The statement was telexed to the Archbishop of Canterbury immediately upon its approval by the House. Runcie is expected to bring the situation before the next meeting of the Church of England's House of Bishops this month.