Two Congregations Join Missionary Diocese in a State of Canonical Limbo
Episcopal News Service. January 10, 1992 [92001]
Jeffrey Penn
Three months after the Episcopal Synod of America (ESA) announced it would form a nongeographic entity, the Missionary Diocese of the Americas (MDA), to protect traditionalist Episcopalians from the "persecution of biblical Christianity," two newly formed congregations have joined, according to retired Bishop Donald Davies, administrator of the diocese.
However, the two congregations appear to be in a state of canonical limbo, leading some observers to question the existence of the diocese altogether.
In a telephone interview, Davies reported that the two parishes -- each with 15-20 members -- are the Church of Christ the King in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and St. Peter's Church in Houston, Texas. "These two congregations were formed by people...who have left the church. Some of them were not attending church regularly, and others were disgusted with the recent actions of the General Convention," Davies said. "Both are having services currently."
Davies said that there are "six or seven groups that are considering forming congregations," and a "few independent churches" who may align with the missionary diocese. He reported that no parishes of the Episcopal Church have yet decided to join the MDA, "although some have made inquiries." Control of property is an issue for established parishes, Davies said.
Officials in the Diocese of Colorado have challenged the standing of the new congregation -- and the credentials of its leader.
According to Larry Hitt, chancellor of the Diocese of Colorado, the Ft. Collins congregation "was not organized by the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, and it is not affiliated with the diocese in any way. It is not a church of the diocese...nor is it recognized by the bishop." He pointed out that neither the congregation in Ft. Collins nor the ESA missionary diocese is recognized by the national church.
Episcopal Church officials in Colorado also reported that the leader of the Ft. Collins congregation, the Rev. Gerald Stremel, had officially renounced his ministry in the Episcopal Church in a November 1991 letter. Bishop Jerry Winterrowd accepted Stremel's renunciation.
Davies reported that he knew Stremel had planned to renounce his ministry in anticipation of joining the MDA. Davies said that the Diocese of Colorado had filed charges against Stremel, which he cited as proof that the Diocese of Colorado still recognized Stremel as a priest. He added that it was his understanding that Stremel had renounced his "association with the diocese, but not with the Episcopal ministry."
Hitt denied that the diocese had filed any charges against Stremel. "When a priest renounces his vows, it is across the board -- not just in relationship to the diocese," Hitt added. "Bishop Davies is seriously overlooking the fact that he [Stremel] is no longer an ordained Episcopal priest. He voluntarily renounced his vows. That means that he severed his right to serve as a priest in this church -- or in the Anglican Communion."
Davies said that, in his opinion, the Ft. Collins group is a part of the Episcopal Church because of its affiliation with the missionary diocese. "As far as I'm in it [the Episcopal Church], they are -- but they are out of Bishop Winterrowd's jurisdiction," he said.
"If the missionary diocese elects to operate with people who purport to be ordained -- but are not -- that is up to them," Hitt said.
According to Canon Randolph Cooper, the congregation in Houston has no standing with that diocese either. "In terms of the diocese, we do not recognize the missionary diocese's existence. It is not a part of the canonical structure of the Episcopal Church," Cooper said.
Cooper reported that Bishop Maurice Benitez received word that a retired priest, the Rev. S. Patrick Murphy, was planning to form a congregation. "The bishop wrote to Father Murphy requesting that he not move forward with his plan," Cooper said.
"The bishop also informed the standing committee and the clergy of the diocese that, if Father Murphy joins the missionary diocese, we will consider that an abandonment of his ministry," Cooper continued. "If a priest of our church wishes to start a ministry in another church, the diocese would be forced to proceed accordingly," perhaps challenging the priest's canonical standing.
If Davies visits the two congregations, it could be the basis for a showdown with the dioceses involved. Davies said that he would be traveling to Ft. Worth in a couple of weeks and would try to visit the congregation in Houston. He said that it "would be an episcopal visit."
Although Davies said that he had no immediate plans to visit Ft. Collins, he added that he intends to do so eventually. "As far as I am concerned, I would not need permission [from Bishop Winterrowd] to visit Colorado, since he has said that he does not recognize the Ft. Collins congregation as a part of the Episcopal Church," Davies said.
However, Hitt implied that a visit by Davies could spell trouble. "The bishop of Colorado would be very concerned if another bishop were to visit Colorado to exercise Episcopal ministry without his prior consent."
Davies admitted that he "could be brought up on charges" for his involvement in the MDA. However, he ridiculed the notion. "It would be so incongruous. Here we [in the missionary diocese] are trying to defend the faith and tradition, while those who ignore the teaching of the church and ordain homosexuals go 'scot-free,'" Davies said. "No legal action has been brought against members of the House of Bishops who are disregarding the policies of the Episcopal Church."
Davies said that it was possible that Stremel and Murphy "may be brought up on charges," and that he took no delight in the possibility. "No one wants to be charged in that way. I know some of the canons are being broken, but we still want to stay within the Episcopal Church," he said.
Davies said that he was unaware of published reports that at least two of the ESA bishops -- William Wantland of Eau Claire and William Stevens of Fond du Lac -- had distanced themselves from the missionary diocese proposal. "I have no personal evidence that this is true," he said. "I assume that all five ESA bishops are supportive of our plan."
Davies insisted that he was being led by the dictates of his conscience. "I'm doing what I feel has to be done. I would hope that legal action would be avoided."