Episcopal Synod Will Ask General Convention for a Separate Province for Traditionalists
Episcopal News Service. May 14, 1993 [93089]
The Episcopal Synod of America (ESA) has renewed its call for a nongeographic province to protect traditionalists from what it called "a progressively sectarian Anglicanism" and said it will take the fight to the floor of the 1994 General Convention in Indianapolis.
Contending that "geographic boundaries are reasonable and appropriate only where there is agreement and uniformity in matters of faith and practice," the ESA's legislative body formulated the plan at its annual meeting April 29May 1 in a suburb of Philadelphia.
The plan calls for bishops of one or more dioceses to "restructure their provincial affiliation," in effect withdrawing from their current province to form a separate tenth province with the ESA as its "missionary arm." A new province is possible, the plan argues, because the Episcopal Church's constitution and canons "do not define the nature of the jurisdiction of a geographical bishop or diocese as in any way subsuming or requiring an exclusive -- or indeed any -- spiritual or sacramental dimension."
If the General Convention does not endorse the plan, the ESA said it would "take such further steps as necessary to preserve the doctrinal orthodoxy and freedom of conscience and to advance ecumenical relations on a national and international basis."
When the ESA floated a similar plan several years ago, asking Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning to appoint a committee to work out the details, they were rebuffed. Although the January meeting of Anglican primates and the Anglican Consultative Council reaffirmed the "continuing place in the Anglican Communion both of those who oppose and those who accept the ordination of women," the meeting dismissed proposals for a separate jurisdiction, citing the 1988 Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops that denied the possibility. "I would say it closes the door on that issue -- with the pastoral door still open," said Bishop Mark Dyer of Bethlehem (PA), Episcopal Church representative to the ACC, after the South Africa meeting.
The ESA plan cited the near rejection of traditionalist bishop Jack Iker in Ft. Worth as making it clear that "the promises of tolerance previously extended are near to being revoked." Under the present structures "it is hard to see how effective episcopal leadership of those who remain opposed to women's ordination can be continued."
In an effort to force the Episcopal Church to take a clear stand on the question of ordination of women, the ESA bishops will also present to the General Convention a resolution that "no person shall be ordained to any of the three orders -- bishop, priest or deacon -- unless that person accepts as valid the ministry of all persons ordained in this church."
If the resolution passes, the ESA said that it will be regarded as a signal that the church "wishes to exclude those who hold to the 2,000-year tradition of ordaining only male candidates." If the General Convention defeats the resolution, "we understand that all persecution of traditionalists will cease," the ESA said. If the General Convention refuses to consider the resolution, "the ESA could only understand such actions as a clear move to exclude its members" from the Episcopal Church and it would take appropriate action.
The synod elected a retired Army colonel from California, Donald Moriarty, to replace Bishop Clarence Pope of Ft. Worth, who has been president of the ESA since it was founded in 1989.