New Network for Conservative Episcopalians Organizes at Chicago Meeting
Episcopal News Service. July 25, 1996 [96-1526]
(ENS) Calling the newly formed American Anglican Council (AAC) a "rallying point and wake up call" for Episcopalians concerned about preserving historic biblical faith in the church, Bishop James Stanton of Dallas told participants at a June organizing meeting in Chicago that they must help guard the church against liberal inroads.
"Some of the decisions being made in the Episcopal Church today are having a devastating impact on membership, giving, and our ability to perform the church's mission," he said. "Leaders in the Episcopal Church need to understand that their departure from the received teaching of the church is not a small thing."
Originally launched last December as the American Anglican Congress, the fledgling group that is being billed as a network for "biblically orthodox Episcopalians" underwent a name change and developed some organizational structure at the Chicago gathering of more than 70 people. Stanton was named interim chair of the 18-member board of trustees that will include six bishops, six priests and six lay people.
While more than 20 directors or trustees of different organizations attended, participants stressed cooperation and coordination of effort. As Stanton noted, "the best news on earth is the Good News of Jesus Christ. We believe that we can be far more effective in proclaiming it if we work together."
Roger Boltz, associate director of Episcopalians United and a member of the new board, said that the intention of the new organization is "not to draw any energy away" from the individual groups represented, but to "coordinate those specific ministries in a community of faith."
"It's about people and their souls," said Bishop Alex Dickson, retired bishop of West Tennessee. "It's about telling them there is life with Jesus now and even after death. That is the message we proclaim."
The council is seen as a gathering place for Episcopalians holding "traditional faith values," but "we don't want to call the church backwards, we want to call the church forward, to fulfill the historic mission of the church in the future," Stanton said.
In a telling sign of the diverse views represented, but also of the group's goal to transcend them, four female priests attended along with bishops who neither ordain women nor permit them to serve in their dioceses.
"The issue is orthodoxy," said the Rev. Jane McDermott of Canfield, Ohio. "I have a great deal more in common with you (bishops who do not ordain women) than I do with many revisionist leaders and bishops."
The Rev. Judith Gentle-Hardy of Haverhill, Massachusetts, added, "I want you to know that the church needs you. I am willing to lay down my life to keep bishops like you who represent the Catholic faith in the Episcopal Church."
"I understand that these women cannot deny their commitment to their vocation, and I appreciate their affirmation of the legitimacy of our theological position," responded Bishop Jack Iker of Fort Worth, one of the bishops. "For a long time, we have been trying to say that we are willing to live with differences. It is refreshing to hear others saying it as well."
Calling the exchange a "very moving moment," Boltz noted that the group "started out with a lot of diversity to hold in tension, which is the genius of Anglicanism. It wasn't apparent from the beginning that we were going to be able to do that. The Holy Spirit really moved to show us how we could focus on what was really important."
Working groups divided up to produce initial papers on parish mission and ministry, engagement of the Episcopal Church, organization and structure, ministry development, and evangelism, and to review "A Place to Stand: A Call to Mission," a document seen to present the AAC's theological basis.
According to an article to appear in the United Voice, publication of Episcopalians United, the draft paper on engagement with the Episcopal Church endorses "conscientious non-cooperation with regard to communion and/or finances," but leaves such decisions with "individuals, parishes or dioceses." The paper also makes no mention of "alternative episcopal oversight," a controversial process by which traditionalist bishops might serve traditionalist parishes in other dioceses.
The new board is scheduled to meet in August in Chicago to begin to develop more specific plans for the organization's future role.