At a time when much of the Episcopal Church is questioning the value of confirmation, more than 70 persons were confirmed by three foreign bishops Nov. 26 at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, Pa.

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 700 packed the suburban Philadelphia church for the service of Evensong and Confirmation. The Most Rev. Maurice Sinclair, Presiding Bishop of the Southern Cone (Anglican Church of South America), the Most Rev. Patrice Byankya Njojo, Archbishop of the Congo, and the Rt. Rev. Raymond George Smith, Assistant Bishop of Sydney, confirmed the candidates, most of whom were young persons. Most of the confirmands came from five Philadelphia-area parishes affiliated with the traditionalist organization Forward in Faith North America (FIFNA), although some came from as far away as Baltimore and North Carolina.

The three who confirmed and other international bishops were at Good Shepherd at the invitation of the Rev. David L. Moyer, SSC, rector, who is also president of FIFNA.

Fr. Moyer called the event "fantastic - beyond our expectations."

Presiding Bishop Sinclair, who is also Bishop of Northern Argentina, said at a press conference following the service that it was the first time he had been involved in a service of this kind, and he did not rule out other similar events.

He said he was pleased by the invitation extended by Bishop Charles Bennison of Pennsylvania, which averted what could have been a difficult situation with international Anglican bishops crossing diocesan boundaries to confirm. Bishop Sinclair said he had spoken with Bishop Bennison and that they had discussed some of the issues on which they disagreed, but that their time together had been limited.

Bishop Bennison attended the service but had no official role. Wearing his purple cassock and pectoral cross, he sat in the congregation and afterward attended a reception in the parish house.

Archbishop Njojo preached the sermon in French, which was translated into English by a member of the choir.

"We must apply ourselves with zeal to do what is good, even if it causes suffering," the archbishop said, "because we are preparing for the kingdom of heaven."

Most of Archbishop Njojo's sermon considered events in the life of Jesus with references to the readings of scripture used at the service. The Anglican Service Book, produced at Good Shepherd, was used at the event.

The confirmands were presented by the clergy of their parishes to the bishops who were seated at the crossing. Many of those confirmed seemed visibly moved, some to the point of tears.

Other Anglican provinces were represented at the service. The Rt. Rev. Peter Njenga, Bishop of Mount Kenya South, Kenya, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Balagadde Ssekkadde, Bishop of Namirembe, Uganda, and the Rt. Rev. Edward H. MacBurney, retired Bishop of Quincy, also participated. The Church of England, Antiochian Orthodox Church and the Anglican Rite Synod in America also were represented.

The visitation was made in response to what a news release termed the "pastoral emergency" in the Episcopal Church identified in the Nassau Declaration [TLC, Sept. 17].

Bishop Sinclair addressed a letter to Good Shepherd's parishioners to explain the visitation. "With others in the newly formed Nassau Coalition, I am working for a resolution of the current problems which will not only reaffirm the biblical and historical sexual ethic, but ensure that it is effectively maintained or restored in all parishes, dioceses and provinces recognized within the Anglican Communion."

In making brief remarks during the service, Bishop Sinclair put the event in perspective.

"We share in the struggle to seek faithful solutions to the problems you face," he said. "The gospel of Jesus links us."

David Kalvelage