At a service decried as perilous and schismatic by both the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, four former Episcopal priests were consecrated as bishops within the newly formed Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), June 24 at Colorado Community Church in Denver.

The four new bishops are: the Rt. Rev. Thaddeus R. Barnum of Pawleys Island, S.C.; the Rt. Rev. Alexander (Sandy) Greene of Denver; the Rt. Rev. Thomas W. Johnston, Jr. of Little Rock, Ark.; and the Rt. Rev. Douglas B. Weiss of Campbell, Calif.

Consecrating bishops were: the Most Rev. Datuk Yong Ping Chung, Archbishop of South East Asia; the Most Rev. Emmanuel M. Kolini, Archbishop of Rwanda; the Rt. Rev. John Rucyahana and the Rt. Rev. Venuste Mutiganda, both of Rwanda; the Rt. Rev. Alex D. Dickson, retired Bishop of West Tennessee; the Rt. Rev. C. FitzSimons Allison, retired Bishop of South Carolina; the Rt. Rev. Charles Murphy, and the Rt. Rev. John H. Rodgers of the AMiA.

After a half hour of contemporary praise music, the congregation of about 1,000 sang the processional hymn, Alleluia, Sing to Jesus. About 50 clergy processed down the aisle with their hands upraised. The order of service used was largely from the prayer book of South East Asia.

In a departure from the assigned scripture lessons of the day and in an apparent admonishment of the Episcopal Church, the readings included Isaiah 6:1-8, 2 Tim. 3:14-15 and Matt. 28:16-20.

Another departure from the Episcopal order of service for the ordination of a bishop was the absence of a formal opportunity for members of the congregation to state individually why the service should not proceed.

According to Harry Griffith, AMiA executive officer, organizers believed that the opportunity to object was provided when the archbishops asked the congregation to respond affirmatively to the calling of the men to be bishops.

"We really were anticipating that there could have been objection," Mr. Griffith said. "We were prepared for anyone who wanted to make a statement to let them do that."

While Archbishop Chung reiterated the claim that many Episcopalians in the United States want the AMiA's support, he also expressed regret for any pain caused by activities of AMiA leading up to the event.

"Many in the U.S and around the world are dismayed, bewildered, saddened, hurt by our actions," Archbishop Chung stated. "I want to apologize to any one of them if they have been hurt or offended in this process."

He also commended those who may agree with AMiA's stance on the perceived drift of the Episcopal Church from biblical orthodoxy, but who have chosen to stay in their current churches rather than join AMiA congregations.

"I admire and respect their humility and obedience to God," he said.

During the consecration and ordination portion of the liturgy, Archbishop Chung asked the candidates a series of questions, beginning with whether the candidates for ordination believed in the 39 Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer, and the ordering of bishops, priests and deacons.

Each candidate was then asked to confirm his sense of calling to the role of bishop, his acceptance of holy scriptures as trustworthy and complete, and his belief in the Christian faith expressed by the Anglican Church. Each was challenged to commit to "banish and drive away from the church all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's word" and encourage others to do likewise.

As each of the four was consecrated, family members and clergy gathered in a circle and laid hands on him, praying for guidance, support and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The consecrations attracted considerable media attention, with reporters from Time magazine, CNN, Associated Press and major newspapers covering the event. More than a dozen professional and amateur photographers, including vested clergy, moved around the stage and through the congregation looking for a good photographic angle during the laying on of hands. Some photographers leaned over the communion table shooting cameras and flashes into the circle of clergy laying on hands and praying for the candidates.