At a press conference the day after the consecration of four additional bishops of the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA), participants explained why they took the radical step against the advice of the Archbishop of Canterbury and others.

Despite stern warnings from the Most Rev. George L. Carey, Archbishops Datuk Yong Ping Chung of South East Asia and Emmanuel Musabu Kolini of Rwanda consecrated four American priests: Bishops Thaddeus Barnum, T.J. Johnston, Douglas Weiss and Alexander "Sandy" Greene.

Archbishops Chung and Kolini, along with the new and existing bishops, described past and pending efforts to reconcile with Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold and Archbishop Carey, but stated that their primary concern is to fulfill the work of God through the church.

"Our excitement is to do the mission and to not get bogged down in the battle," said the Rt. Rev. Charles Murphy, AMiA bishop. "One of the most difficult things to do in this Anglican witness in America is to spread the gospel and live out the great commission in a structure that tends to be used to intimidate and silence these orthodox voices."

Bishop Murphy described efforts at reconciliation: "We desire to be reconciled and to have conversations." Bishop Murphy said letters have been written to both Archbishop Carey and Bishop Griswold within the past year, requesting a meeting. Both requests were denied, he said.

Archbishops Kolini and Chung also said that they have tried to begin discussions with Bishop Griswold and Archbishop Carey with no success.

"It is difficult to have dialogue or reconciliation when you cannot even have a meeting," Bishop Murphy said.

The consecrations were not undertaken to drive a wedge into the worldwide Anglican Communion.

"I don't want to break the tradition of the Anglican Church. I am a loyal Anglican," Archbishop Chung stated. "I only know the Anglican Church. I've committed my whole life to it."

Asked about the possibility of repercussions for participating in the ordinations, the Rt. Rev. Alex Dickson, retired Bishop of West Tennessee, said, "I'd rather spend some time focusing clearly on scripture, and involving myself with people who I know believe this, and spend time with people who are committed to the mission. They can do whatever they want to do. I've got to get on with the mission."