CAM Decides To Continue
Episcopal News Service. November 12, 1976 [76343]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The Coalition for the Apostolic Ministry (CAM), an independent organization committed to the traditional all-male priesthood and episcopate in the Episcopal Church, has decided to continue the organization even though the Church's General Convention approved a canon in September to permit women into the two orders.
The Rev. James C. Wattley was re-elected executive secretary of the New York based organization and an appeal for funds was authorized to finance its continuing work.
Fr. Wattley said that "CAM will serve as a rallying-point for those who, in deep conscience, cannot accept this novel form of ministry (ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate) and who are called to serve within the Episcopal Church."
The CAM governing board, meeting in New York City on October 29, endorsed the Statement of Conscience which was introduced in the House of Bishops in Minneapolis by Bishop Stanley Atkins of Eau Claire, which commits the signers "to live and work within" the Episcopal Church but rejecting "with a good conscience the action" of General Convention with regard to ordination of women to priesthood and episcopate."
The board also approved a resolution which urges resistence to any "who would seek to coerce the consciences of bishops, clergy, seminarians, and lay persons who cannot accept the ordination of women to the Priesthood and Episcopate."
CAM has joined in the call of Bishop Charles T. Gaskell of Milwaukee for a two-day conference at the Church of the Ascension in Chicago, Dec. 1-2, "to establish and consolidate" their position.
Among the agenda items suggested by Bishop Gaskell for that conference are "consideration of the possible formation of an extra-geographical Province or Provinces;" "careful canonical and legal reflection" on the ministry canon adopted by the Convention "which contravenes centuries of the Church's life which affirm the Apostolic Ministry;" and "the whole matter of our relationship to the National Church and to worldwide Anglicanism."
In his invitation, which was sent to the other 60 bishops who voted against opening the orders of priesthood and episcopacy to women, Bishop Gaskell suggested that priests and laity be appointed to represent "regional and diocesan groupings."
CAM's annual meeting will be on Dec. 16 in New York at which time the officers and board will be elected.
Resolutions Adopted at the Coalition for the Apostolic Ministry (CAM) On 29 October 1976:
1. Whereas, Apostolic witness cannot be apart from Apostolic Successors, our Bishops; and
Whereas, thirty-six of our Bishops signed the Statement of Conscience introduced in the House of Bishops by the Bishop of Eau Claire, the Rt. Rev. Stanley Atkins; and
Whereas, that statement was signed by over 200 members of the House of Deputies and by over 200 visitors to the General Convention; therefore be it
RESOLVED that CAM adopt as its own Statement of Conscience that same Atkins Statement, to wit:
“We stand committed to the Episcopal Church, and we are determined to live and work within it. We cannot accept with a good conscience the action of (the General Convention). We (who are ordained) believe that to do so would violate our ordination vows to be faithful to and to defend the Word of God in Holy Scripture. Furthermore, we cannot acknowledge the authority of (that) General Convention to decide unilaterally and in the face of the expressed disapproval of our Roman, Old Catholic, and Orthodox bretheren, a question which ought to be decided by an ecumenical consensus. The ordination and consecration of women priests and bishops will raise for us the gravest questions -- that is, how far this church can accept such ministrations without fatally compromising its position as a Catholic and Apostolic Body. We ask our brothers in (the Church) to take to heart our resolution. We ask the whole Church to take note of our unshaken loyalty to the Episcopal Church, its teachings, its spirituality, its Priesthood and its Sacraments."
2. RESOLVED that the Coalition for the Apostolic Ministry urge upon its members and supporters the duty of vigilance against those who would seek to coerce the consciences of bishops, clergy, seminarians, and lay persons who cannot accept the ordination of women to the Priesthood and Episcopate and serve notice to all that such coercion will be strongly resisted and that any victims of such coercion will be steadfastly supported.