New Association Proposed to Link Conservative Episcopal Groups
Episcopal News Service. February 8, 1996 [96-1376]
(ENS) A group of 20 bishops, priests and lay people that met in Briarwood, Texas, last December is launching a new network of conservative Episcopalians who feel linked by a common traditionalist understanding of the Christian faith.
While the organizers expect the new association -- called the American Anglican Congress (AAC) -- to hold conventions, issue position statements and support particular legislation at the Episcopal Church's General Conventions, their efforts are "absolutely not schismatic," stressed Roger Boltz of Hiram, Ohio, chair of the newly formed steering committee and associate director of Episcopalians United, a group that has criticized what it calls liberal trends in the Episcopal Church. "We have absolutely no idea of separating from anything."
The Congress would not replace existing conservative Episcopal organizations, such as Episcopalians United, he said. "We're talking about building relationship and commitment to each other among all of these organizations," he said. "We will encourage participation by all identifiable groups and ministries with similar views and goals."
Many conservative organizations have been formed "in defense of things that have been challenged by those we would call revisionists," Boltz said. The new organization, he said, should instead take a positive approach to "concentrate on putting forth a vision for how the church can fulfill its mission."
Lacking to date, he claimed, is "a cogent presentation of a conservative, traditionalist mission for moving ahead with the work of the gospel in the 21st century -- how does the church fulfill the mission as we understand the mission of the church."
If the group is not considering separating from the Episcopal Church, it is discussing strategies for "dissociation from the actions and statements of apostate bishops and dioceses," Boltz said in an electronic communique to supporters.
While no specific approaches for such "dissociation" have yet been identified, Boltz said, "many people in the Episcopal Church are struggling with how can I call myself a Christian and proclaim the message that Christ has entrusted to the church, and still claim membership in an organization whose leaders have denied those things."
Doctrines about the virgin birth of Christ, the resurrection of Christ and the concept of sin and the need for atonement have all been questioned by individual Episcopal leaders, he maintained. Orthodox persons and parishes in "dioceses where the statements and actions of the bishop and diocesan community demonstrate them to be apostate," need to be able to form "clearly defined spiritual relationships" that still make them "legally part of the Episcopal Church," Boltz said in his electronic message.
A "bold yet prudent approach" to dissociation will be presented for discussion at the next meeting of what Boltz called The Briarwood Consultation, after the Lutheran conference center where the initial 20 organizers first met December 4-6. The next consultation, which should include a wider representation of different organizations holding conservative theological positions, is being planned for Chicago in June, he said.
That meeting also will discuss "redirecting funds and episcopal oversight alternatives," Boltz said in his electronic message. In considering ways that parishes might turn to other than their diocesan bishops for spiritual "mentoring," perhaps on a model tried by Bishop Allen Bartlett of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, the group is "not trying to rebel against the structures of the church," Boltz said. "The relationship with a diocesan bishop is canonical, it's authoritative, it's administrative," but specific congregations may feel more comfortable receiving pastoral ministry from a bishop who shares their views, he said.
Likewise, conservative Episcopalians may want to make sure that the money they tithe is "going to something that is at least compatible with God's plan for the church," he said, and therefore may seek out alternative Episcopal ministries to support.
"All of this is looking for ways to heal and look forward," he said. "We're trying to find ways people can maintain their consciences and stay and work within the Episcopal Church."
The first national convention, to be called American Anglican Congress I, is scheduled for 1998, and should be "the outward and visible sign of the emerging church, the true and authentic Anglican presence in 21st America," Boltz said in his communique.
Parishes that align themselves with the AAC will be encouraged to display an AAC logo on their letterhead and signs. A fund-raising letter to all Episcopal rectors and senior wardens is planned for the first week of February.
Other members of the standing committee include: Bishop Alden Hathaway of the Diocese of Pittsburgh; the Very Rev. John Rodgers, former dean of the Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania; and the Rev. James Simons, a deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Also attending the initial Briarwood Consultation were: Retired Bishop C. FitzSimons Allison of South Carolina; Bishop Stephen Jecko of the Diocese of Florida; Bishop James Stanton of the Diocese of Dallas; the Very Rev. Peter Moore, dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry; the Rev. Dr. David Scott, professor of theology and ethics at the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia; the Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll, professor of Biblical studies at Trinity; the Rev. Dr. Jon Shuler, director of the North American Mission Society; the Rev. William Atwood of the Diocese of Dallas; the Rev. John Throop of the Diocese of Quincy; the Rev. David Roseberry, chairman of Episcopalians United; the Rev. Todd Wetzel, executive director of Episcopalians United; Michael Murphy of the South American Missionary Society and president of Pewsaction; Rich Englander of the Diocese of Dallas, a member of the Lambeth Society; Diane Knippers of the Institute of Religion and Democracy; the Rev. Ed Little of the Diocese of San Joaquin; the Rev. Nedu Nebo, a priest from Nigeria.