Episcopal dissidents urged to delay exit

Christian Century, Dec 27, 2003

Traditionalist Episcopalians are being urged to "please stand firm a little while longer" and not leave the denomination until officials can develop an alternative network for dissidents. David Anderson, president of the American Anglican Council, a Washington-based conservative group that led opposition to the election and consecration of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire, said "any decision to leave now would be premature."

In a letter to supporters, Anderson wrote: "If it is simply impossible for you to remain where you are ... then you may wish for the time being to consider gathering together with other orthodox Episcopalians in your same situation to form a new informal 'congregation' that meets in a home or school."

Anderson said Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh has been named the moderator of a new conservative network that would provide oversight for parishes or clergy who oppose the denomination's stances Oil homosexuality.

The network, which would exist alongside the Episcopal Church, has the blessing of 13 bishops and, Anderson said, the leader of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

"I can personally assure you that there is an unwavering commitment on the part of the Anglican primates to ensure that you and I have an Anglican home now that the Episcopal Church has left the Anglican family," Anderson wrote.

By contrast, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold said in a December 5 letter to other bishops that the Episcopal Church needs to work out matters of extended "episcopal ministry" within its own provincial borders, and unhappy congregations should not expect "direct intervention" by anyone outside the U.S. church--including the archbishop of Canterbury. Griswold said Williams made that clear in conversations with him in the first week of December.

At the same time, a separate group of Anglican churches that have broken away from the Episcopal Church met recently in Orlando, Florida, to "begin a common commitment to do mission collaboratively via a new federation." The new alliance, spearheaded by the group Anglicans United, brings together the Anglican Mission in America, the Reformed Episcopal Church, Forward in Faith and individual Episcopalians.--RNS