Dear Friends,
I am Geoff Chapman, Rector of St. Stephens Church in Sewickley, Pa. (Diocese of Pittsburgh). I am responding to you on behalf of the American Anglican Council and their Bishops' Committee on Adequate Episcopal Oversight (AEO). Thanks for contacting us; we very much want to network with you in these difficult times and be of real help to you.
The AAC Strategy Committee has been working for months on AEO. In consultation with a wide circle of friends - inside this country and beyond - we have clarified our strategy and are now moving to implement it. I am serving as their response person for AEO, and I want to brief you on our progress. This document will get you up to speed on where we are going. Please keep this document confidential, sharing it in hard copy (printed format) only with people you fully trust, and do not pass it on electronically to anyone under any circumstances.
1) Our ultimate goal is a realignment of Anglicanism on North American soil committed to biblical faith and values, and driven by Gospel mission. We believe in the end this should be a "replacement" jurisdiction with confessional standards, maintaining the historic faith of our Communion, closely aligned with the majority of world Anglicanism, emerging from the disastrous actions of General Convention (2003). We believe this goal is now pressed upon us by the Holy Spirit as a result of the rejection of the historic Christian faith and the rejection of biblical and Communion authority by the leadership of ECUSA. We will lead our congregations and partners in making the adjustment to adopt this strategy. We seek to retain ownership of our property as we move into this realignment.
2) As an intermediate step, we will respond to the urgent pastoral need in our country by offering Adequate Episcopal Oversight to parishes or remnants of parishes who share our deeply held convictions, proceeding under The guidance of our Bishops and the Primates. Bp Griswold's offer of "Extended Episcopal Care" is unacceptable, fundamentally flawed and disingenuous, and does not meet the needs of our parishes or the intentions of the Primates. Our AEO will maintain confidentiality in the application process, and seek transfer of parish oversight across geographic diocesan boundaries to an orthodox bishop, the right of pastoral succession, liberty of conscience in financial stewardship (the right to "redirect" funds), and negotiated property settlements affirming the retention of ownership in the local congregation.
The implementation of Adequate Episcopal Oversight will normally follow a two step, "Stage 1 Then Stage 2" process.
Stage 1 will feature "spiritual realignment" while remaining within the letter of current canons. Parishes would publicly announce that their relationship with their diocesan Bishop is "severely damaged" because of the events of the summer, and that they are now looking to one of the Primates or an AAC orthodox Bishop for their "primary pastoral leadership". Announcements will need to be carefully phrased to avoid canonical violations.
During the months of Stage 1, we will begin to reform our relationships to build the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes. We will move to initiate support structures for fellowship and strategy. We will act courageously and faithfully to support "at risk" parishes. We will creatively redirect finances. We will refocus on Gospel initiatives. We will innovatively move around, beyond or within the canons to "act like the church God is making us". Stage 1 will enable congregations/clusters to keep clear use of their buildings for the foreseeable future, and would give critical time to strengthen our leadership circles for what promises to be a turbulent spiritual season.
Stage 2 will launch at some yet to be determined moment, probably in 2004. During this phase, we will seek, under the guidance of the Primates, negotiated settlements in matters of property, jurisdiction, pastoral succession and communion. If adequate settlements are not within reach, a faithful disobedience of canon law on a widespread basis may be necessary.
Some congregations have already proceeded to "Stage 2" because of local circumstances. While we cannot offer AEO under an AAC diocesan Bishop at this time, we do have non-geographical oversight available from "offshore" Bishops, and retired Bishops. We may also be able to offer oversight from special designated priests acting on behalf of our AAC Diocesan Bishops.
Smaller, isolated congregations that cannot connect with a supporting cluster will be welcome to apply, but encouraged to make a public announcement later in 2004. They will sail in the wake of the leadership of stronger clusters.
Parishes/clusters that go through this process in a "Stage 2" mode and Bishops who receive such parishes/clusters will be at risk of litigation and presentment, and should be prepared for such.
An AAC Bishop could be available to go with any parish/cluster to meet with the diocesan Bp, as needed. We think the presence of an AAC Bishop with a stated partnership with the Primates could change the dynamics of such a meeting.
This "Stage 1, Stage 2, Cluster Strategy" has several advantages: It will...
(1) build "rising orthodox network" DNA among the networked churches. Churches in the clusters would gain formative experiences of working together, depending upon each other, praying together, linking with the Global South, and if need be, suffering together. This would be invaluable for the months and years ahead.
(2) give us our best shot at a success. Any isolated parish that moves alone into the revisionist line of fire at this point is going to be in peril. Congregations moving in clusters have the advantage of leveraging their combined strength.
(3) generate significant public attention both within this country and among our world-wide partners.
(4) build "position" for any settlement talks in the future.
4) We are building a network of "Cluster Moderators" who will serve emerging clusters as they gather. These leaders should have a servant's heart and a broad base of support in their own parishes that will enable them to come alongside conflicted or imperiled congregations. They must be able to bridge the lines of our coalition with genuine respect for the differences within the orthodox community. We will identify these key leaders as soon as possible.
5) We would cover everything in intentional, dependent Christ- centered prayer, seeking the Holy Spirit's leading and provision at every point. Prayer support cells will be developed around the country and mobilized at critical moments.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions:
What does it take to apply for AEO (Adequate Episcopal Oversight)?
Normally we would ask for the signature of the Rector and a supporting vote of the Vestry. When you have reached this point of decision, send the application to the AAC office. There is no need to inform your Bishop yet of the application. We will inform him with you in due time. You can find the application and guidelines here: www.americananglican.org.
Does AEO mean that the orthodox overseeing Bishop would have control of the call, licensing, and canonical residence of the clergy?
We do not know the answers to that, but our Bishops will be exploring these issues as we move forward. The AAC bishops are not prepared to sign off on an arrangement that will leave a congregation in continuing high risk, and that means that issues of spiritual authority, pastoral succession and episcopal oversight must be solved. That is the fundamental difference between Adequate Episcopal "Oversight" envisioned by Canterbury and the Primates and the Episcopal "Care" offered by Griswold. However, there are many details yet to be ironed out.
Recent litigation indicates that the local diocesan authorities hold almost all the cards in property disputes and clergy placement if they want to play hardball. But we think that the political realities are such that American revisionist bishops will be reticent to play hardball for a while.
They have just handed the gay lobby a stunning victory, but are being forced to pay a fearsome price for it. The opposition at home is far greater than they anticipated and the opposition overseas is serious and inflamed. ECUSA will certainly lose members and funds at a high rate over the next months, accelerating their decline. In one short summer they have managed to radicalize all the orthodox in our communion and take away the "middle ground" where so many of our members have hidden! This has put many (perhaps even most) parishes in conflict and made the survival of many smaller parishes a large and urgent question. No one is very happy about this inside ECUSA, and the American public is hardly cheering the events in New Hampshire.
ECUSA leaders know well how conservatives could quickly become the "victims" in the public mind. They also know that all of our AEO work will eventually find its way across the desk of the Archbishop of Canterbury (ABC). All of this together will create pressure for them to cooperate with the ABC/Primate's call for AEO. So we suspect that there will be a window of time before they return to "hardball" tactics.
The AAC has a new Legal Resources link on their home page, and if you or your new Vestry need help in this area, we would suggest contacting them.
Can we redirect our funds?
This is happening on a widespread basis. There are several strategies to consider. Some parishes have used "donor intent" to trump diocesan canon. The argument goes something like this... "In these conflicted times we will offer our congregation pledge forms with options to indicate their preferred use of their funds. The options go... 'Would you like to have a canonical portion of your gift sent (1) to the Diocese? (2) To the National Church? Or (3) To the Vestry for their judgment on whether to pass on funds to the Diocese or National Church? All redirected funds will go to Anglican missions who are committed to biblical faith, values and Gospel ministry.'"
The Vestry then informs the Diocese that they feel it important to allow their members to follow their conscience. Arguing for "freedom of conscience" and the honoring of "donor intent" is very difficult for liberals to oppose, regardless of the strength of your state law. And it should give your parish some breathing room as you seek to move through this difficult season together.
For a biblical/theological understanding of redirecting funds, look at John Guernsey's talk from the Dallas Conference. You can find it here.
What is important over the next months? Here are some concrete suggestions for your consideration:
Join the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes. Here's some basic information.
Form diocesan "clusters" with sympathetic churches. This is essential. An AAC chapter can be the seedbed for a cluster that is seeking realignment. Circle up, pick a moderator, and contact us at AAC headquarters.
Be careful of your language. Don't declare yourself "out of communion" with your diocesan Bishop as such statements have been used as evidence for canonical action against clergy ("abandonment of communion" in Philadelphia). To say that your communion is "impaired" or "damaged" is a wiser response for the moment. Let the excommunications come from the Primates.
Prioritize your issues and pursue them in due order. Sort out the challenges you face and go after the most important first, while saving the least important till last. The issues you face could include securing new leadership, consolidating and educating your Vestry, building a network of support within your Diocese, stabilizing your congregation, etc. Take first things first. Operate in God's time. Don't be stampeded to early and untimely actions. The Primates will move over the next months to build a growing and determined solution to the crisis. It will be good to follow their lead and that of the AAC Bishops.
Be measured, deliberate and courageous in your responses. "Wise as serpents and gentle as doves" was Jesus' phrase for it! This is a moment for courageous and clear leadership. Watch out for the spirit of anger or self- righteousness! It will kill fractured parishes.
Join and build the network of churches committed to biblical values and faith. There will be safety in numbers. See if there are other parishes in your diocese who could also apply for AEO. Work in partnership with us in the AAC. Either we hang together or we hang separately! And don't forget (when it seems like you are all alone) that Christ himself has promised to walk with us through these times!
Familiarize yourself with the strategy affirmed in Dallas in October and talk and pray about how you can apply it locally. It can be found here.
Keeping close to Christ is essential. Read your Bible. Pray lots. Be aware of Satan's opposition and resist him. Worship regularly. Stay in good fellowship with close Christian friends. Watch out for your own emotions, especially anger and frustration, and remember that the Holy Spirit's leading is not the same as your emotions! We will be of no use to the Lord Jesus in these struggles if we are not fully His!
Remember confidentiality! Much is at stake over these next months. The careers of godly men and women, the possibility of congregational survival, the Anglican witness to Christ in our culture and generation, etc. We ask you not to spread these emails over the internet, and to speak of them only to people you trust. In the end, everything will be spoken plainly, but the ability to get organize and take counsel together effectively depends upon our readiness to keep confidentiality.
We will keep all details of our contact with parishes in confidence. Please do not hesitate keep in touch with me or with the AAC office if we can be of further help. God bless you, as you courageously serve Christ and his gospel.
Geoffrey W. Chapman
Rector, St. Stephens Sewickley, Pa.
