Former Quincy Bishop Denies Renouncing Episcopal Ministry; Jefferts Schori Ignores Canons

By David W. Virtue and Fr. Michael Heidt
www.virtueonline.org
10/21/2009

The former Bishop of Quincy, the Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman, 63, said he never renounced his orders in The Episcopal Church, that his private letters to Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori went unanswered, he received no pastoral care, and both his wife's and his health benefits were cut off, all this after 35 years of faithful service to The Episcopal Church.

His voice breaking with emotion, the retired bishop told a press conference that as a result he has had to get a job to obtain medical benefits for both him and his wife who have medical conditions.

"I find it really remarkable that a conclusion that I have renounced my orders without anybody asking me. Is it canonically legal, he asked?" He flatly denied that he had renounced his ministry as alleged by Jefferts Schori, The Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop.

In a prepared statement, Bishop Ackerman referred to a handwritten letter written in July 2009 to Jefferts Schori, addressing his intention to assist in the Diocese of Bolivia and sit as a visitor in the Province of the Southern Cone's House of Bishops. According to Ackerman, this did not include a renunciation of his ministry in TEC, "At no time did I express dissatisfaction with the Episcopal Church, or make any statement of a desire to be separated from it."

Despite this, Jefferts Schori communicated with Ackerman on October 7, citing Title III, Canon 12, Section 7, of TEC's Canon Law, which "removes" and "releases" a bishop from ordained ministry for the "renunciation of ministry in this Church".

Jefferts Schori's letter states, "In accordance with Title III, Canon 12, Section 7 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church... I have accepted the renunciation of the Ordained Ministry of this Church, made in writing to me in July 2009..."

In the Presiding Bishop's cover letter to Ackerman, Jefferts Schori explains her reason for invoking Title III.

"As you know, there is no provision for transferring a bishop to another Province. I am therefore releasing you from the obligations of ordained ministry in this Church, as seen in the attached document."

However, provision for transferring bishops does exist in Episcopal Canon Law. Dean Munday of Nashotah House Seminary has drawn attention to Canon III.12.8(i) at the Stand Firm blog; the Canon states:

"A resigned Bishop may, at the discretion of the Bishop of the Diocese in which the resigned Bishop resides, and upon presentation of Letters Dimissory from the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese in which the resigned Bishop has had canonical residence most recently, be enrolled among the Clergy of the new Diocese, and become subject to its Constitution and Canons including being given a seat and vote in the Diocesan Convention, in accordance with its canonical provisions for qualification of clergy members."

Again, according to Munday, Canon III.10.2(a)(2) is even simpler, asking for Letters Dimissory from, "the hand and seal of the Bishop with whose Diocese the person has been last connected." These provisions were presumably used for Bishop Mark MacDonald, who retired as bishop of Alaska in 2007 to transfer to another Province, the Anglican Church of Canada, where he serves as Bishop for Indigenous Peoples. Unlike Ackerman, MacDonald remains in good standing with the Episcopal Church. Also, unlike the former bishop of Quincy, MacDonald supports female ordination and the pansexual agenda.

It is unclear from Schori's October letter to Ackerman why there should be one law for some bishops transferring to another province, and another law for others. Either the Presiding Bishop has forgotten her own Canon Law, or she's using it selectively to punish those she disagrees with. Either way, bishop Ackerman's denial that he renounced his ministry in TEC still stands unless evidence can be produced to the contrary. In Schori's own instance, it seems strange at best that she would appeal to an absence of "provision" when such a thing does, in fact, exist.

Jefferts Schori has not come forth with the letters prompting San Joaquin attorney Allan Haley to ask, "Mrs. Jefferts Schori, Produce the Letters". You can read his article here:

http://accurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2009/10/ms-jefferts-schori-produce-letters.html

*****

Presiding Bishop Writes to Episcopal House of Bishops

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There have been several questions asked regarding Keith Ackerman and acceptance of his renunciation of orders in the Episcopal Church.

Acceptance of Keith Ackerman's renunciation of orders in The Episcopal Church was the result of consultation with my Council of Advice, and based on his written submission to me describing his intention to function as a bishop in the Diocese of Bolivia, in the Province of the Southern Cone and requesting that he be "transferred" to that church and thus out of the Episcopal Church. It is also based on his public participation in, and signature on a document affirming, the election of Robert Duncan as "archbishop" of ACNA.

Acceptance of his renunciation says nothing about the indelibility of his orders. It does clarify the reality that he is no longer permitted to function as a bishop in The Episcopal Church.

We have been and will be consistent regarding our canons, which clearly state that The Episcopal Church can accept the ministry of a bishop of The Episcopal Church functioning temporarily in another province of the Anglican Communion, when it is clear that that province does not seek to undermine or replace the ministry of this Church. Such temporary duty requires the full and informed consent of the respective ecclesiastical authorities. The ministry of Mark McDonald is an example, but as his position becomes permanent, his loyalty will have to be to the Anglican Church of Canada, rather than The Episcopal Church, and a recognition of his renunciation of orders in this Church will be necessary.

Yours in Christ,

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate