Atwood has headed Ekklesia, a one-person organization originally formed to inform orthodox Global South primates of The Episcopal Church's heresies. With the advent of the Internet the organization morphed into a small development agency. The larger Anglican Relief and Development Fund and other relief agencies like Five Talents swamped it. In recent times Ekklesia has sought to position itself as a spiritual ministry involved in casting out demons among Anglican clergy on the Island of Madagascar.

Earlier this year VirtueOnline learned that Atwood was seeking a bishopric, and among the prospective archbishops who might consecrate him was the Archbishop of the Southern Cone, the Most Rev. Gregory Venables. Atwood vigorously and angrily denied the claim.

Atwood's climb up the ecclesiastical ladder led him as priest from the Diocese of South Carolina to the Diocese of Dallas and then to the formation of Ekklesia.

He has earned his miter. He has been a spear-carrier and bagman for a number of Global South Primates and has regularly appeared at annual meetings of the Primates wherever they have met. His influence has been behind the scenes. "This is his reward for services rendered," said a source close to the situation.

The consecration of Atwood will see a third "missionary" group established in the U.S. made up of disillusioned American Episcopalians turned Anglicans who believe the Episcopal Church has abandoned 'the faith once delivered to the saints.'

The other two groups, the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) under Bishop Charles "Chuck" Murphy and the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) under Bishop Martyn Minns, will now see a third organization called the 'North American Anglican Coalition' (NAAC) under Atwood.

None of the above groups have been recognized by the Archbishop of Canterbury who is deeply troubled by the splits that he sees as wrecking balls to Anglican unity. Dr. Rowan Williams is on a three month sabbatical and will be studying at Georgetown University in Washington DC.

Asked why the action of Archbishop Nzimbi is necessary now, an observer said that orthodox Global South Primates wanted to send a message to Williams, before he meets with the Episcopal Church's House of Bishops in September, that schism is inevitable and hopefully to put pressure on him to come down on the side of the orthodox in the Anglican culture wars. Nzimbi however is pleased with his announcement sending a note to a source saying, "We prayed, we consulted, we decided. We are pleased."

Common Cause partners, led by Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan which includes the Anglican Communion Network and a number of Continuing Anglican bishops, will meet Sept. 28 to outline their plans for a future without the Episcopal Church. This meeting will be held after the HOB meet in New Orleans and just a few days before the Sept. 30 deadline for the Episcopal Church set by the Primates meeting in Tanzania last February for TEC to conform to the demands of the Windsor Report.

At least five Episcopal dioceses are ready to walk away from The Episcopal Church in October. The Diocese of San Joaquin will vote as a diocese later in the year to actually make such a move. The Diocese of Albany through its bishop, the Rt. Rev. William Love has said it will call a special convention if the Episcopal Church or the wider Anglican Communion takes any action that "threatens our continued relationship with either to deal with whatever confronts us."

Anglican Communion Network Moderator Robert Duncan welcomed Kenya's decision to care for U.S. Anglicans, and in a statement said Archbishop Nzimbi's actions supported its "Biblical, Missionary and Uniting" work.

"He (Atwood) joins Bishop Bill Cox of the Southern Cone as another domestic bishop cooperating in ministry with the Network, which has strong links with many international congregations under overseas jurisdiction through its International Conference."

One African Archbishop who seems pleased with Archbishop Nzimbi's announcement is Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola who wrote, "This action demonstrates a growing recognition by Anglican provinces in Africa that the situation in North America continues to deteriorate because of the intransigence of the leadership of The Episcopal Church."

Clearly Archbishop Nzimbi's action only heightens the need for an alternative worldwide Anglican structure along the lines of a 39th province, but Archbishop Williams has given no signal that he will go along with that. Members of Forward on Faith in the Church of England want a province of their own, but have been unsuccessful to date in procuring it. Furthermore, multi-million dollar property battles are shaping up in The Episcopal Church that mutes any talk of wholesale departures unless orthodox parishes and dioceses plan to leave their properties behind.

The future status of The Episcopal Church within the Anglican Communion is still very uncertain. While African Primates are talking of a coming new world Anglican order, possibly free from the Archbishop of Canterbury and revolving around Nigerian Archbishop Akinola, matters will still be decided 'on the ground' for now.

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