FIFNA: FORWARD IN FAITH STATEMENT COMMENDS NETWORK

Press Release

12 February 2004

As the members of the Council of Forward in Faith North America we offer greetings in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Mindful of the sacrificial labors of many of our members over several decades; the vision cast in 1989 (in the structure of the formation of the Episcopal Synod of America); sharpened in 1997 (in the Rosemont Statement); we rejoice that vision is now being recast in the cooperative efforts of the emerging clarity provided in our partnership in the Network of ACDP.

The circumstances at Good Shepherd, Rosemont in September 2002 provided an opportunity for new cooperation between Forward in Faith, the American Anglican Council, Ekklesia, many Primates and the former and present Archbishops of Canterbury and offered a providential foreshadowing of our emerging common life.

In response to the specific call from the Archbishop of Canterbury, visionary leaders of the Household of Faith are collaborating in the Network, which is drawing counsel from the deepening relationships among the international Primates. Just as they have faithfully and charitably modeled common life recognizing differing theological perspectives we are encouraged by the maturity of their relationships and seek to manifest the same steadfast commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the Church.

This charity is “the very bond of peace and of all virtues without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before Him.” The Network’s commitment to the ongoing integrity of Forward in Faith’s succession in Holy Orders reinforces our confidence in our common future for orthodox, unified, and missionary endeavor as longstanding divisions are healed to the Glory of God.

We commend the Network and our common life to the prayers of all faithful people. The structure and purpose of the Network is virtually identical to that framed by the ESA in 1989. The Rosemont Statement: “We continue to ‘be the church. We are not going anywhere.’” Efforts by the Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr. to remove The Revd David L. Moyer as Rector of Good Shepherd by attempting to depose him were thwarted by cooperation and collaboration among agencies and international leaders. Varying theological perspectives include evangelical, catholic, and charismatic, as well as differences concerning the ordination of women.