FORWARD IN FAITH SAYS HOB DEPO STATEMENT UNACCEPTABLE

Statement from FIFNA President, Fr. David Moyer

24 March 2004

FIFNA's Response to the House of Bishops' Statement on Episcopal Care

Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.

It would be wise in this second half of the Lenten season to pray unceasingly in light of the ECUSA House of Bishop's Statement of 23 March, 2004.

We have a church (or as Father Sam Edwards would say, an "unchurch") that has been declared to be in rebellion, disobedient to the whole counsel of God, by the vast majority of baptized members of the Anglican Communion, as well as the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Although the bishops say that the church is "to be a trustworthy sign to the world of this costly reconciling power of God," they mean that the orthodox must be "reconciled" to the agenda of ECUSA.

Forward In Faith, North America, being a part of an international witness to Apostolic Order, Catholic Truth, and Evangelical Faith, is totally committed to reconciliation and unity. But, this reconciliation must be grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Apostles which alone fosters unity amongst Christians. We strive to submit ourselves to God's Revelation as known in the mind of the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church.

The thrust of the House of Bishops' Statement is on episcopal oversight. How in the Name of God can a church in crisis and denial led by revisionist bishops in aggressive and willful disobedience to Holy Scripture and ecumenical consensus think that faithful and intelligent people be deceived by this statement.

No member parish or individual of FIFNA takes joy in the brokenness and impairment of relationships with their bishops. This isn't the way it should be. But, we are not foolish.

We see the state of denial that the ECUSA House of Bishops maintains. We understand the agenda to be that of intimidation, suppression and the elimination of orthodox faith and practice. Has there been any reversal of this? I will say with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, "Bear fruit that befits repentance" (Matthew 3:8)

Bishops are not welcomed and diocesan programs are not supported for the simple reason that a significant number of faithful souls don't see them upholding and maintaining the Church's proven witness to the world for salvation, healing, and reconciliation.

We observe with heavy hearts those entrusted with apostolic authority who do not bring to the sheep of Christ's pasture the doctrine of the Church Catholic and Apostolic. Indeed, they undermine Christ's teachings. How could any converted soul welcome their statement?

The provision (and there are no guarantees) of Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight is simply a denial of reality, and a gross failure to be apostolically pastoral to people. What committed priest or lay person could embrace this token thrown our way to deceive us by attempting to lower the temperature of unrest, and to stop the hemorrhaging of people. We all know that fully orthodox bishops cannot be reproduced in ECUSA and that fully orthodox churches are no longer free to maintain fully orthodox clergy leadership upon the death or retirement of their priest. Daily ECUSA loses more of her members to other churches or to nowhere at all!

We will not accept this. We are committed to Adequate Episcopal Oversight as defined by the Archbishop of Canterbury. We will continue to work with the "Network" to achieve this goal.

Let us be glad for Mother Church's gift of Lent. We truly need it.

(The Rev. Dr.) David L. Moyer