OKLAHOMA BISHOP SAYS ECCLESIASTICAL ACTION POSSIBLE OVER OHIO CONFIRMATIONS

By Robert M. Moody

To the Clergy and Laity of the Diocese of Oklahoma:

On Sunday, March 14, 2004, five retired bishops of the Episcopal Church and a bishop of the Episcopal Church of Brazil, in the words of the Presiding Bishop, "arrogated to themselves the right to perform episcopal and sacramental acts without the permission of the diocesan bishop."

In an act of Constitutional and Canonical disobedience planned by the American Anglican Council, Bishops C. FitzSimons Allison, retired Bishop of South Carolina, Maurice Benitez, retired Bishop of Texas, William Cox, retired assistant Bishop of Oklahoma, Alex Dickson, retired Bishop of West Tennessee, William Wantland, retired Bishop of Eau Claire, and Robinson Cavalcanti. Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Brazil, confirmed and celebrated the Eucharist in an Orthodox church in Akron, Ohio, without the knowledge or permission of the Bishop of Ohio.

Because two of the bishops who were involved in this event reside in the Diocese of Oklahoma, I believe that it is appropriate for me to make the following statements. Bishop William Wantland is an attorney and a respected expert on Church Canons. I am sure that he fully appreciates the seriousness of his actions. He is not licensed to exercise episcopal ministry in this diocese, but I have given him permission to accept invitations to celebrate, preach, and lead retreats whenever he has been asked to do so by Episcopal congregations and brotherhoods in Oklahoma.

Until this matter is resolved, I urge you to keep him in your prayers and pray that he will take no further covert actions that will cause deeper divisions within our Church.

Bishop William Cox served as an assistant bishop of Oklahoma for eight years. He presently serves on the staff of St. John's Church in Tulsa. He is well known for his ministry in Christian Healing. He is a beloved individual to many. His decision to participate in an event that has created a constitutional and canonical crisis is a surprise to both me and to the Reverend David Fox, the Rector of St. John's. He said nothing to either of us about his intention to do this. I do not know if he appreciates that his actions reflect upon both the Diocese of Oklahoma and the Parish of St. John's. I ask your prayers for him that Christ's spirit will lead him to be a healer of the Church's wounds.

The House of Bishops will meet at Camp Allen in the Diocese of Texas from March 19-25, 2004. I believe that an appropriate response to this action of defiance and disobedience on the part of those bishops will be on our agenda. That response could be a censure of these bishops or a presentment that could lead to an ecclesiastical trial. I ask your prayers for the bishops and for our Church. I will be communication with you upon my return from the House of Bishops.

Faithfully,

+Robert M. Moody Bishop of Oklahoma