Strategy paper asks replacement for Episcopal Church due to gay bishop

By: RICHARD N. OSTLING

Jan 14. 2004)

The number of conservative Episcopalians opposed to an openly gay bishop is a replacement for the Episcopal Church that will be aligned with like-minded Anglican churches in other nations, according to a detailed memo from a key strategist. News of the memo, first reported in Wednesdays Washington Post, comes as conservatives prepare for a crucial closed-door meeting next week in Plano, Texas, to establish a national group called the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes.

In recent weeks, conservative leaders have said this will not be a formal breakaway from the Episcopal Church. But the memo indicates the Plano meeting may face a division between those favoring a conciliatory strategy and militants prepared to defy the church.

Our ultimate goal is a realignment of Anglicanism on North American soil committed to biblical faith and values, says the memo by the Rev. Geoffrey Chapman. We believe in the end this should be a replacement jurisdiction ... closely aligned with the majority of world Anglicanism.

Daniel England, communications director at Episcopal Church headquarters, said many rank-and-file Episcopalians will likely be disappointed by a strategy that seems to contemplate disobeying canons in church law and would circumvent the authority of diocesan bishops. Still, England said, the denomination needs to hear all voices in the debate over homosexuality.

The confidential document was sent to interested congregations Dec. 28 by Chapman, of Sewickley, Pa., on behalf of the Washington-based American Anglican Council, which is helping organize the network.

AAC media director Bruce Mason said Chapman is not a policy spokesman and the AAC does not intend to supplant the current structure of the Episcopal Church. However, he said, the conservative forces remain faithful to the Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church does not.

The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the international Anglican Communion - bodies which trace their heritage back to the Church of England. Many national Anglican churches have denounced or broken fellowship with the Episcopal Church over the consecration last November of V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay cleric, as bishop of New Hampshire.

Chapman’s memo deals with strategy for individual, conservative parishes in liberal dioceses that oppose the denominations gay policies and want to be ministered to by traditionalist bishops from outside their areas - instead of their regular, local bishops.

A clause in the Episcopal Church’s constitution says a bishop must not exercise his office in another diocese unless the regular bishop requests this.

Chapman is scheduled to brief Plano participants on the situation faced by local congregations. He is rector of the largest congregation in the Pittsburgh Diocese whose bishop, Robert Duncan, is a leader of the new network.

The denominations national leader, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, has proposed a plan for special visiting bishops to minister to conservative parishes. AAC leaders have rejected Griswold’s system, however, because ultimate decisions rest with liberal bishops they distrust.

The issue of so-called adequate episcopal oversight is on the agenda of a closed-door meeting of all Episcopal bishops March 19-24 in Navasota, Texas, and of a special committee dealing with the split on gays in the international Anglican Communion.

Chapmans 2,500-word memo lays out a two-stage process for parishes that have lost faith in Episcopal leadership.

In the first stage, parishes would practice spiritual realignment but remain within the letter of Episcopal Church law in order to hold ownership of their buildings.

In stage two, he said, they would seek negotiated settlements on parish property, hiring of future priests and other contentious matters, with guidance from friendly bishops overseas. If deals aren’t reached, widespread disobedience would occur.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Chapman said he has spoken with scores and scores and scores of churches who say liberal bishops have pressured them not to protest Robinsons consecration, to join dissenting organizations or to withhold contributions.

Its religious persecution, it’s very real, and it’s happening, and were trying to figure out how to help these churches, he said.

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