WEST TENNESSEE: TENSIONS AND THREATS ABOUND AT CONVENTION

The Diocese of West Tennessee had its convention this past weekend. Bishop Don E. Johnson, who voted against Robinson, continues to verbalize the theme of unity. In an emotionally powerful image he recounted a rabbinical story about Abraham's call. The point of the story was that Abraham responded to God with one request, "I will go where you send me if I can bring my family with me." Bishop Johnson then asked that he be allowed to bring his family, the diocesan family, with him into the unknown future.

The call to unity and focus on togetherness permeated much of our time together. The question for many of us concerns the content of that unity. One major source of contention was the role of Bishop Chilton Knudsen of Maine. She had been invited last fall to be a speaker for the convention. Unfortunately, shortly after that invitation was accepted, she was a co-consecrator at V. Gene Robinson's elevation to the episcopacy. Although Bishop Johnson made it clear that he did not know she would participate in the consecration and it was not his intent to make a political statement through this invitation, several of the West Tennessee clergy told the bishop that we would be unable to attend the Eucharist if she concelebrated and preached.

Bishop Johnson had extended the invitation prior to the Robinson consecration and decided not to withdraw it. Four priests met with him (ironically, the day after he issued his Pastoral Letter about the AAC). During a candid, but generally friendly exchange, we made it clear that we would be gathering elsewhere to pray. Bishop Johnson voiced respect for us and our position. We emphasized that we would not make any 'grand exit' which would disrupt the Eucharist. On Friday evening we did not attend the diocesan Eucharist and gathered instead at my parish.

Friday at 6:00 PM St. Andrew's Church in Collierville was filled with some 1200 worshippers. We prayed Evening Prayer and a dozen folks prayed aloud for the needs of the church. At the end of the service all the priests present were asked to stand up and extend their hands in blessing. About nine clergy were there and the beauty and power of the moment was lost on no one. Several participants later commented that it was the high point of the convention weekend. The atmosphere at the evening prayer had been affected by the threats uttered just a few hours before.

Just prior to the evening prayer, beginning at 3:30, we had gathered for hearings on several resolutions. Three resolutions had been submitted by a traditionalist priest. One called for a renunciation of General Convention resolutions that have caused such an uproar in the church, another affirmed that marriage was between one man and one woman and that sex outside of marriage was a sin. A third asked for diocesan support of the Network as an effort to make a place for those who want to remain in the Episcopal Church but remained committed to the orthodox faith.

In the midst of those discussions at the hearings a statement was made by the rector of the host parish that he would bring up on presentment any priest who was associated with the AAC or the Network.

A short time after that I asked if I had correctly heard that this priest intended to present me for my membership in AAC. At that point Fr. Joe Davis asked, "And me?" I think that one or two other priests also asked the same question. Both publicly and privately afterward this priest made it clear that he would bring us up on presentment if need be.

Although this threat was rather unnerving, later that night and the next day three other priests who are in opposition to our position came to offer support. I do not believe at this point that any charges will be filed. I think many of the opposition here still view us with respect and love and do not want us brought up on charges.

Unfortunately, the resolutions committee decided to not bring the three resolutions made by the Traditionalists to the house floor. Instead they claimed to roll them into another "unity" resolution which called for further dialogue. (Several of the Traditionalists had supported this resolution with the understanding that we wanted to remain in the church and work together). We were deeply saddened when this resolution was foisted upon us as a compromise to avoid conflict. The attempt to silence us failed as on the house floor the resolutions were resubmitted as amendments and the very discussion that they had tried to prevent occurred any way.

During the closing floor debate Fr. Joe Davis set out a reasoned argument for the orthodox claims. Fr. Colenzo Hubbard pointed out that we had heard only the liberal voice and needed to also hear the Traditionalists, and Fr. Samson Giteau asked for the delegates to give us some reason for hope. The discussions were neither contentious or highly emotional. They also did not sway the delegates to vote affirmatively for any of the amendments.

I addressed the assembly and tried to explain our plight. I called on them to realize that many folks in our parishes were barely hanging on in the church. I explained that they needed some sign of hope. I asked them, "besides Vicky Gene Robinson himself, who could you have possibly placed at this altar to send a clearer message of where we stand than the person who consecrated him?"

I turned to Bishop Knudsen and told her that had she spoken at any other time or circumstance we would have listened to her. I told her that I understood we missed out on a fine talk. I also explained that we are committed to the Church universal and the Anglican Communion.

Bishop Knudsen had ignored the united voice of the Anglican Primates, had engaged in an act which tore at the fabric of the communion and that she was the schismatic. I also stated that the disregard for Africa and the Southern Hemisphere was an act of racism and that Liberal racism is the most insidious type because they cannot believe they are capable of racism.

Our diocese failed to renounce the Robinson ordination. We did not confirm that we believe marriage is between one man and one woman (i.e., we rejected the Prayer Book definition). We did not confirm sex outside of marriage is a sin. We did not allow for parishes in West Tennessee to be part of the Network. We did commit to further discussions and dialogue.

Many of the orthodox are not hopeful. They believe dialogue means "talk until you get on board with the new and improved Christianity." The days ahead are uncertain but we remain committed to faithful discipleship. We ask the Primates to hear that we did not attend the Eucharist and do not want to be in broken or impaired communion. We want our ecumenical partners to hear we witnessed to the faith within this convention. We want the readers of this to hold us and our bishop in prayer.

Jeff Marx is the rector St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Collierville in the Diocese of West Tennessee.