Opponents of Women Priests Expand Program
Episcopal News Service. January 6, 1977 [77004]
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- A leading Anglo-Catholic in the Episcopal Church has announced the expansion of the organization he heads which opposes the General Convention's action in approving the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Church, and has reiterated his proposal for a "continuing Anglican Province for North America" for those Episcopalians who are unable to accept the Convention's action.
The Rev. Canon Albert J. duBois, Lexington, Ky., retired head of the American Church Union, announced in an address in Hollywood, Calif., on January 2, the formation of Anglicans United, successor to Episcopalians United, "a worldwide Anglican Movement to maintain and preserve the Catholic and Apostolic heritage of the Anglican Tradition."
Speaking at a mass at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels in Hollywood, Canon duBois estimated that at least 50 parishes of the Episcopal Church are ready to declare their rejection of what he called "apostate actions" of the September meeting of the Convention in Minneapolis. He said that his organization is attempting to ascertain the number of parishes and individuals who will support the proposed Anglican province.
He said that a new Protestant sect was initiated in Minneapolis by the majority who voted for ordination of women and added: "We are not founding a new church: we are not leaving the Episcopal Church as constitutionally established in the USA; we represent the loyal remnant. The others have left us."
He said that Anglicans United is confident that bishops will be found for the continuing Church, from bishops in the Episcopal Church and from other Anglican churches.
He added that he does not see the creation of "parallel jurisdictions" -- two branches of the Anglican Communion existing side by side in the same territory -- as a problem and cited the Spanish Reformed Church, the Lusitanian Church of Portugal and the Philippine Independent Church as examples.
Canon duBois, who is International Coordinator for the Anglicans United program, said that he has been in contact with Anglican leaders throughout the world as well as some Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Old Catholic officials who have offered support.
He announced to the congregation that Anglicans United has called a meeting of U.S. supporters in Kansas City in mid-Lent, 1977. The headquarters for the movement will be at the Church of St. James the Less, Philadelphia, Pa.