U.S. Traditionalists Join Forward in Faith Movement
Episcopal News Service. June 30, 1999 [99-099Q]
(ENS) On its tenth anniversary, the Episcopal Synod of America, a traditionalist organization opposed to the ordination of women as priests and bishops, has aligned itself with a similar organization in England, Forward in Faith, formed in the wake of the Church of England's decision in 1992 to ordain women to the priesthood.
The action, taken at a May meeting in Forth Worth, Texas, is an attempt to align traditionalists across international lines and respond to openness to their theological position expressed at last summer's Lambeth Conference of the world's Anglican bishops. A resolution at Lambeth urged respect for those who continue to oppose the ordination of women, advising against any attempts to coerce acceptance of ordinations.
The Texas meeting also adopted a statement that discourages sharing the Eucharist with anyone who has "broken the spiritual communion in Christ" because of what ESA members would consider "false teachings." The statement leaves application of the principle to individuals, since some bishops who ordain women are regarded by any measure orthodox on theological issues.
"With the vast majority of bishops of the Anglican Communion, we accept the desirability of maintaining the highest degree of communion possible," the statement said.
The retired bishop of Quincy, Edward MacBurney, said that Anglican bishops around the world are "taking a very hard look at Anglicanism in America. The possibility that this continent might become a missionary province for an African or Asian province would be a wonder."
Some at the meeting still held out the possibility of "intervention" by the Anglican Primates that could spur efforts to form a traditionalist province in America. Canon Bill Atwood of Ekklesia said that his meetings with international church leaders convinced him that "the faithful primates of the Communion are undeterred in their commitment to ensure that the Lambeth resolutions are implemented, and the faith proclaimed and defended." He predicted that the situation in the Episcopal Church will be "center stage" at the meeting of primates next spring.