The Rt. Rev. Paul Marshall, Bishop of Bethlehem, has decided to allow Episcopal Synod of America (ESA) bishops to preach and celebrate the sacraments in his diocese. The decision also will affect the Diocese of Pennsylvania and the Rt. Rev. Charles Bennison's ongoing dispute with ESA parishes there.

Bishop Marshall informed his clergy of his decision by letter. In it he addressed issues concerning the sometimes-harsh imposition of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, which caused some Episcopalians to leave the church and others to feel marginalized. "It is important to recognize the historical fact that in church and state, the majority has always had to contend with the temptation to totalitarianism," he wrote.

Bishop Marshall said he will try, through the House of Bishops and the Standing Liturgical Commission, to bring legislation to the floor of General Convention to extend a corporate apology "to those who have been alienated or whose faith has been injured by any insensitivity in imposing the prayer book of 1979."

If that is not successful, he will try to get legislation to require the 1928 Book of Common Prayer be included in the list of "supplemental liturgical material." If that should also fail, Bishop Marshall said he will begin the process to modify the constitution to "permit the use of any prayer book adopted by this Church since its first book of 1789," during General Convention 2003.

The bishop said his decision to invite two ESA bishops to "celebrate the sacraments at any time" in his diocese is to continue the diocese's tradition of being "community-based, not issue-driven." He focused on rites of initiation in his letter, saying "Initiatory rites are primarily ... focused on the Christian development of individual disciples ... their walk with God ought not to be put on hold while parochial and diocesan leaders work on their problems.

"I have therefore decided to share the hospitality and openness that we enjoy with those who consider themselves marginalized by changes that have taken place in the Church," he said.

Bishop Marshall took no stand on the rights or wrongs of decisions in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, but said, "I have nonetheless struggled in my own conscience with the plight of those people, particularly children, who have no power in this situation, and who are in danger of becoming something like hostages in an ecclesiastical stand-off.

"It is important for me to make sure that you know that no person or organization solicited me on this matter, but that the offer came from my own reflection, prayer and struggle to be faithful to the gospel of Christ," Bishop Marshall said.

Acknowledging that his actions may seem "quixotic or myopic" to some, because Bishop Marshall "joyfully and thankfully ordains women" and is on the commission charged with the creation of a new prayer book, he asked his colleagues to believe that his decision is based on his "deepest convictions about the primary importance of the sacramental mysteries of which the Church is steward," and his pastoral concern for those desiring confirmation who cannot receive it for reasons outside of their control.

Bishop Bennison declined to comment publicly on the letter.

The Episcopal Synod of America is an organization of traditionalist Episcopalians who disagree with the church's canon allowing the ordination of women as priests and bishops.

By allowing ESA bishops to officiate at confirmations in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, Bishop Marshall is, in effect, allowing ESA clergy in the Diocese of Pennsylvania to circumvent Bishop Bennison's restrictions. Confirmands from parishes in the Diocese of Pennsylvania can now enter the Diocese of Bethlehem to receive the sacrament by a bishop of his or her own belief and practice.