Who are we? Albany Via Media is an organization of clergy and lay Episcopalians in the Diocese of Albany. We are loyal to the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ in The Episcopal Church and our Primate, the Presiding Bishop. We recognize the General Convention as the highest authority in The Episcopal Church. We founded our organization when Bishop Daniel Herzog, a board member of the American Anglican Council (AAC), and Bishop David Bena, a member and leader in the AAC, disagreed with decisions of the General Convention and spoke of realignment and impaired communion with The Episcopal Church. Since any realignment or impaired communion with other dioceses of the Episcopal Church affects our lives and our ministries, binds our consciences and violates the ordination vows of our clergy, Albany Via Media, a not-for-profit corporation in the State of New York, was created to keep the Diocese of Albany in communion with The Episcopal Church.
What do we offer? Albany Via Media offers a place for Episcopalians to be faithful to Christ as prayerful members of The Episcopal Church. We give thanks for The Episcopal Church as the American embodiment of Anglicanism — a comprehensive and diverse family. We understand that all of us bring unique gifts to the ministry of the church and all have a place at Christ's table. No one can claim greater honor or truth over another. Albany Via Media offers a place for faithful and prayerful Episcopalians within the Diocese to live out our Lord's Great Commandment in love, diversity and compassion.
What do we seek? Albany Via Media seeks to revive our Anglican diversity in the Diocese of Albany. Knowing that prayer shapes believing, we understand that we are strongest when we kneel (or stand) together in prayer. Albany Via Media seeks to model and teach a charitable faith. We welcome differences, ambiguities, and paradox, knowing that prayerful consideration of various points of view, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, can yield new insights, deeper understanding, and a lively Christian faith.
What do we believe? We believe that “The Holy Scriptures containeth all things necessary to salvation.” (Article 6, Articles of Religion) We believe that the so-called “literal” interpretation of Holy Scripture is theologically and intellectually dishonest. We find Biblical fundamentalism to be dangerously idolatrous. Nurtured by scripture, tradition and reason, we open ourselves to God's truth as a diverse community, through prayer, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As Episcopalians, we are sustained and empowered by Holy Scripture, the sacraments, the creeds, common prayer and servant ministry. We understand the New Testament model of the Body of Christ to be a very local, universal, diverse and inclusive church, with a variety of gifts for ministry.
