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A word from the Editors

A Word from the Editors

                    An eerie silence hangs over the Diocese of Albany. Having pushed the Diocese to affiliate with the Anglican Communion Network, Bishops Herzog and Bena  have said almost nothing about it beyond endorsing the Network’s minority statement following the January meeting of the House of Bishops. Have they backed away from the ACN, mindful, perhaps, that a large minority in the Diocese opposes it? Are they waiting to see how more aggressive dioceses like Pittsburgh and Fort Worth proceed before they too push the Network’s separatist agenda? Or are they hoping that the Anglican primates and the leadership of ECUSA will find a Christ-like way to move forward together? Unfortunately, in this diocese where discussion of issues is all but non-existent – We conferred little before voting on the Network and have yet to come to grips with the issues of human sexuality that lurk behind the present crisis - -  the first clues to the bishops’ intentions are likely to appear in the next Convention Blue Book.

                    While Albany slumbers, the Network forges ahead. No doubt, your parish, like ours, has received a request for support from The Anglican Relief and Development Fund. Because the names are similar, you  may not recognize ARDF as competition for ECUSA’s Episcopal Research and Development Fund, but it is. It and a January 25 “pastoral letter” from Robert Duncan, the Network’s Moderator and  Pittsburgh’s Bishop (www.anglicancommunionnetwork.org), testify to the Network’s rapid growth and huge ambitions.  Duncan wrote glowingly of the movement’s financial success and described a growing bureaucracy that already includes convocations, deans, a cabinet, and “church-planters” – in short all the trappings of the new Anglican church that the Network hopes to become. Duncan blew a still louder trumpet at the House of Bishops meeting in January: “The majority [of ECUSA] has the power to coerce the minority and even put us out,” he said, “but in so doing, they ensure their destruction. We represent the vast majority of church planters, growing churches, missionaries, the Global South, and the largest seminary in the US (Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry.)”  All that’s missing is a raised fist!

                    To date, we in the Diocese of Albany  have experienced just a weak version of the Network, a pattern of marginalization of moderate and progressive voices that  might be called  “Network-Lite.” Others have been far less fortunate. “In Our Many Voices,”a report to ECUSA’s Executive Council by Via Media USA, describes the hardships of mainline parishes and priests stranded in other Network dioceses. Available at viamediausa.org,  it is  worth reading, for it shows how quickly “Network-Lite” can degenerate into harassment and worse.

                    We ignore the Network at our peril.

          Bob and Marya Dodd

          The Primates’ Communique Examined 

                    The head bishops, Primates, of 35 of the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion met last week in Armaugh, Ireland to respond to the Windsor Report. The Windsor Report was the work of an Anglican commission that was to recommend how to keep the Anglican Communion from splintering over the election of a gay bishop in America and the increasing practice of blessing gay unions in Canada and America.  Here are some highlights from the Primates Communique, issued to the Anglican world February 25.

The Primates declared that the North American church has “deeply alarmed” many primates for seriously undermining the “Christian teaching on matters of human sexuality expressed in the 1998 Lambeth Resolution” (Paragraph 6).

The Primates, even though they held gay bishops and gay blessings wrong, still claimed to be “unreservedly to be committed to the pastoral support and care of homosexual people” and declared “the victimization or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to us.” (Section 6).

The Primates challenged the North Americans to decide whether they wanted to be Anglicans or not: Are we willing to commit “to the inter‑dependent life of the Anglican Communion” and sign a covenant to prove it? (Section 8 and 9).

Imagining even more enforced worldwide conformity, the Primates requested study of a process whereby the election of bishops in one province (eg, America) would have to be approved by other provinces as well! (Section 11).

The most controversial demand is that US and Canadian churches voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council for a grace period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference” (2008). The primates want General Convention to respond to “the questions specifically addressed to them in the Windsor Report as they consider their place within the Anglican Communion” (Section 14). 

In addition to recommending disbarment from the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) the primates want Americans and Canadians to appear before the July, 2005 AAC Meeting to explain and defend our gay innovations (Section 16).

Finally, the primates yearn to persuade their brother and sister bishops to exercise a moratorium on public Rites of Blessing for Same‑sex unions and on the consecration of any bishop living in a sexual relationship outside Christian marriage.”

What does this mean? Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold charitably sees the Armagh communique as a nuanced response which “was written with a view to making room for a wide variety of perspectives.”  It is possible to see our possible suspension from the AAC as a price worth paying for justice for gays in the church.James Naughton, a spokesman for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC, in an AP story called the “temporary withdrawal” an "elegant compromise" that would help preserve the unity of the Communion as it works through its disagreements. And Professor Ian Douglas, of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, told the New York Times that he thought the communique carved out a sound position that reduced the threat of a split in the church.

There is good news in the communique for via media groups: 

 the Primates forbade the cross-boundary bishop invasions popular during the past year. Any pastoral ministry by an outside bishop must be approved. 

The Anglican Communion Network was granted no status and given no role as a replacement for ECUSA. 

The Primates (Section 15) called for the Archbishop of Canterbury to provide “pastoral provisions” for those in “theological dispute with their diocesan bishops.” This means that those moderate Via Media congregations undergoing oppression in Network Dioceses, as described in VMUSA’s In Our Many Voices, could ask for the pastoral support of an outside bishop. This would include parishes in the Diocese of Albany.

          For me, the most important news is not what the Primates declared in their communique, but that we are all paying attention. When the Primates began meeting twenty years ago with Archbishop Coggan, they had no power as a group. The word primate is not even in the Book of Common Prayer. But it has been the strategy of conservative Episcopalian dissenters to create an enhanced role for the more conservative primates, to counter the liberal leanings of the American Church. Their strategic success is amazing. Even with a Protestant Reformation that disentangled the English church from the Roman hierarchy and granted each national church autonomy, we, almost 500 years later are on the brink of discarding our protestant heritage in the name of unity and conformity. Thankfully, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan keeps reminding the church that the primates meeting is “not an executive body, it's not a synod or star chamber." It has no authority to set in motion any of this week's decisions.

          Our church is in a precarious position and our presiding bishop needs our prayers. The Associated Press reported that Nigerian Primate Peter Akinola, the favorite of American ultra‑conservatives, “held a celebratory dinner as the communique was being finalized.” But Bishop Akinola and others at the Armaugh Primates meeting reportedly refused to receive communion with US Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold in the room, just as US Anglican Communion Network bishops have skipped communion at recent House of Bishops meetings.  There is also the issue of the Network Bishops who have set up a parallel church structure in ECUSA. Will they be able to settle back into partnership within the church? Will those several bishops among them, whose diocesan leadership style can be best described as thuggish, also be held accountable by the Primates?

          One is tempted to ask, “What would Jesus do?” The Archbishop of Canterbury stated that there was plenty of bad behavior to assign to all sides in this dispute, although there is no sign that the right comprehends his comment. Ultimately it is those of us parish clergy and laity who have to live with the results of the actions of our church leaders. For us as a Via Media movement, in a Network diocese, we have learned there is no one willing to stand up for us or defend us. It becomes our ministry to ask not what the Episcopal Church can do for us, but what we can do for ourselves. Hang in there, it is going to be a wild ride.

The Rev. Dr. John T. Sorensen

Identity Theft

          Members and supporters of the Anglican Communion Network describe themselves as mainstream Episcopalians and portray AVM and the 12 other Via Media groups as extremists and dissidents, even heretics.

          This is a clumsy attempt at identity theft. Quoting from In Our Many Voices, Via Media USA’s report to the Executive Council of ECUSA (www.viamediausa.org) :

          “Our members mirror the face of the Episcopal Church: we are laity and clergy; high-church Anglo-Catholic, low church and broad church, liberal and conservative. We are male and female, of a variety of races, married and single; young, old and everything in between. Our sexual identities and relationships reflect the range found in the Episcopal Church, and, we hope, God’s love to us. While not all of our members agreed with the decisions of General Convention in 2003, we all support the decision-making processes of our church.”

          A resolution adopted by the Executive Council of ECUSA at its February meeting shows how ECUSA views Via Media:

          “Resolved, That the Executive Council meeting in Austin, Texas, commend Via Media USA for its work in several dioceses in the church and offer its continuing support to faithful Episcopalians who are seeking to remain within the Episcopal Church.” (From Episcopal New Service, www.episcopalchurch.org)

          Do the Via Media groups and those to whom we give voice and hope stand outside the Episcopal mainstream? Far from it. We are the mainstream!

Bob Dodd

Louie Crew to Speak to AVM

          On Saturday, 16 April 2005, Albany Via Media will present a lecture by Louie Crew on “Asbestosware for Discipleship” at St. George’s Church, Schenectady. Dr. Crew, a member of ECUSA’s Executive Council and Board of Directors, will speak at 5:00 PM after Evensong at 4:30. He will also speak at two other local churches on Sunday, 17 April, giving the sermon at 8 AM and 10:15 at St. Stephen’s and participating in an ecumenical panel discussion at First Methodist Church at 3 PM.

          A native of Anniston, Alabama, Crew holds earned degrees from Baylor University (BA, 1958), Auburn (MA, 1959) and the University of Alabama (PhD, 1971) and honorary doctorates from three Episcopal seminaries: EDS (Cambridge, 1999), General (NYC, 2003), and EDS Pacific (Berkeley, 2004). He has held fellowships at UCal Berkeley, the University of Texas (Austin), and the University of Chicago. He is the author of more than 1620 publications.

          An emeritus professor of English at Rutgers University, Crew taught there from 1989 to 2001 and served two terms as Chair of its Senate and a member of its Board of Governors. At other times during his 44 year career, he was a prep school master and a professor of black higher education in the rural south. He also taught for five years in rural Wisconsin and four years in Beijing and Hong Kong.

          Dr. Crew’s contributions to the Church have been many. A five‑time deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of Newark, he will chair Newark’s deputation in 2006. He has served two terms on the Standing Committee of his Diocese, twice as its President, and is now clerk of the vestry at Grace Church, Newark.

          Louie Crew and Ernest Clay entered a life partnership in February, 1974. Later that year, Dr. Crew founded Integrity, the justice ministry of lesbian and gay Episcopalians. 

Meetings

          Albany Via Media held its first Annual Meeting at St. George’s Church, Schenectady, on Saturday, January 8. In spite of snow and ice that kept many members - -  your editors included! - - at home, almost 70 people attended the preceding festival Eucharist, which included a sermon by our President, James Brooks-McDonald. Fifty stayed for the meeting and lunch.

          An important result of the annual meeting was the election of two new Board members: Marya Dodd and David Kennison.

***

          The AVM Board of Directors held its monthly meeting at St. George’s, Schenectady, on Saturday, February 5. A very full agenda included:  

Election of officers, each to serve for one year (President: J, Brooks-McDonald; Vice President: R. Dodd; Treasurer: J. McPartlin; Secretary: C. Stahler; representatives to Via Media USA: J. Sorensen, C. Smith, and K. St. John)

Approval of by-laws, as drafted by Keith St. John in consultation with the Board. These are provisional and will remain so until they are approved at the next Annual Meeting.

Discussion of the next Annual Meeting, which will likely take place this October to minimize the chance of severe weather. An ad hoc committee (K. St. John, J. Brooks-McDonald, G. Stahler, D. McSwain) was formed to plan the meeting.

Discussion of Dr. Louie Crew’s anticipated visit on Saturday and Sunday, April 16/17. (Details elsewhere in this newsletter.)

Designation of terms for Board members, calculated to bring in five new members each year. The terms for present Board members are:

Through 2005:  C. Sheerin, G. Stahler. J. Brooks-McDonald, J. Sorensen, D.McSwain 

Through 2006: K. St. John, N. Hoffman, R. Dodd, J. Perry, J. McPartlin

Through 2007: M. Dodd, D. Kennison. C. Stahler, C. Smith.

Prospects for filling a vacant 2007 slot were discussed.

Formation of an ad hoc committee to begin planning for AVM’s participation in the 2005 Diocesan Convention (June 10/11): C. Stahler, N. Hoffman, R. Dodd, M. Dodd.

* * * * * * * * * * 

The meeting of AVM’s Board of Directors at St. George’s, Schenectady, at 9 AM on Saturday, March 5, will not be covered in the instant AVM Messenger. However, the minutes of that meeting will appear on our website located at http://www.albanyviamedia.org  by mid-March. 

Our President, James Brooks-McDonald, will call for an AVM Board meeting on April 2nd, at 9am, at St. George's, Schenectady. Affiliated individuals are always welcome, indeed encouraged, to attend our monthly meetings. However,, check our website or call the AVM office before traveling, in case there is an unexpected change in location, date or time.

Masthead Information

Albany Via Media
1935 The Plaza
Schenectady, New York 12309

AVM Office, located at 1229 Baker Ave., is open every weekday from 9 am to 1 pm Telephone/Fax/Email  518-346-6241  518-346-6242 (fax)

James Brooks-McDonald
Website: http://www.albanyviamedia.org
Webmaster: C Jones
Newsletter Editors:  Robert Dodd     Marya Dodd
Newsletter Layout/Publishing:  Richard Bossert

Board of Directors

James Brooks-McDonald, President
Robert Dodd, Vice President
Claire Stahler, Secretary
Julie McPartlin, Treasurer
John Sorensen
Keith St. John
George Stahler
Charles Sheerin
Christopher Smith
Norman Hoffman
David McSwain
John Perry
Marya Dodd
David Kennison

Note from Publisher

          This AVM Messenger (version mailed to affiliated individuals) was printed in Green ink in honor of PATRICK, the Patron Saint of Ireland, of Nigeria, of engineers, of those fearing snakes and of excluded people.

          The  AVM Messenger on Web at http://www.albanyviamedia.org  is in a slightly different format then the printed version mailed to affiliated individuals. Here, pages of newsletter showing organization, officers, board members, addresses, postal seal, and the form to be used for affiliating with AVM are omitted since that information is already available elsewhere on this website.