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Previous Article | · | copyright notice | · | Next Article |
Episcopalian Group Nixes Conservative Move
Copyright 2004 by Gretchen Passantino
Tuesday, March 30 2004 @ 05:42 PM ESTRepresentatives of 12 independent Episcopal groups that oppose efforts by other Episcopalians to move the Episcopal Church in the United States (ECUSA, the American branch of the world wide Anglican Communion) toward more conservative views met at an Atlanta retreat March 25-27 to form an alliance called Via Media USA.
The group is composed of both clergy and lay members who hold diverse views on many controversial issues in the church, but agree that they want all Anglicans in America and around the world to remain in full fellowship and communion with each other rather than refusing some fellowship, communion, and/or recognition of each other because of their divergent views.
The Via Media groups include Albany Via Media and Concerned Episcopalians of the St. Lawrence Deanery; Episcopal Voices of Central Florida; The Gathering (Dallas); Fort Worth Via Media; Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh (PEP); Via Media Rio Grande (VMRG); E-Way (San Diego); Remain Episcoapl (San Joaquin, California); Episcopal Forum of South Carolina (EFSC); Southwest Florida Via Media Episcopalians; and Springfield Via Media (SVM).
Although the Rev. Michael Russell, rector of All Souls' Episcopal Church (New Hampshire) acknowledged that the groups have "different perspectives," they did not even discuss either the consecration of an openly gay bishop in the Diocese of New Hampshire nor the blessing of same-sex unions by other Episcopal bodies at their retreat. He added, "We haven't criticized or judged any of those perspectives, and that's the kind of mindset we try to promote here and in our local communities."
Added Dr. Joan Gundersen of Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh, "We believe that our position represents the vast majority of the church, even if it is not perceived that way in our particular dioceses."
Most of the gruops that joined in forming Via Media USA are in dioceses (local regions of authority) that have joined or are considering membership in the newly formed Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and Parishes, which seeks to provide "alternative oversight" for those congregations that dissent from moderate to liberal dioceses. Via Media USA members fear that the Network is seeking to supplant the standard Episcopal governance structure altogether and effectively cause a schism at least in the ECUSA if not among the international Anglican Communion.
Atlanta bishop Neil Alexander spoke before the group, noting, "Unity is not a luxury, but a necessity. We must work for the unity of the church, 'not at all costs, but at all risks.'" He continued, "Friends, I don't believe the church is broken. . . . Virtually all of those who want the church to be different absented themselves from the table, and I think that Bishop Brent would have said, no matter what, you've got to take the risk of what it means to be in unity and fellowship -- not in agreement, but in reconciliation."
The national ECUSA Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, sent a letter of greeting to the retreat, noting, "These are challenging days for our church, and yet they contain within themselves an invitation to be the many membered body of the risen Christ in a deeper and fuller way. . . . Rooted and grounded in common prayer, our divergent points of view find their place of meeting and reconciliation in word and sacrament and a life shared in the service of the Gospel. The diverse center is the overwhelming reality of our church and its voice is urgently needed, both within the church and in our fractured and polarized world."
World wide, the vast majority of Anglicans disagree with not only the consecration of the openly gay bishop in New Hampshire but also with the same sex union blessings conducted by some Anglican churches. The Anglican Communion is headquartered in England under the Archbishop of Canterbury but the largest number of Anglicans is in Africa, South America, and Asia.
For the full story: The Episcopal News Service.
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