The Anglican Province of America

The Most Rev. Walter Grundorf     Presiding Bishop

Special Report

Bishop Grundorf Encouraged by FACA Resolution on Women's Ordination

Assures Orderly Transition in APA Diocese of the West

A Message from the Presiding Bishop
 Issued by the Provincial Office, September 17, 2008

The Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas gathered this week for its regular bi-annual meeting in Summerville, S.C.  FACA meets regularly to reinforce its commitment to work together as the traditionalist in this increasingly confusing Anglican world. It was reported that the Common Cause Partnership (CCP) is rapidly moving toward being a new Province by the end of the year. This means that those jurisdictions presently in FACA will be faced with making a decision to join the new Province, if they have not done so, or remain as they are. 

As the APA, we have maintained a position of support of the CCP in areas where we are in agreement and to “wait, watch and pray” that the CCP will commit to a study of women’s ordination and clarify its position on catholic faith and order. We were encouraged by the Moderator of FACA, Bishop Paul Hewitt, when he reported that Bishop John Rodgers, a highly regarded Anglican theologian, has made a strong plea that the study be started and that there be a moratorium on further women being ordained. 

 The Federation voted to sign a petition to support Forward in Faith in sponsoring a resolution stating:

“Whereas the leaders of the Anglican Communion Network and the American Anglican Council have declared their commitment to conduct a substantial theological study on the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate, which has been subsequently reiterated as the intention of the Common Cause Partnership,”

“Be it resolved that Forward in Faith joined by FACA joins in calling upon the Common Cause Partnership to expedite the study and declare a moratorium on the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate pending the completion of the study.”

      The need for standardized clergy training and formation was another critical area of discussion.  One of the scandals of the continuing Anglican churches has been “jurisdiction hopping.”  As Bishops and clergy we often criticize the laity for church shopping as if they are looking for the perfect boutique and yet some of our Bishops and clergy have been doing the same thing on a different scale.  An untrained poorly formed clergyman does not take his ordination vows or the Oath of Conformity seriously. I believe this problem goes back to proper formation in the priesthood.   

      On the subject of what has recently occurred in the Diocese of the West, as your Presiding Bishop I want to assure you the transition is taking place in an orderly fashion and we must all wish those well who have decided to leave us. We may disagree with their decision to leave us but pray they will find what they are looking for.  I have appointed Fr. Douglas King as the Interim Administrator to the DOW because of his membership in that Diocese as a priest for a number of years. When the time is right I will be calling a Special Synod to organize and elect a Standing Committee, which will become the Ecclesiastical Authority for the Diocese.  God willing, I will travel to the DOW at the end of October and early November to conduct two ordinations and to assure the people of my support in person.  I am pleased to have Bishop Larry Shaver of the Diocese Mid-America and Bishop Lipka of the Communion of Christ the Redeemer, who both exercise strong and stable leadership.  The Diocese of the East remains strong, stable and growing.

 God bless and keep you.

 +Walter