Episcopalians' Semi-Schism

By Richard N. Ostling

I do not consider that the churches of the Anglican Communion have authority to change the historic Tradition of the church that the Christian ministerial priesthood is male . . .

Perhaps the most outspoken signer of that defiant declaration was Andrew Craig Mead, the rector of the Church of the Advent in Boston. Church traditionalists like himself, Mead charged, for too long have been "victims of exclusion, ridicule and financial pressure," and are tired of being treated by church liberals as if they were "brain-dead." Mead and 1,800 like-thinking Episcopalians retaliated earlier this month during a three-day meeting in Fort Worth, where they formed an independent church-within-a-church called the Episcopal Synod of America. It is likely to bedevil the Episcopal Church for years to come.

The dissidents, who refuse to recognize women priests, decided to act after the February consecration of Boston's Barbara Harris as the first woman Episcopal bishop. Synod members decry the church's liberalized teachings on such matters as divorce, abortion and homosexuality. They also insist that parishes be allowed to use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer instead of the modernized worship forms that the church approved in 1979. But unlike the small factions of tradition-minded members who walked out of the Episcopal Church in the late 1970s, the Synod stops short of making a dramatic split with the Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of the 60 million-strong Anglican Communion.

Instead, it has decided to stay until it either establishes its independence to do what it wants or, more likely, until the Episcopal Church expels its membership. "We must remain within the church to transform it," vows dissident Bishop David Schofield of Fresno, Calif. If separation is forced upon the flock, he states, "we will take the path when it comes." Says Bishop Clarence Pope of Fort Worth, who was elected president of the new Synod: "We are moving one step at a time to test the waters."

Pope, Schofield and four other bishops who now head regular Episcopal dioceses will also be the leaders of six Synod "areas" across the U.S. Fireworks are likely to start if, without approval, one of these six Synod bishops moves into a liberal diocese to perform rites for a traditionalist parish. Such a radical step, some believe, would break canon law and constitute a schism. Getting right down to basics, a spokesman for the diocese of southeast Florida contends that if and when a parting of the ways occurs, there will be serious legal and financial opposition to the schismatics, with challenges to any plans to hold on to their church buildings and clergy pensions.

Despite such hazards, the Fort Worth gathering drew significant backing. Besides the six active bishops, 20 retired U.S. bishops participated, along with nine bishops from overseas, where Anglicans are generally more sympathetic to the Synod's views than in the U.S. All in all, the Synod claims a founding flock of 290 parishes in 85 of the 95 U.S. dioceses. Boosters are talking grandly of enlisting 200,000 Episcopalians by Christmas of 1990 to sign the Synod's Declaration of Common Faith and Purpose, which so far has been endorsed by 26 dissident bishops and 13,000 priests and lay members.

The head of the Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning, is expected to break his silence on the formation of the Synod during a church executive-council meeting in Pittsburgh this week. In September the full body of Episcopal bishops, including the Synod Six, will meet in Philadelphia to consider the situation. Whatever lies ahead, insists rebel Bishop Pope, the Synod's task is to "get on with the job of being and doing church in the sense of the givens of Holy Scripture and the received Tradition."

With reporting by Joseph J. Kane/Fort Worth