ALABAMA: Anglican Priest Calls on Episcopal Bishop of Alabama to Sign Jerusalem Declaration

From VirtueOnline:

by John D. Richardson
October 8, 2008

With reluctance I write again. However, much has transpired within the global Anglican Communion that has gone unreported in the News. Your readers deserve a fair presentation of the reality on the ground. After all, "our mutual loyalty to one another" should be grounded in truth, and not in weak assessments (at best), or via orchestrated spin (at worst).

First, Bishop Chane of Washington DC has offered a reflection on Lambeth which soberly and fairly reflects what the Archbishop of Canterbury calls a state of "grave peril." Contrary to the vacuous "all is well" offered by many, Chane says: "Archbishop Williams sought what he believed was a middle way that unfortunately continues to marginalize the Canadian and American churches. . . " The Bishop of Alabama says the "strong center" held firm. Chane understands Lambeth's implications and accepts the reality that the "middle way" excludes increasingly both The Episcopal Church (TEC) and its counterpart in Canada (ACC).

Next, the Primates Council established by the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) has met. Representing over 75% of practicing Anglicans around the world, they recently rejected the authority of all Anglican churches preaching "a false gospel" including TEC and the ACC. Post-Lambeth the Primates see nothing to cause them to abandon this. They are now offering a means by which to "authenticate and recognize Anglican jurisdictions, clergy and congregations": specifically, subscription to the Jerusalem Declaration.

These developments raise serious questions. Will the Bishop Alabama acknowledge to his flock the "grave peril" and the marginalization of the perpetrators - especially TEC? Also, will he or the Diocese "authenticate" within Anglicanism by signing onto the Jerusalem Declaration? Otherwise, will the Bishop grant freedom, as a matter of conscience, to his clergy who wish to authenticate themselves as Anglicans by signing the Declaration?

These questions deserve serious and immediate responses.

---The Rev. Dr. John D. Richardson is Senior Pastor of St. Peter's Anglican Church, Anglican Mission in America, Episcopal Province of Rwanda. Before leaving the ECUSA he led the sixth fastest growing Episcopal Church in the United States. He has an earned Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.