American Anglican Council

November 14th, 2003

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I write to you nearly two weeks after the sadly historic consecration
of V. Gene Robinson. Countless numbers of you have rightly expressed
your dismay, sadness, and confusion over this consecration. I wish
to outline a few very specific and important developments concerning
our church, its present crisis, and our bright future together in Christ.

The Primates' Statement

Many of you have wondered about the statement from the Primates
Meeting in October. My initial reaction was, as I am sure yours was,
disappointment. Since it was in the historic language of Anglican
diplomacy, its deep significance might not be apparent to all. But
be assured. The statement is actually an unprecedented and significant
intervention on the part of the Anglican Communion Primates in the
Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada. It
reaffirms the Lambeth 1998 core teaching on human sexuality. It
promises and encourages adequate episcopal oversight. It states the
clear resolve of the majority of Anglicans around the world that they
cannot abide by the false teaching and schismatic actions approved
by the 74th General Convention. These points and more are
highlighted on the AAC website: http://www.americananglican.org.

You should also know that at our meeting with the Archbishop of
Canterbury following the release of the Primates' Statement, he
commended our work for the future. Archbishop Williams is a godly
man with great insight and wisdom, and it is clear that he desires
unity in the Anglican Communion. However, he acknowledges that
realignment is a coming reality, and we must be prepared for it.

We have a critical mission ahead for us all: to insure that there will
be an orthodox Anglican expression of the Christian faith in North
America.

Adequate Episcopal Oversight

An important part of the Primates' Statement is a mandate for
"adequate episcopal oversight." This is a direct recognition that many
of you are in dioceses and congregations that support the actions of
the General Convention concerning human sexuality. The Primates
are concerned that you have a sustained episcopal relationship available
to you that will enable you to flourish as people of biblical and historic
faith. The AAC has formed a task force of bishops to deal with the
growing need for episcopal oversight. We have also posted guidelines
and an application form for episcopal oversight on our website (visit
http://www.americananglican.org/News/News.cfm?ID=827&c=21),
and we have already received many applications. It will take a little
more time to respond to the needs as they arise, but we are underway.
Bishop Duncan and I have just returned from a meeting in New York
with Presiding Bishop Griswold. The conversation was certainly civil,
but it was also very blunt. We laid out the picture as we see it, and we
made our and your needs crystal clear. The Chancellor, David Booth
Beers, made it clear that the canons make no provision for bypassing
the local bishop's authority. I made it clear that any plan that did not
have an over-ride over the local bishop if he/she was non-cooperative
simply was inadequate. The Presiding Bishop is now fully aware of
our efforts to implement adequate episcopal oversight and he indicated
to us during our meeting that his office will not stand in the way.

As an historian by training, and although I am generally conservative,
one of my heroes was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who as president
inherited a nation on the verge of revolt. The pain of the Great
Depression was overwhelming. FDR put together a creative group
of alphabet government agencies to address the deepest needs and pains
of the nation. It is true that later many of those agencies were ruled by
the Supreme Court to be unconstitutional, but in the meanwhile they
helped prevent revolution and save the nation. I think that is what real
leadership is about, reaching beyond the normal limits to address the
enormity of the problem and trying to save the nation. Are any of the
church's leaders willing to try as hard to address the crisis in the
Episcopal Church as FDR was to address our nation's crisis? I pray so!

We share together at this time a struggle with impatience and
vulnerability. We realize that above the surface of the water, it may not
look like a lot is happening. However, beneath the surface, there is a great
deal of praying, preparing strategizing, and planning. We all know that
good solid ministry takes time. We are called to be persevering but we
must also be assured that progress is being made. It is!

Please also be aware that the AAC is deeply alarmed about the increasing
reports from all over the country of incidents in which those of orthodox
Anglican conviction are being pressured and intimidated, whether subtly
or more overtly. It saddens our hearts that a number of those in power
could be so uncaring and exclusive toward those in genuine grief about
a church which they believe has betrayed them and the Gospel of our
Lord. It is vitally important that all of these incidents are reported to us
so that we may communicate the truth both nationally and internationally
as quickly and accurately as possible. We will be assembling a "martyrs'
page" to document these incidents. The sad truth is that this great endeavor
we are about will not be accomplished without some of us having to be
martyrs. I ask you to please pray for those faithful Episcopalians who will
be persecuted for their stand for biblical orthodoxy.

The Future

While these days are tense, the hope of the gospel is sure. As I look into
our near future I see an emerging church of strength and resolve. I see a
church growing with energy for a new emphasis on mission. At our
conference in Dallas, we saw over 2700 men and women express their
conviction for a renewed and revitalized church in North America. Do
not lose heart. We have much to do and much of it may be slower that
we would like. But our God is a faithful God. "The one who calls us is
faithful and He will do it!" (I Thess. 5:24)

I covet your prayers for the AAC bishops, the AAC board leadership, the
AAC staff and all who work for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Canon David C. Anderson

P.S. Please continue to pray for the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ and
the truth of His word to be revealed in our church and in our nation. Amen.
- posted by Bob @ 3:37 PM