6/01/2006

Episcopal Group Seeks Source and History of Planned 'Inquisition' to Control Laypersons

WASHINGTON, June 1 /Christian Newswire/ -- Lay Episcopalians for the Anglican Communion (LEAC) today announced in its internet website ( www.layepiscopalians.org ) an investigation to determine the source and legislative history of a general convention resolution which for the first time would install “draconian” disciplinary threats against laypersons. Inquiries directed to key officials and persons in the convention legislative structure have been unproductive, the national orthodox laity group said.

“So far,” LEAC said, “we have had a circular response. Each person with presumed knowledge of Resolution A153 pleads ignorance and refers LEAC on to someone else. We are concerned as to who is really behind this and what their intentions are.”

LEAC said it requested the facts from the task force to which the project was assigned six years ago, as well as from the 2006 convention committee which is now steering the proposed legislation. Additionally, the same request was put to the 2006 convention deputation which will represent the Episcopal diocese of Washington, D.C., LEAC’s home diocese. No information has been received.

LEAC is mounting an opposition campaign before and during the denomination’s triennial convention in Columbus, Ohio, June 11-20, a spokesman said.

The 60-page resolution (text only on convention website) totally replaces the church’s “discipline” canon. For the first time in the American church’s history it puts all adult Episcopalians under diocesan bishops’ codified oversight, disciplinary and punishment authority. Laypersons would be officially designated “Ministers” of the church, vastly extending the reach of bishops’ policies and decrees beyond their historic control of the actions of priests and deacons. Bishops’ authority would not be limited to their own dioceses.

“From diocesan standing committees and parish vestries down to altar guilds and Sunday school teachers, bishops would have broad absolute powers,” LEAC said. “A bishop could decide independently to remove any layperson from any parish-assigned position and even trigger excommunication for statements or other actions deemed unsatisfactory. Persons would have the right to defend themselves in church court at their own expense.

“This revolutionary concept must be soundly defeated at convention. While strongly opposing the bill, LEAC believes the church and its process will be well served if the source and legislative history of this draconian measure are revealed publicly. Absolutely nothing of its genesis or history has been disclosed by the authorities supposedly most familiar with it,” the lay advocacy group said.

“Silence among those who should know most about the legislation does suggest the possibility of hidden agendas. We remind authorities of LEAC’s motto (drawn from St. Paul’s ‘Sword the Spirit’): TRUTH + CLARITY + COURAGE.”

LEAC offered as its summary position against resolution A153 a quotation from “What Anglicans Believe,” a book by Theologian David L. Edwards:

“Anyone who wishes to be loyal to the Christianity of the New Testament always has to protest against any attempt to substitute a man-made code of discipline, in belief or behavior, for the original Christian freedom.”