Local diocesan bishops, or those bishops they designate, preside over confirmation for churches in their jurisdiction. In the Anglican tradition, the Service of Confirmation represents “a mature public affirmation of faith and commitment to the responsibilities of baptism.” However, these congregations consider their relationship with the Rt. Rev. Clark Grew, Bishop of Ohio, to be “impaired” due to his support of divisive decisions at ECUSA’s General Convention last summer. Many participants refused to be confirmed, or have their children confirmed, by Bishop Grew.

The service began with a statement from participating bishops read by the Rt. Rev. Maurice Benitez, retired bishop of Texas and spokesman for the group. “We come as pastors who care very much about you, the Clergy and Lay members of the six congregations gathered here today. We come because the lay persons among you have asked us to come. We come knowing well your predicament in feeling estranged from your bishop, your diocese and the Episcopal Church.”

The actions of General Convention not only plunged the Episcopal Church into an internal crisis, but also severely damaged its relationship with the Anglican Communion as well as the ecumenical community. The bishops said their presence was a “direct response to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the rest of the Primates of the Anglican Communion, who called for ‘adequate provision for episcopal oversight’ in their statement of October 2003.”

“Our participation in today’s Service represents ‘emergency measures’ for those ECUSA congregations in revisionist dioceses who cannot in good conscience accept the radical actions taken by our General Convention last year and who now find themselves alienated from their bishops and diocesan leadership who voted for and support such actions,” the statement reads. “Our active bishops are currently seeking means for providing Adequate Episcopal Oversight, and if an acceptable plan is approved, these kinds of measures may no longer be necessary. But right now, we consider these actions an essential and imperative response to a pastoral emergency in northern Ohio and around the country.”

As churches that uphold the orthodox Anglican doctrine, discipline and worship of the Episcopal Church, these six congregations have felt abandoned by ECUSA. “The trust so necessary for Christian fellowship and effective pastoral leadership in our diocese has been shattered by the actions of General Convention,” congregational leaders explain. “Since those events, there has been a growing hostility to many biblically faithful parishes, both here and around the country.”

Since the divisive actions of General Convention, the churches have all faced significant losses in membership and giving and have experienced alienation in the diocese. Bishop Benitez emphasized that the crisis extends beyond the presenting issue. “We want to emphasize that the heart of the matter is not sexuality or sexual orientation but rather the authority of Holy Scripture in the life of the Church,” he said.

“Our congregations do not have freedom of conscience, freedom of association, freedom of action with our finances, freedom to call new pastors of our own choosing, or the freedom to successfully put forth candidates for ministry who are biblically faithful,” church leaders said.

Ohio congregations assert that without emergency measures, their survival and their mission are at risk. “We have every reason to believe these risks will significantly escalate under the leadership of Mark Hollingsworth, the Diocese of Ohio’s Bishop-elect.”

“We are in an interim season of great significance as the Anglican Communion prepares its response to the actions of ECUSA,” they added. “During this season, and as we look to the future, we are determined to follow the lead of our godly Primates. We are grateful to receive emergency measures of pastoral care and spiritual oversight for our congregations, offered by our senior bishops, until such time as Adequate Episcopal Oversight, called for by the Primates, is negotiated with the Episcopal Church. The events of today are a great sign of hope that the godly episcopal leadership and spiritual guidance needed by our congregations will be supplied.”

Senior bishops will continue to make themselves available for emergency measures, and additional bishops are expected to join the effort. Church leaders anticipate such assistance to be extended to numerous congregations around the country that are experiencing intimidation and harassment.

In addition to Bishop Benitez, those participating in the confirmation were Bishop C. FitzSimons Allison, retired Bishop of South Carolina; Bishop William Cox, retired Assistant Bishop of Oklahoma; Bishop Alex Dickson, retired Bishop of West Tennessee, and Bishop William Wantland, retired Bishop of Eau Claire. Bishop Wantland was celebrant at the Eucharist, Bishop Allison preached and the Rt. Rev. Robinson Cavalcanti, Bishop of Northern Brazil, was a special guest, illustrating international support for the measures. The six congregations whose laity requested emergency measures are Church of the Holy Spirit, Akron; St. Anne’s in the Field, Madison; St. Stephen’s, East Liverpool; St. Barnabas, Bay Village; St. Luke’s, Akron; and Hudson Anglican Fellowship, Hudson.

The American Anglican Council is a network of individuals, parishes, specialized ministries and Episcopal Bishops who affirm Biblical authority and mainstream Anglican orthodoxy within the Episcopal Church. For more information on the AAC, please visit http://www.americananglican.org.

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